Locomotor adaptations in relation to mode and environmental factors

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Self propelled displacement can take many forms (e.g., biped, wheeled), but always requires support, balance, and trajectory control (direction and speed) driven by the environment and intent. While we are learning much about anticipatory control of walking, issues such as lower limb independence for stepping over obstacles, and the cause-effect relationships within the larger person-environment continuum for circumventing obstacles (particularly for social factors and locomotor mode) are still not well understood. The long-term goals of my program are to: 1) study the interaction between personal and environmental factors related to anticipatory locomotor adaptation; and 2) advance technology to measure such interaction. In relation to these two areas, projects over the next five years are designed to : 1a –understand the relation between equilibrium and stepping control with respect to the physical characteristics of environmental obstructions; 1b–differentiate generic from mode-specific locomotor navigational control related to environmental factors; 1c–relate locomotor navigational control to physical and social environmental factors; and 2–innovate locomotor VR protocols to simulate physical social contact.