Abstract
Children perform childlike motions and walking patterns. It is thought that the biomechanical relation between the mechanical properties of the body and human movement may explain childlike motion mechanisms. We have developed a neuro-musculo-skeletal model that can simulate human walking in three dimensions on computers. The purpose of this study is to construct a 3-dimensional walking simulation method with a child body model to apply to a biomechanical study. The musculoskeletal system was modeled as a 14-rigid-link system with joints with 21 degrees of freedom. The neuronal control model consists of neural oscillators and sensory feedback systems. Hundreds of neuronal parameters were searched by using genetic algorithms to improve the walking performance index in relation to energy efficiency and walking stability. A Seven-year-old child body model was constructed, and the walking pattern of the child model was compared with that of an adult body model. As a result, the child model can simulate childlike characteristics about knee joint motion and ground reaction force. The walking stability of the child model was less than that of the adult model. Such child model characteristics may be caused by the properties of child body dynamics.
