[P01-04] An approximate theory for mechanical energy consumption of bipedal locomotion
Keywords:Bipedal locomotion, Energy metabolism, Inverted pendulum, Gait optimization
Ostrich is famous as an animal that can move at high speed for a long time. A better understanding of the structure of the ostrich's leg will contribute to the design of a high-speed, energy-efficient bipedal walking mechanism. In the present work, we develop a theoretical model that represents human bipedal walking and calculate its energy efficiency, as a first step towards the long-term goal of the ostrich problem. We have found that the amount of mechanical energy required for walking changes in a non-trivial manner with the step length and walking speed.