Developing biorobotics for veterinary research into cat movements

Collaboration between veterinarians and other professionals such as engineers and computer scientists will become important in biorobotics research for both scientific achievements and the protection of animal welfare. Particularly, cats are interesting and fascinating animals, but , so far, they have not yet become a significant source of inspiration for new technologies in robotics. This paper suggests a novel approach for the investigation of particular aspects of cat morphology, neurophysiology and behavior, aimed at bridging this gap by focusing on the versatile, powerful locomotion abilities of cats and implementing a robotic tool for the measurements of biological parameters of animals and building cat inspired robotic prototypes. The presented framework suggestswill form the basis for the development of novel hypotheses and models describing biomechanics, locomotion, balancing system, visual perception as well as learning and adaption of cat motor skills and behavior. In subsequent work, the resulting models will be tested and evaluated in simulated and real experiments and validated with specific experimental data gathered from cats. The expected impact of this novel methodology is potentially in multiple areas: the prototype may open new possibilities in robotics, with the investigation of novel dynamic balance This methodology has application in several areas including dynamic models and artificial vision systems. From an ethical point of view, this approach is in line with the 3Rs principles: the detailed and integrated systems will allow us to study a small number of cats (reduction) for the implementation of non-invasive tools such as electromyography and gaze analysis (refinement), which will make the construction of a substitute 41 to experiments on living cats (replacement) easier. For instance, bioinspired prototypes could be used instead of real cats to test whether and how specific visual and physical impairment in cats (up to partial or total blindness, loss of a leg, etc.) change their walking and jumping abilities. This modus operandi may pave the way for a new generation of research in the veterinary field. Moreover, the measurement tools to be developed will constitute an achievement per se, since for the first time visual, muscular and gait analysis of cats will be integrated a 46 nd this will help to improve the rehabilitation procedures for cats and other non-human animals