Biomechanical Horse

Introduction

For this project, we have been tasked to design and develop a life size mechanical horse in order to study the biomechanics of the horse as well as the effects the rider has on the horse at different gaits.  In our analysis, we will look at the basic kinematics and symmetry of the rider and horse, as well as common injuries that occur because of asymmetry between the horse and rider. 

 

 In order to better understand the type of analysis that will be done, we are going to do the same type of analysis with a sport that is more familiar to us.  Therefore, speed skating was chosen because this is not only a well studied sport, but there are also many parallels between this analysis and the analysis that will be done on the horse. 

 

 We are also working with Dr. Lars Roepstorff from the Swedish University of Agriculture.  He has already collected data on the motion of the horse and we will be using this data to design and fabricate a mechanical horse that simulates that motion.

Group Picture