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The scaling step scales the mass properties (mass and inertia tensor) of the model, as well as the dimensions of the body segments. Many of the elements attached to the body segments, such as muscle actuators and wrapping objects are also scaled. The scaling algorithm uses a multi-stage process and each stage is described in more detail below.

Step 1 - Computing Scale Factors

The first task involved in the scaling step is to compute the scale factors for each body segment. This can be accomplished using a combination of measurement-based and/or manual scaling.

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As an alternative to computing scale factors using measured marker positions, it is possible to specify the x-y-z scale factors for a segment manually. This is useful if the actual scale factors for segments are known, or were computed using some alternative algorithm.

Step 2 - Scaling the Model's Geometry Based on Computed Scale Factors

Next, the Scale Tool scales the model's geometry based on scale factors computed from measurements or provided manually by the user. The algorithm scales joint frame locations, mass center location, force application points, and muscle attachment points. Since each of these objects is represented in a specific body frame, the scale factors for the corresponding body are applied to scale the positions. For example, the distal soleus muscle attachment point is scaled according to the scaling factors for the shank segment. Wrapping Objects are scaled by the same scaling factors as the body they’re attached to.

Step 3 - Scaling Mass and Inertial Properties 

The computed scale factors, input target mass, and preserve mass distribution are used to scale the masses of the segments. Below is a table describing the four ways that the individual segment masses may be adjusted.

Input Target Mass (TM)Preserve Mass Distribution (PMD)Scaled Model Mass
TM > 0PMD is checkedEach body mass is scaled by the product of its own scale factors, then each body is scaled again by the ratio of the target mass to the sum of the scaled masses. The scaled model mass will equal the input target mass.
TM > 0PMD is uncheckedThe mass of each body is proportionally scaled by the ratio of the target mass to original mass. The scaled model mass will equal the input target mass.
TM <= 0PMD is checkedNone of the body masses change. The scaled model mass will not have changed.
TM <= 0PMD is uncheckedEach body mass is scaled by the product of its own scale factors. The scaled model mass will equal the sum of all the newly scaled body masses.

 


Step 4 - Scaling Muscles and Other Model Components that Depend on Length

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After scaling the model, the next step is to move the model's markers to match experimental marker locations in a static pose. The static pose is computed by trying to match some combination of experimental marker positions and generalized coordinate values, as in the inverse kinematics (IK) step (How Inverse Kinematics Works). The marker locations corresponding to the static pose are computed by averaging the marker positions in a given .trc file across a user-specified time range. Just like IK, marker and coordinate weights are used to determine how strongly the algorithm should try to match them. Once a static pose is computed using the IK-based algorithm, all model markers (except for those designated as fixed) are moved to the averaged "static pose" positions of the experimental markers. 


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