Tuning of Musculoskeletal Mechanical Properties for Bipedal Hopping: Biological Mechanisms for Either Efficiency Versus Power
Abstract
Bipedal hopping animals as a group can exhibit a wide range of motor performance, ranging from the ultra-efficiency of kangaroos and wallabies to the ballistic jumping of kangaroo rats (k-rats). The gross biomechanical structure of all bipedal hoppers is similar; thus, it is generally assumed that the complementary variations in the skeletal muscles, tendon, and sites of muscle attachments on the bones create the broad range of abilities. In vivo measurements from wallabies support the hypothesis that the components of the musculoskeletal system are optimally tuned for efficiency. However, ballistic movements such as those generated by k-rats, have not been well studied. Therefore, it is difficult to exactly pinpoint how much the musculoskeletal components vary, which ones co-vary, and which variations are the most critical for performance. The objective of this proposal is to gain knowledge of how the interconnected changes in the actuator (muscle), transmission (tendon and moment arm), and linkage (skeleton) properties create the range of ultra-efficient to ballistic movements in bipedal hoppers. We will use a multi-faceted approach incorporating whole body and joint level biomechanical analysis with in vivo and in situ measurements to investigate the general hypothesis that musculoskeletal system components are interdependently varied to achieve either optimal efficient or ballistic performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1510204
Entities
People
- David C Lin
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- Washington State University