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Mathematical Modeling, Dynamics Analysis and Control of Carnivorous Plants

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Book cover Plant Electrophysiology

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is to analyze the sensing and actuating mechanism of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) by developing a control model to explain these phenomena. The mathematical model captures the dynamic responses of the flytrap in different environmental conditions. In addition, this model emphasizes the existence of the threshold accumulation of the trigger signal and the semi-closed state, which are largely ignored in other models. Furthermore, a biomimetic robot was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of the mathematical model. While the robot serves as a prototype to demonstrate the control model, future applications using this control could aid microsensors and microgrippers to reduce false alarms. In summary, this chapter uses the Venus flytrap as an example to illustrate the integration between biology, theoretical modeling, and engineering. Such integration and inspiration from the natural world will significantly contribute to advances in these various disciplines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-5080, USA

    Ruoting Yang

  2. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996-2210, USA

    Scott C. Lenaghan, Stephen Oi & Mingjun Zhang

  3. Division of Space Life Science, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, TX, 77058, USA

    Yongfeng Li

Authors
  1. Ruoting Yang
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  2. Scott C. Lenaghan
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  3. Yongfeng Li
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  4. Stephen Oi
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  5. Mingjun Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mingjun Zhang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, Adventist Blvd. 7000, Huntsville, 35896, Alabama, USA

    Alexander G. Volkov

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Yang, R., Lenaghan, S.C., Li, Y., Oi, S., Zhang, M. (2012). Mathematical Modeling, Dynamics Analysis and Control of Carnivorous Plants. In: Volkov, A. (eds) Plant Electrophysiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29110-4_3

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