Other Patterns in Nature:

GAITS
Gaits are default patterns of motion in
legged animals, that occur when
conscious control is not operating.

The mathematics of gaits is an unusual

application of modern mathematical
techniques that at first sight seems
totally unrelated.
TWO-LEGGED CREATURES OR BIPED
A biped has two commonly used gaits:

HOPPING motion: both legs

move together.

The human walk:

Left, right, left, right…
4-LEGGED CREATURES OR QUADRUPEDS
7 Most Common Quadrupedal Gaits

1. Walk: involves a more complex

but equally rhythmic pattern:
front left, back right, front
right, back left, then repeat.

2. Pace : links the movements

fore and aft, the two left
legs hit the ground, then
the two right
QUADRUPEDS
3. Trot: the legs are in effect
linked in diagonal pairs. First
the front left and back right
hit the ground together, then
the front right and back left.

4. Rotary gallop: the front legs hit the

ground almost together, but with the
right very slightly later than the left;
then the back legs hit the ground
almost together, but this time with
the left very slightly later than the
right.
Nature's rhythms are often
linked to symmetry, and that
the patterns that occur can be
classified mathematically…