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In this section:
SML:
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Machines are usually designed to be rigid but animals are inherently compliant. When a large animal is specialised for locomotion energetic economies are achieved by combining body mass and elasticity of the muscle tendon unit in a tuned spring mass system that stores and returns energy during cyclical movement. Animals with a musculo-skeletal system that is optimised to store elastic energy in the muscle tendon units have to operate within tight functional constraints in locomotion. This is because the legs are tuned to work at a single frequency so only certain combinations of stride length and limb sweep angle are economical or possible without a requirement for excessive muscle work. We use muscle to tune our legs but consider trying to go faster on a pogo stick (where compliance is constrained). These animals still have to function in the real world and achieve the energetic balance of, for instance going up and down hill, how they do this is important in our understanding of animal locomotion.
Structure and Motion Lab These pages maintained by the SML Contact: Alan Wilson
