Using Dynamic Analysis for Realistic Animation of Articulated Bodies

A major problem in computer animation is creating motion that appears natural and realistic, particularly in such complex articulated bodies as humans and other animals. At present, truly lifelike motion is produced mainly by copying recorded images, a tedious and lengthy process that requires considerable external equipment. An alternative is the use of dynamic analysis to predict realistic motion. Using dynamic motion control, bodies are treated as masses acting under the influence of external and internal forces and torques. Dynamic control is advantageous because motion is naturally restricted to physically realizable patterns, and many types of motion can be predicted automatically. Use of dynamics is computationally expensive and specifying controlling forces and torques can be difficult. However, there is evidence that dynamics offers hope for more realistic, natural, and automatic motion control. Because such motion simulates real world conditions, an animation system using dynamic analysis is also a useful tool in such related fields as robotics and biomechanics.