Janneke Schwaner and Philipp Rothemund awarded prestigious grant through the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities

The project is a step forward in the fundamental understanding of how muscles and tendons work together to control movement. The cutting-edge simulations and robotic systems developed may revolutionize the design of agile and maneuverable robots, inspiring a new generation of high-performing bioinspired robots.

Stuttgart – In nature, tails are everywhere, twisting, stabilizing, steering, balancing. The tails’ forms are as diverse as their functions. Yet, despite their importance, scientists still don’t fully understand how tail shape translates to precise control in motion – especially while animals are midair.

The Tails in Motion interdisciplinary research project by Janneke Schwaner, who is a research group leader at MPI-IS, and Philipp Rothemund, who is a Junior-Professor at the University of Stuttgart, received funding by the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities to investigate this mystery. The project explores the fundamental form-function principles of tails with a focus on their role in aerial body control. It has the potential to transform how researchers understand the role of tails in animal movement, and how scientists design the next generation of agile robots.

“In Tails in Motion, we are combining biology and engineering in a truly interdisciplinary approach – studying real animal movement, running simulations, and building soft robots with controllable tails, powered by artificial muscles. These life-like robotic models will help us uncover how tails enable fast, stable, and precise movement through the air,” Schwaner explains.

The team turns to an unlikely expert for answers: the kangaroo rat. These small desert rodents use their long, flexible tails to perform rapid, acrobatic maneuvers when escaping predators, like snakes; they reorient while airborne, to take off in their newly obtained direction – away from a rattlesnake – upon landing.

“Ultimately, this research won’t just shed light on animal evolution. It has the potential to shape the next generation of agile and manoeuvrable robots that use appendages to control stability,” says Rothemund.

“This project is incredibly exciting for me as we translate tails – nature's perfected solutions for agile movement – into blueprints for building far more dynamic and stable robots. Winning the WIN-Kolleg grant is a rare and exciting opportunity to enable this truly interdisciplinary research,” Rothemund continues.

“I’m really grateful for the WIN Kolleg grant. It gives me the chance to follow my curiosity about how animals use their tails to move as extraordinarily as some do. I'm excited to explore these questions at the intersection of biology and robotics as part of the HAdW’s inspiring interdisciplinary community,” says Schwaner.

Heidelberg Academy for the Sciences Young Academy

Receiving a WIN-Kolleg grant from the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (HAdW) is a transformative opportunity for early-career researchers. The grant not only provides funding for independent, often high-risk, high-reward research, but also opens the door to the HAdW’s Young Academy, a vibrant interdisciplinary network of top young scholars across Baden-Württemberg.

As part of the Young Academy, new fellows Rothemund and Schwaner, will gain access to exclusive workshops, retreats, and mentoring, all designed to foster cross-disciplinary thinking and collaboration. The program encourages bold ideas, deep reflection, and scholarly exchange beyond traditional academic boundaries.

Fellows are also supported in sharing their work beyond academia, engaging with the public and contributing to wider societal discussions. Altogether, the WIN Kolleg experience represents a significant stepping stone in shaping the next generation of thought leaders in science and the humanities.