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Gait Diagramming

Exercise: Gait Diagramming

Objective: Compare bipedal (human) and hexapod (insect) gait patterns to understand how limb coordination affects stability and energy efficiency.

Materials Needed:

  • Printed gait cycle templates (human walking/running, insect crawling).
  • Projector/screen (to show slow-motion videos of human/insect movement).
  • Markers, paper, or whiteboards for sketching.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Introduction to Gait Phases (10 min)
  2. Explain key terms:
    • Stance phase: Foot on the ground.
    • Swing phase: Foot in motion.
    • Stride length: Distance between consecutive steps.

  3. Show slow-motion videos of a human walking and an insect (e.g., ant) moving.

  4. Human Gait Analysis (15 min)

  5. Students sketch a stick-figure diagram of a human walking, breaking the motion into 4–6 frames.

  6. Highlight:

    • Alternating leg movement.
    • Role of arm swings in balance.

  7. Insect Gait Analysis (15 min)

  8. Diagram an insect's tripod gait (three legs touch the ground at once).

  9. Compare stability: "Why don't insects tip over?"

  10. Group Discussion (10 min)

  11. Compare diagrams: How do gait patterns relate to body structure?
  12. Discuss trade-offs: Speed vs. stability, energy efficiency.

Example Diagrams

Human Walking Insect Tripod Gait
Human Gait Insect Gait
Alternating leg motion (left-right-left). Three legs move in sync (front/back left + middle right).

Key Learning Outcomes

  • Identify how limb coordination impacts stability and speed.
  • Connect natural gaits to robotic design challenges (e.g., "Why might a robot need 6 legs instead of 2?").
  • Introduce gait optimization (energy efficiency vs. stability).

Differentiation for Ages

  • Ages 11–13: Focus on simple leg sequencing (e.g., "left-right-left").
  • Ages 14–17: Add math concepts (e.g., calculate stride length/duty factor).

Assessment

  • Evaluate diagrams for accuracy in representing gait phases.
  • Reflection question: "Which gait is better for rocky terrain? Why?"

Extension Activity

  • Design a hybrid gait for a fictional animal/robot and explain choices.

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