Albrecht Dürer illustration of an Indian Rhinoceros based on his woodcut from the year 1515. Interestingly, Dürer himself actually never got to see a real rhinoceros, and his illustration of this exotic animal is based on what he imagined one might look like with only a basic sketch and a previous written description to go by. Although the drawing has morphological mistakes such as the horn on the animal's shoulder, it was widely used and became one of the most well-known animal images. From the collection of The Old Library, Queens' College, Cambridge. Photograph taken by Prof. Brian A. Callingham, F.R.Pharm.S., F.S.B.
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In the study of locomotion we explore how motion systems get from 'A' to 'B'. We would like to know how animals move and what we might learn from nature when it comes to effective movement in human-made devices such as legged robots. My general interests reside in biomechanics, dynamics, engineering robotics, control of locomotion, and bio-inspired design. I have been interested in the locomotor function of lizard tails as inertial appendages, allowing them to overcome obstacles and slippery surfaces during climbing, as well as assisting them in aerial righting and gliding. Exploring the role of the tail for the stability of locomotion and maneuverability in lizards has inspired the design of robots with capabilities that will ultimately help them navigate cluttered environments for search and rescue.
Dr. Ardian Jusufi
Max Planck Independent Group Leader
Animal Locomotion & Robotics Group
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems
We have open Postdoc and fully funded PhD student positions!
Please contact: ardian(at)is.mpg.de
