Book excerpt: This book is an integrated approach to kinematic and dynamic analysis. The matrix techniques presented are general and fully applicable to two- or three-dimensional systems. They lend themselves to programming and digital computation and can act as the basis of a usable tool for designers. Techniques have broad applicability to the design analysis of all multibody mechanical systems. The more powerful and more flexible the approach, and the less specialisation and reprogramming required for each application, the better. The matrix methods presented have been developed using these ideas as primary goals. Matrix methods can be applied by hand to such problems as the slider-crank mechanism, but this is not the intent of this text, and often the rigor required for such an attempt becomes quite burdensome in comparison with other techniques. The matrix methods have been extensively tested, both in the classroom and in the world of engineering industry.