multisegment

Multisegment is a general term used to describe an object or model composed of several straight or largely straight components connected end to end. Each component is called a segment, and the joints at the connections permit relative motion or flexible alignment. The resulting structure forms a chain or polyline that can approximate curves and complex shapes by using many short linear pieces.

In geometry and computer graphics, multisegment structures are often called polylines. They are used to represent paths, contours, and skeletal models. Properties of interest include total length, the coordinates of vertices, and curvature concentrated at the joints. Algorithms exist for simplifying, refining, or smoothing multisegment curves.

In robotics and motion planning, multisegment refers to serial or branched manipulators composed of rigid links connected by joints. The configuration is described by joint variables, and forward or inverse kinematics determine positions of end-effectors. Such models support reachability analysis, dexterity measures, and trajectory generation.

In biology and morphology, segmentation refers to repeated modules along an animal's body. Multisegment models help study locomotion, growth, and mechanical properties of segmented organisms such as annelids or arthropods.

In data modeling, multisegment or segmented approaches fit piecewise linear or piecewise polynomial representations to signals or datasets, enabling local approximation and trend analysis. This approach is common in segmented regression, time-series analysis, and design of experiments.