Comparative Study of Three Human Muscle Models

In this paper, three different muscle models have been investigated. The first model named Ferrarin´s muscle model is a transfer function between electrical stimulation and the resultant knee torque. The other two muscles, are physiologically based models (Riener´s muscle model and Virtual Muscle). Riener´s muscle is modelled in this paper by using Matlab/Simulink, while Virtual Muscle model has been built using Virtual Muscle software (Virtual Muscle 4.0.1), which can be downloaded from the internet. A quadriceps is modelled using each of the three models. The three models are tested in terms of their responses to activation and then they are implemented in a control strategy which aims to control the knee trajectory in a free swinging leg. The merits and demerits of each muscle model have been discussed and evaluated according to its performance during control.