Systems Theory and Automatic Control

Systems and Control Seminars for the Winter Semester 2011/2012

Towards Understanding Human Locomotion

Speaker

Moritz Maus
Locomotion Laboratory
Institute of Sport and Science
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Time and Place

The presentation on January 16, 2012 will be given in Building 09, Room 211 and starts at 2.30 p.m.

Abstract

Human locomotion is a complex phenomenon that is far from being completely understood. In this presentation, I will start with an analysis of human running from a dynamical system's perspective, with a focus on stationarity and stability. Then, I will present the approach of minimalistic "template" models to describe human locomotion, showing how simple models can actually predict features of the gait. Finally, I will show how these template models can be transferred back to reality, namely in our robot BioBiped. With this robot, we aim at demonstrating the validity of the experimentally derived concepts for describing human locomotion.

This presentation comprises results obtained during my ongoing PhD.

Information about the Speaker

2002 - 2008: study of Physics at the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena (Diploma)
2008 - now: PhD candidate at Lauflabor (Prof. Seyfarth), formerly at Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, now at TU Darmstadt [www.lauflabor.de]

Journal Publications:
Maus HM, Lipfert SW, Gross M, Rummel J, Seyfarth A. "Upright human gait did not provide a major mechanical challenge for our ancestors." Nature Communications, 1(6): 70, 2010.

Maus HM, Seyfarth A, Grimmer S. "Combining forces and kinematics for calculating consistent centre of mass trajectories" Journal of Experimental Biology 214:3511-3517, 2011

K. Radkah, C. Maufroy, M. Maus, D. Scholz, A. Seyfarth, O. Von Stryk "Concept and design of the BioBiped1 robot for human-like walking and running" International Journal of Humanoid Robotics, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 439-458, 2011

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