Biomechanics and Robotics

“This is one of the few books to look at Biomechanics and Robotics in an integrated way: understanding ourselves as machines, and supporting the coming revolution in bio-inspired robot design.”

~Prof. Chris Atkeson, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, USA

“Biology, engineering, physics, and other fields such as business all collide in fascinating ways in the area of robotics research and design. Prof. Popovic’s book succeeds admirably in tying these diverse disciplines together, for the first time, in a breezy, easily digestible style, with a strong historical emphasis that enhances the content. The book is certainly appropriate for undergraduate teaching—it would provide the stimulating basis for a great course, and the sample problems at the end of the text could even challenge younger graduate students, while the excellent choices of references provide a superb basis for anyone wishing diving deeper into the actual underpinning research and innovation. Biomechanics and Robotics is a really fun read that promises to teach even seasoned veterans in this field something interesting or to get them looking at old problems in a new light. I think it should become part of every good biomechanical engineer’s library, fulfilling a unique niche in the market and a milestone that future generations will look back upon favourably.”

~Prof. John Hutchinson, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK

"To get inspiration from mother nature is one of the fundamental and very fascinating methods to design creative and practical robotic systems. This book is of very high quality and gives us the big picture of this interesting and diversified field.”

~Dr. Eng. Prof. Shigeo Hirose, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

“Biomechanics and Robotics” provides a comprehensive treatment of intelligence in action, from Nature to Machine.  This book draws deep connections between the natural and the synthetic, showing how the same principles apply to both, starting from sensing, through control, to actuation.  Those principles are illustrated in several domains, including locomotion, prosthetics, and medicine.  The extensive historical context and pioneer biographies also make this a fun read.  This book should appeal to, delight, and inspire biologists and roboticists alike.”

~Prof. Michael A. Gennert, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, USA

"Biomechanics and Robotics are often covered as two completely distinct disciplines. This book does an exceptional job as an introductory textbook that meshes them together and shows how both fields can draw inspiration and better understanding from each other. This renaissance-type perspective is particularly important at an era when service robotics are perceived, and rightfully so, as the next technological revolution. Brilliant!"

~Prof. Hermano Igo Krebs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA