Musculoskeletal robotics modeling and simulation

Abstract

This paper presents the kinematics and dynamics of a musculoskeletal model inspired by humans/animals where the bones (links) are actuated by muscles (linear actuators). Starting from a single-link musculoskeletal structure, the kinematics were addressed to link the joint and muscle variables. From the kinematic constraints, dynamics of the structure were also presented. Later the 3D model of a two-link structure was constructed in ROCOS software to simulate the effect of gravity and environment (floor). In the simulations, the constraints were correctly defined as snapshots show the bones and muscle are intact before and after contact with environment. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore.