Insect Evolved GEARS to Control Sychronization of Movements During Huge Leaps
…biologists have discovered a precision gearing mechanism that is built and used by an insect known as a planthopper, which is similar to the grasshopper.
The bug employs this device to mechanically synchronize its powerful jumping actuators so that they both fire within 30 microseeconds of each other. It appears that the planthopper developed this device to circumvent timing errors that would be expected to occur if both sides were under independent nervous control.
Just as early fighter planes relied on mechanical synchros to fire their machine guns through their propeller without destroying it, this mechanical timer enables pinpoint directional accuracy when the creature makes leaps of over 100 times its own body length.
(via Evolution delivers: The first mechanical gear found in a living creature | ExtremeTech)
More pics at Txchnologist
via Tumblr http://planetjmac.tumblr.com/post/62349176493
No comments:
Post a Comment