Virtual arm in Simulink environment for reaching movement simulation in the transverse plane

Different pieces of software can be used to simulate virtual movements, such as SIMM-SD/Fast or LifeModAdams. Complexities of using multiple pieces of software and lack of enough knowledge of their concepts to use them professionally has made it inevitable for most researchers to use common and helpful software, MATLAB/SIMULINK. In recent years the use of virtual reality in reaching movement in order to assess the performance and improve the efficiency of models has been of interest to researchers. Because simulation results are presented in an environment very close to real-world. This paper deal with implementation of a virtual arm model in reaching movement in MATLAB/SIMULINK toolbox. The skeletal part of the virtual arm model consists of two joints and two links on the transverse plane. The implemented-muscle model is based on Zajac muscle-tendon model where Static and dynamic characteristics muscles and tendons are justified. Various MATLAB toolboxes such as neural networks, fuzzy, optimization, signal processing and system identification have made it possible to analyze the virtual arm model in these sectors.