Generation and evaluation of Nanba walking style by changing the feedback equation of neural oscillator

Abstract

Walking is the human basic moving pattern and the elementary motion for human health promotion. In case of trying various measures as the moving pattern for human health promotion, the most traditional moving pattern called Nanba walking based on the biomechanics of the human body has been put into practical use. It has been thought that Nanba walking is actively focused because it is very useful for Japanese classic culture and there are many experimental discussions about Nanba walking. However, quantitative analysis of this walking pattern based on biomechanical data has not been inadequate. On the other hand, experimental study has been harder because of the difficult problem of facility. The purpose of this study are to generate Nanba walking by numerical simulation using three dimensional full human body simulation model as neuro-musculo-skeletal system including precise foot segment model developed in the past study and analyze the difference between Nanba walking and normal walking. As a result of simulation, Nanba walking was generated in order to change the feedback equation of neural oscillators. In simulation, walking characteristics such as locomotive speed and locomotive energy efficiency were optimized according to walking pattern respectively. As a conclusion of this study, it is validated as the effectiveness of Nanba walking that Nanba walking is suitable for faster locomotive speed because walking stability is also high in the single support phase by a little rotation of the upper body.

Keywords

• biomechanics
• walking and gait
• nanba walking
• numerical simulation
• neural oscillator
• neuro-musculo-skeletal system
• precise foot segment model
• genetic algorithm