Optimization-based posture reconstruction for digital human models

•Optimization-based formulation for posture reconstruction is developed.•Local optimization solution methods are computationally efficient.•The local optimization solution method 3 is the best choice for posture reconstruction.•Z-test was carried out to determine the difference of each solution method.•Probabilities are calculated for each joint center within a given tolerance.

Digital human modeling provides a valuable tool for designers when implemented early in the design process. Motion capture experiments offer a means of validation of the digital human simulation models. However, there is a gap between the motion capture experiments and the simulation models, as the motion capture results are marker positions in Cartesian space and the simulation model is based on joint space. Therefore, it is necessary to map the motion capture data to simulation models by employing a posture reconstruction algorithm. Posture reconstruction is an inherently redundant problem where the collective distance error between experimental joint centers and simulation joint centers is minimized. This paper presents an optimization-based method for determining an accurate and efficient solution to the posture reconstruction problem. The procedure is used to recreate 120 experimental postures. For each posture, the algorithm minimizes the distance between the simulation model joint centers and the corresponding experimental subject joint centers which is called the mean measurement error.