A three-dimensional human model for the IBM/CATIA system.

A 3-D human model was integrated into an IBM RS/6000 CATIA system. CATIA is a highly interactive 3-D CAD/CAM system with the ability to produce solid modelling. The human model is represented by body segments, which are connected by 15 joints. The description of body segments used in the model contains solids with cylinder, cuboid, sphere, ellipsoid cylinder and cuboid prism shapes. Robotic properties are attached to the joints to enable the joint angles to be manipulated. It can be used as a preliminary tool to help designers, engineers and students to evaluate anthropometric factors in workplace and equipment design before the first completion of the design.