An overview of biomimetic robots with animal behaviors

The study of biomimetic robots and that of animal behaviors are mutually-reinforcing and inseparable. Animals, through long-term evolutionary processes, have developed innate advantages in locomotion, cognition, information processing and control. Inspired by their evolvement, biomimetic robots are integrated with biological characteristics which give them more powerful motor abilities, cognitive abilities and more delicate control processes than other robots. At the same time, the development of biomimetic technology and the excellent interaction characteristics of biomimetic robots also promote the study of animal behaviors. This paper aims to give a general overview of the relationship between biomimetic robots and animal behaviors. On one hand, the role of imitating animal behaviors in promoting the development of biomimetic robots is expounded from three aspects: locomotion behaviors, cognition behaviors and neural activities. On the other hand, the positive role of biomimetic robots in the research of animal behaviors is described in terms of behavioral responses of target animals, group behavioral mechanisms and cognitive neurological activities of animals. In addition, the future development of biomimetic robots and the research of animal behaviors are discussed.