OPTIMIZATION OF BIARTICULAR GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE IN HUMANOID JUMPING ROBOT SIMULATION

Abstract

We propose a new human inspired structure of the lower extremity mechanism by which a humanoid robot will be able to efficiently perform fast movements such as running and jumping. We build a dynamic model of the humanoid robot which includes an elastic model of the biarticular muscle gastrocnemius and determine the role of the biarticular muscles and the elastic tendons in performing the vertical jump. We demonstrate that biarticular links contribute a great deal to the performance of the vertical jump. We also show that timing of the biarticular link activation and stiffness of the biarticular link influence the height of the jump considerably.