Animating Human Athletes

This paper describes algorithms for the animation of male and female models performing three dynamic athletic behaviors: running, bicycling, and vaulting. We animate these behaviors using control algorithms that cause a physically realistic model to perform the desired maneuver. For example, control algorithms allow the simulated humans to maintain balance while moving their arms, to run or bicycle at a variety of speeds, and to perform two vaults. For each simulation, we compare the computed motion to that of humans performing similar maneuvers. We perform the comparison both qualitatively through real and simulated video images and quantitatively through simulated and biomechanical data.

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