Abstract
Generation of adaptive swimming locomotion of Xenopus laevis is greatly affected by hydrodynamic interaction between its musculoskeletal system and water environments. To understand the mechanism of frog locomotion, it is a proper approach to build a hybrid musculoskeletal robot that has similar structure as a Xenopus laevis, and excite living muscles to drive the body like in vivo. We developed a swimming robot that had a similar musculoskeletal structure as a frog driven by living muscles. At first, we built musculoskeletal structure of the hind leg by a 3D printer copying the anatomy of Xenopus laevis. Then, we developed the swimming robot by driven the gastrocnemius muscles, realized kick motion that generated propulsion for swimming locomotion. And also, we checked that the robot's motion is similar to Xenopus laevis's one. Thus, to achieve to understand the swimming locomotion, the robot is expected to be a useful tool.
