Continuous models for peristaltic locomotion with application to worms and soft robots.

A continuous model for the peristaltic locomotion of compressible and incompressible rod-like bodies is presented. Using Green and Naghdi's theory of a directed rod, incompressibility is enforced as an internal constraint. A discussion on muscle actuation models for a single continuum is included. The resulting theory is demonstrated in a simulation of a soft-robotic device. In addition, a calibration of parameters is performed and the incompressible rod is validated against a biomimetic model of earthworm locomotion.