Meeting Abstract
Organisms across the tree of life have evolved mechanisms to perform extremely rapid movements by temporarily storing energy in elastic structures (springs) and then mediating the release of that energy using latches. These types of mechanisms were first described in jumping insects, where it was shown that the power output of a spring-actuated mechanism mediated by latches resulted in mechanical power outputs exceeding muscle power outputs. The phenomenon, called power amplification, became an important diagnostic tool for biologists to discover elastically-driven animal movements. With the introduction of accessible high-speed high-resolution video equipment, spring-actuated movements have been described in a wide diversity of organisms and for a surprising array of uses. Examples now include many organisms that do not possess muscle, and are therefore not limited by muscle power limits, such as plants and fungi that use elastic mechanisms for ballistic seed or spore dispersal. In addition, while the presence of latches in elastic mechanisms has long been appreciated, recent work highlights the central role that latch characteristics play in mediating energy transformations. We will highlight how focusing on the shared underlying components in these systems (springs, latches, and actuated masses) has given new insights into the trade-offs and considerations for diversity and tuning. Some examples utilizing the latch-mediated spring actuation (LaMSA) framework in snapping crustaceans and rapid feeding mechanisms in fish will illustrate how LaMSA can stimulate new avenues for studying evolution, control, and performance.
