Theory
Biomechanics
As designers, artists, and developers, we are only as good as our references; trying to understand how an eight-legged spider moves without a reference is nearly impossible - but give the skilled animator a reference, and enough time, and almost anything is possible.
That's the purpose behind this wide-range of links and references; to give the artist / designer / animator / developer some kind of reference to work from, whether it is a video capture of a real creature moving, the notes or illustrations from a scientist, or toys and models that mimic biomechanical movement.
Bipeds as Walking Machines
Human Gait Study at Harvard - barefoot vs wearing shoes, great side view
CNN article on barefoot running with useful links
Discussion on the efficiency of the human gait and robots that mimic the human gait.
Discussion on the biomechanics of walking.
Discussion of Animation of Bipeds (an animator's perspective)
Overview of Human Run Cycle Dynamics for Animators by Rodri Torres
Human Running in slow motion, side view
Human Gait Study - one natural, one stiff legged
Quadrapeds as Walking Machines
Walking, Trotting, and Turning
Cheetah biomechanics - video clip
How a tiger moves with pictures and interesting analysis
Forces acting on a horses legs
Elephant baby and family walking and running
Adult Male elephants walking - You can see from this video that a typical elephant walk is initiated by the rear leg first; then, when the rear leg has almost completed its motion and the rear foot is about to plant on the ground again, the front leg on the same side of the animal lifts off. Once both legs have lifted and planted, the rear leg on the opposite side begins its movement.
Lizard attacking and eating rat, some slow motion
Links to Insect Walking Videos etc.
A discussion on insect locomotion and the foot-forward strategy of locomotion
Another very interesting article on Insect Locomotion and Dynamic vs Static stability
This is a PDF that covers (very technically) stepping patterns in Ants
Cockroach on simulated hard terrain
Good top view of praying mantis walk
Ants very close up, normal speed
Slow motion video of ants walking (and hurling themselves with trap-jaws!)
Robots inspired by animals (waterstrider, salamander, cockroach)
Combining electronics and insect systems
Interesting flying six legged helicopter robot
6 legged robot vehicle burning man
john deere 6 legged walking tractor
walking forest machine six legs
multilegged sculpture cardboard
Octopeds as Walking Machines
Interesting interactive closeups of spider anatomy
Funnel weaver spider attacking ant, good leg motion but a bit fast at 300 fps
Good shot of spider walk close up
Another good spider walk from above
Engineering project - spider tank
Insect as Flying Machines
Here is a great discussion of insect and bird physiology and flight
here is the pdf for the above article
Fluid flow biomechanics of Flight (and Swimming)
Here is a link to airflow study of dragonfly
Great explanation on Insect Flight Aerodynamics
On Insect Flight - Passive Wing Pitch Reversal
Another great dragonfly slow-motion, taking off
Slow Motion bumble-bees (can see sculling motion of wings)
A fly in slow motion, can see wing flaps but hard to see sculling
Locusts in Flight, cool thick second wing
Dragonfly wing motion, absolutely surreal and beautiful
Engineering project - spider tank
Combining electronics and insect systems
another shot of microrobot fly
Birds as Flying Machines
Hummingbírd flight in slow motion
Another vid of hummingbirds, slo mo, but not so slow as to see wings move
More birds in slow-motion flight (mostly take-off here)
Morphing aircraft mimics a swift bird's wing changes
Fish as Swimming Machines
Fluid flow biomechanics of Swimming (and Flight)
Dragonfly wing motion, absolutely surreal and beautiful
Pacific Tailboats, a fin-powered kayak (movie)
Surfboard fin hydrodynamics tutorial
Humpback whale fin tubercles inspire more efficient windmill design