Minimal design of the elephant trunk as an active filament

Abstract

One of the key problems in active materials is the control of shape through actuation. A fascinating example of such control is the elephant trunk, a long, muscular, and extremely dexterous organ with multiple vital functions. The elephant trunk is an object of fascination for biologists, physicists, and children alike. Its versatility relies on the intricate interplay of multiple unique physical mechanisms and biological design principles. Here we explore these principles using the theory of active filaments and build, theoretically, computationally, and experimentally, a minimal model that explains and accomplishes some of the spectacular features of the elephant trunk.