Understanding evolution with simulations and bio-inspired robots - that is the goal of robot-assisted palaeontology. Prof Dr John A. Nyakatura from the Department of Biology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) wants to use these methods to understand the changes in the locomotor system during the mammalian evolution. The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) has now announced that Nyakatura's project "Robotic Paleontology. A new key to understanding the early evolution of mammals" for five years from 2026 as part of its Reinhart Koselleck Projects programme. John A. Nyakatura, Professor of Comparative Zoology at Humboldt-Universität, is one of 18 scientists across Germany who have been awarded Reinhart Koselleck project funding this year.
Diversity of locomotion types argues against a linear evolution to today's mammals
One of the ways in which mammals differ from other vertebrates such as reptiles, fish or birds is that their locomotor system has changed fundamentally over the course of evolution. In most textbooks on evolutionary biology, this process of change is described as a linear development from outstretched, reptile-like limbs to an upright posture and locomotion. This narrative is now increasingly being questioned in view of the diversity of locomotor systems and possible modes of locomotion observed in fossil finds. "With the 'Robotic Paleontology' project, we primarily want to deepen our understanding of the functional and biomechanical consequences of anatomical changes during the early mammalian evolution. We are particularly interested in locomotion methods that are fascinating in their diversity and no longer occur in comparable form in any living mammal today," says John A. Nyakatura. "At the same time, we are pursuing a methodological goal: through biomechanical modelling and the use of fossil-inspired robots, we also want to quantitatively test hypotheses on the mechanics of movement - and thus gain new, reliable insights into the evolutionary changes observed in fossils."
Research with robot models complements classic methods of evolutionary biology
In previous studies, Prof. Dr Nyakatura's research group has already constructed robot models based on biological models in collaboration with an engineering research group specialising in biorobotics at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. It has thus helped to establish robotics for experimental research in evolutionary biology. With its view of the entire musculoskeletal system, the new method complements traditional research approaches, in which individual fossil remains are described anatomically and assumptions about their function are derived from this. With advances in robotics, tools for building robots with elastic joints and muscles are now also available. These enable a more differentiated investigation of the locomotion of long-extinct animals. The HU researchers will also work closely with their colleagues from Switzerland on the new research project.
About John A. Nyakatura
John Nyakatura is Professor of Comparative Zoology at the Department of Biology at HU. His research focus is on the relationship between structural and functional aspects of the locomotor system of vertebrates and their changes over the course of evolution. He researches this in collaboration with palaeontologists and engineers (biomimetic robotics). With his research group, he has helped to establish "robotics" as a research tool in vertebrate palaeontology.
About Reinhart Koselleck projects of the DFG
According to the DFG, Reinhart Koselleck Projects stand for more freedom for particularly innovative and, in a positive sense, risk-taking research. The aim is to give scientists with a proven track record of scientific achievement the opportunity to realise research projects that are highly innovative. The funding amount for the entire term is between 500,000 and 1.25 million euros.
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Prof. Dr. John A. Nyakatura
Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
E-mail: john.nyakatura☞ Please insert an @ at this point ☜hu-berlin☞ Please insert a period at this pointde