Neuromechanical Control of Paddle Juggling

Abstract

The objective of this research is to discover the rules by which the human nervous system controls the cyclic task of paddle juggling. The existence of separate feedforward and feedback control signals is hypothesized, and the feedforward control system is completely identified using tools from dynamical systems theory. Using this knowledge progress is made in identifying the feedback control system, with some interesting findings. The author believes that the data analysis methods in this work are novel and can be applied in the study of other hybrid dynamical cyclic tasks such as walking and running.