MOBILITY IN NATURE

Year Published: 1960’

Creator: Ford Motor Company.

Format: 16mm

Description: This 1960’s era film was made as a part of the study of advanced locomotion, being carried on by the Aeronutronic Division of Philco Corporation, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Philco-Aeronutronic became NASA’s primary communications equipment vendor during the mid-1960’s. The film was shown to various audiences including to engineers working in the space program, in hopes that they might be inspired by "alternative" forms of locomotion. Walt Disney Productions and Moody Enterprises are also acknowledged as sources of footage. This silent film shows moving images of mostly insects and some microscopic life. The text cards listed below are followed by what they describe. The film begins with "The Amoeba, moves by extending an arm, and then flowing into it" (0:11). "Most microscopic marine animals propel themselves through water by undulating hairs or streams" (0:46). "In larger animals, surface hairs are no longer adequate and the entire body is used for propulsion" (1:13). "The snake uses swimming motions both on land and in water" (1:52). "It is surprising to see the ease with which a snake can climb" (2:25). "Close-ups of a boa show the waves of expansion and traction of its lower skin" (5:00). "The millipede’s legs move symmetrically, with waves of motion from rear to front" (5:41). "The centipede’s legs move unsymmetrically, with eaves from the front to rear" (6:10). "The centipede illustrates the method of bridging over obstructions, used by a number of animals" (7:18). "The mysterious serpent, like other animals, can still teach us many things (7:56). A snake head with its forked tongue is shown (8:06). End

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