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The simulation of natural human motion remains a challenge. Considerable effort has been spent searching for methods that accurately predict how humans move under different task and environmental conditions. Motivation for these investigations comes from both an interest to understand how the human biological system controls complex motions, and by a need for reasonable motion prediction for a wide range of animation needs. A list of performance criteria is used to review the more popular control methods that have been described in the literature. Apparent from the review is that currently no single method exists for general human movement simulation, yet the eventual construct of a successful controller is becoming more apparent.

For human motion studies, which are to be used for either dynamic biomechanical analyses or development of human motion simulation models, it is important to establish an empirical motion database derived from efficient measurement and well-standardized data processing methodologies. This paper describes the motion recording and data processing system developed for modeling seated reach motions at the University of Michigan's HUMOSIM Laboratory. Both electromagnetic (Flock of Birds) and optical (Qualysis) motion capture systems are being used simultaneously to record the motion data. Using both types of devices provides a robust means to record human motion, but each has different limitations and advantages. The amount of kinematic information (DOFs), external sources of noise, shadowing, off-line marker identification/tracking time, and setup cost are key differences.