A numerical method for simulating the dynamics of human walking

This paper presents a general method for simulating the movement of the lower extremity during human walking. It is based upon two separate algorithms: one for single support (an open kinematic chain), and the other for the double support phase (a closed-loop linkage). Central to each of these is the recursive Newton-Euler inverse dynamics algorithm, applicable, as given, to any serial, spatial linkage.

For the unconstrained single support model, the Newton-Euler scheme is applied directly to numerically generate the equations of motion. In the case of double support, however, the kinematic constraint equations are used to first eliminate the redundant degrees of freedom, and then solve for the unknown ground reactions under the constrained limb.

The attractiveness of the method is that it offers a compact alternative to manually deriving the equations defining a mathematical model for human gait.