Robotic Paleontology - a new key to understanding early mammal evolution

Placental mammals are defined by a suite of interdependent traits: elevated metabolism, advanced cognition, specialized care, complex communication, efficient movement, and restructured lungs and teeth. These traits—though hard to trace in fossils—are functionally linked; for example, higher cognition demands more energy, which requires effective digestion.

A key evolutionary shift was the transition from sprawling to erect posture, reflected in the locomotor system. This change became symbolic of early placental evolution. However, the traditional linear narrative of this transition fails to explain the fossil diversity and lacks a satisfying, non-teleological explanation.

To address this, we are now actively investigating limb mechanics in transitional forms using a modern evolutionary framework. Building on our earlier work that helped establish ‘robotic paleontology’—a research loop combining paleontology, simulation, and robotics—we apply this method to test biomechanical hypotheses on key fossils.

This approach reconstructs locomotor mechanics and maps them phylogenetically, but it requires tailored, cross-disciplinary collaboration. We are currently establishing a dedicated robotic paleontology research environment, drawing on our international network, to generate new insights into early mammalian evolution.