Estimating dinosaur maximum running speeds using evolutionary robotics

摘要: Maximum running speed is an important locomotor parameter for many animals—predators as well prey—and thus of interest to palaeobiologists wishing reconstruct the behavioural ecology extinct species. A variety approaches have been tried in past including anatomical comparisons, bone scaling and strength, safety factors ground reaction force analyses. However, these are all indirect alternative approach create a musculoskeletal model animal see how fast it can run. The major advantage this that assumptions about animal's morphology physiology directly addressed, whereas exact same hidden approaches. In paper, we present simple models three extant five bipedal predict top species with reasonably good agreement accepted values, so conclude values presented reasonable predictions given modelling made. Improved better estimates soft tissue parameters will produce more accurate values. Limited sensitivity analysis performed on key muscle but there considerable scope extending future.