Case Study: University of Technology of Compiègne develops detailed hand motion model with MSC Software Adams

Adams Helps Unravel the Complexities of Hand Motion for Manipulation of Virtual Objects

The University of Technology of Compiègne worked on the MANDARIN project to develop a simple, compact, light, and relatively inexpensive force feedback glove for virtual reality. To support that effort, it needed a way to model the complexity of hand and forearm motion accurately, which is difficult because of the hand’s anatomy.

MSC Software’s Adams multibody dynamics simulation software was used to import kinematic data and build a highly detailed musculoskeletal model of the hand and forearm. The project used 55 reflective markers and produced results including joint angulations, muscle forces, and joint loads; the model showed metacarpophalangeal joint loads between 3.8 and 6.2 N and joint torques between 130 and 235 N/m during a cylinder-grasping task.

University of Technology of Compiègne

Frederic Marin

Professor