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1). Why in the world would it immediately fall over? The implication, as pointed out in my last post, but edited out of this one, is that a biped running in place (ie, relieved of the necessity of imparting thrust w/ the hind feet) cannot exceed the stride frequency attained at full unassisted sprint.
Maximum (unassisted) running speed is not constrained by simple stride frequency in humans. A man running w/ a 20 mph tail wind is going faster than his "normal running speed". Will he fall over? No! A man running in still air at top speed that catches a wind gust strong enough to increase his speed an increment above "normal running speed" doesn't "fall over"!
I am entirely serious on this one. Think of the money you can win on
bar bets w/ professional athletes if you are correct!
"Hey, Mr. (insert name of favorite wide receiver), bet you a million dollars
you can wear any rocket pack, designed and built by any team of scientists you chose, and you can't
increase your maximum speed." You'd have every skill guy in the league
pounding on your door, and you'd be rich beyond your wildest dreams. Actually, ANY athlete. If
you are right, which of course, you are not.
There is no solution possible where stride length increases without reducing stride frequency or imparted force, if you don't let the hind limbs work any harder and the animal cannot actually fly.
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2). Top running speed has no intrinsic relationship to minimum flight speed. There is NO connection WHATSOEVER..
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This solution only becomes possible at the point where the animal is actually holding itself up with the forelimbs, and helping to push with the hind limbs, which is launching. --MH
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3). In animals that can ALREADY fly it is called 'launching'. In flight wanna-bes, and mallards w/ clipped wings, it is called "wing-assisted" running.
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In a sense, but if the animal pushes itself forward with the forelimbs while the hind limbs are slipping, it will probably fall over.
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4). Why? The thrust foot slips, the front foot is forward, in position to begin the next stride...
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In addition, we are assuming that the upstroke is powerful for the
traction increase model; that's probably not a good assumption for
basal birds. --MH
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5). Huh? Mike, what happened to the claws? I have to remind you, I am really skeptical of the benefits of increasing foot friction through down \ward force vectors unless you are wearing running shoes and are on pavement. I am a big fan of claws, however. Roots and such aren't unusual at all. No need for increased downward force vectors.
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Cheers,
--Mike H.