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2000

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October

  

Reviews of topical problems


Spatio-temporal problems of locomotion control


A.A. Blagonravov Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Bardina 4, Moscow, 117334, Russian Federation

The problem of the spatio-temporal construction of legged movements involves structural freedoms due to the multi-link structure of the extremities, kinematic freedoms of the stepping cycle, and interextremity coordination freedoms, whose purposive organization is established by means of appropriate synergies, i.e. additional functional links the brain’s control system forms. The main focus of attention in this work is on the kinematic and coordination synergies of the legged movements of humans and animals. The comparative historical analysis of experimental data and modelling metaphors concentrates on obtaining a unified description, whereas the ultimate mathematical metaphor reduces to space-time geometry, with base step synergies as its invariants. Thus, the concept of a synergetic organization for biomechanical movement freedoms is transformed to the geochronometry concept, actually a modification of Minkowskian geometry. To determine the spectrum of possible geochronometries, the consequences of a generalized ’postulate of a constant speed of light’ are studied and different models of wave chronometers compared.

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Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.1070/PU2000v043n10ABEH000796
PACS: 01.70.+w, 02.40.Dr, 03.30.+p, 87.19.St (all)
DOI: 10.1070/PU2000v043n10ABEH000796
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2000/10/b/
000166243000002
Citation: Smolyaninov V V "Spatio-temporal problems of locomotion control" Phys. Usp. 43 991–1053 (2000)
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