The work of Otto Fischer and the historical development of his method of principal vectors for mechanism and machine science

Abstract

This article gives an overview of the distinctive work of Otto Fischer (1861-1916) on the motion of the human musculoskeletal system. In order to be able to derive the individual muscle forces for human in motion, he invented the method of principal vectors to describe the motion of the centers-of-mass and the inertias of body segments. This method has proven to be successful, not only for the studies on biomechanics but in particular also for mechanism and machine science. A historical development of the application of the method is presented for today’s potential.