Can an OpenSim model be made to fall?

[Michel Audette]

Dear members of the OpenSim community,

I am interested in causing an OpenSim musculoskeletal model to fall, by tripping it or causing it to slip. Is such a scenario possible under OpenSim?

Best wishes,

Michel

[Thomas Uchida]

You could design controllers that represent reflexes and run a forward dynamic simulation. Here are some related references:
- Forward Dynamics Tool: http://simtk-confluence.stanford.edu:80 ... d+Dynamics
- DeMers, M.S., Hicks, J.L., Delp, S.L. (2017) Preparatory co-activation of the ankle muscles may prevent ankle inversion injuries. Journal of Biomechanics 52:17–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.11.002 - their controllers can be downloaded from the accompanying SimTK project page (https://simtk.org/projects/ankle-sprains)
- Dorn, T.W., Wang, J.M., Hicks, J.L., Delp, S.L. (2015) Predictive simulation generates human adaptations during loaded and inclined walking. PLOS ONE 10(4):e0121407. http://nmbl.stanford.edu/publications/pdf/Dorn2015.pdf

You might also want to look through a few of the examples (http://simtk-confluence.stanford.edu:80 ... +Tutorials), such as the "Dynamic Walking Challenge" (http://simtk-confluence.stanford.edu:80 ... Id=5113821) and "Simulation-Based Design to Prevent Ankle Injuries" (http://simtk-confluence.stanford.edu:80 ... e+Injuries).

[Michel Audette]

Dear Tom,

thanks for your kind support. I will look at these very carefully and get back to you with any questions I have.

Warm wishes,

Michel