Optimal Snake Locomotion on Flat Surfaces: An Analytical Framework

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical framework to determine optimal snake-like locomotion on flat surfaces, providing explicit solutions that improve understanding of efficient movement strategies under different friction conditions.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical method for finding optimal snake locomotion kinematics, reducing reliance on numerical approaches and extending applicability to other elongated bodies in resistive media.

Findings

Derived explicit solutions for optimal kinematics

Identified conditions minimizing energy or maximizing speed

Applicable to various media like sand and viscous fluids

Abstract

In this theoretical study, we present an analytical framework to investigate the slithering motion of snakes on flat surfaces. While previous studies have predominantly relied on numerical methods to identify optimal locomotion kinematics, such approaches are often sensitive to initial guesses and the number of kinematic parameters in the model. Here, we derive analytical solutions for optimal kinematics that minimize the cost of transport or maximize the velocity under varying friction anisotropy conditions. Our analysis assumes a uniform weight distribution and negligible body rigidity, though the framework can be extended to more complex scenarios. Furthermore, we demonstrate the applicability of this approach to the undulatory motion of other elongated bodies in various media, where interactive forces can be described using resistive force theory, such as swimming through sand or viscous fluids.