Neuromusculoskeletal modelling of the bird : muscle stimulation and reflex-based control

In an effort to understand bird flight and the efficiency optimization mechanisms of migratory birds, the RevealFlight research project studies aerodynamics, mechanics, and control laws of birds. This thesis is part of that project. In particular, it forms the basis of the neural control study. It examines how predetermined movements can be used to generate neural stimulation signals that will allow muscles to recreate those movements. This requires quantifying the forces on the muscles and using the Inverse Hill Model. Finding these stimulation signals allows the use of multiple forms of control to generate movements, rather than having to manually define those movements. Reflex-based Control is one of the possible forms of control and is examined and implemented in this thesis. With Reflex-based Control, sensory information from the muscles is used to generate the stimulation signals. Finally, further improvement points and future research possibilities are identified and suggested.