Described is a goal-oriented sensorimotor controller for generating musculoskeletal simulations with neural excitation commands. The controller receives a task-level motion command for motion of a musculoskeletal system, the musculoskeletal system having musculoskeletal dynamics that include steady state tendon forces. The controller then generates, based on the task-level motion command, a set of muscle activations associated with the steady state tendon forces. A set of excitation commands are then generated that minimizes required muscle activations amongst the set of muscle activations to generate motion consistent with the task-level motion command, thereby performing a musculoskeletal simulation.
