QBI Seminar: How to throw at high speeds, accurately, and accurately at high speeds

Event Details

Date:

Monday, 23 July 2012

Time:

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Room:

Auditorium Level 7

UQ Location:

Queensland Brain Institute (St Lucia)

URL:

http://www.ncbs.res.in/mv/

Event category(s):

Full Description:: Dr. Madhusudhan Vekadesan
National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India

Title: How to throw at high speeds, accurately, and accurately at high speeds

Abstract: Humans are unique among primates in their ability to throw with remarkable accuracy at high speeds. Throwing involves the entire body, with a cascade of energy flow that starts at the legs and ends at the fingertips, leading to a fast, yet accurate throw. We first use
experiments with human subjects to generate hypotheses for how they throw. We then use numerical optimization on these hypothetical models to find strategies for how to maximize throwing speed. We find that the optimum is predictive of how a baseball pitcher throws. This optimal strategy uses torques at the hip, elastic energy storage at the
shoulder, and kinetic energy transfer across multiple segments, resembling an elastically loaded whip. Then, I present a brief calculation to ask how to throw if one cares only about accuracy, and not speed. Finally, I present some early attempts to merge these two
attempts through mechanical and biomechanical experiments with humans. These studies all try to shed light on human evolution, specifically if and how the selection pressure to throw for hunting may have affected our upper body morphology. I will also present a brief sound byte of other projects in my lab related to grasping and locomotion in humans.