Torus Driving Mechanism with the Ability to Branch off

Abstract

There are behaviors on the roots and branches of plants that extend and branch the torus structure. From the viewpoint of engineering, the authors aim to realize a branched extension torus as found in proboscis of Nemertea that extends and branches at a much faster rate than the plant. In this paper, we focused on the function to move and cut, as the 2-dimensional fastener mechanism, necessary for realizing this branched extension torus. As the primary prototype of the cutting and moving mechanism, we report on the effectiveness of principle devising, design and trial manufacture, actual machine experiments.