scholarly journals Effect of IMU Design on IMU-Derived Stride Metrics for Running

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 2601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael V Potter ◽  
Lauro V Ojeda ◽  
Noel C Perkins ◽  
Stephen M Cain

Researchers employ foot-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) to estimate the three-dimensional trajectory of the feet as well as a rich array of gait parameters. However, the accuracy of those estimates depends critically on the limitations of the accelerometers and angular velocity gyros embedded in the IMU design. In this study, we reveal the effects of accelerometer range, gyro range, and sampling frequency on gait parameters (e.g., distance traveled, stride length, and stride angle) estimated using the zero-velocity update (ZUPT) method. The novelty and contribution of this work are that it: (1) quantifies these effects at mean speeds commensurate with competitive distance running (up to 6.4 m/s); (2) identifies the root causes of inaccurate foot trajectory estimates obtained from the ZUPT method; and (3) offers important engineering recommendations for selecting accurate IMUs for studying human running. The results demonstrate that the accuracy of the estimated gait parameters generally degrades with increased mean running speed and with decreased accelerometer range, gyro range, and sampling frequency. In particular, the saturation of the accelerometer and/or gyro induced during running for some IMU designs may render those designs highly inaccurate for estimating gait parameters.

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Kuschan ◽  
Henning Schmidt ◽  
Jörg Krüger

Abstract:This paper presents an analysis of two distinct human lifting movements regarding acceleration and angular velocity. For the first movement, the ergonomic one, the test persons produced the lifting power by squatting down, bending at the hips and knees only. Whereas performing the unergonomic one they bent forward lifting the box mainly with their backs. The measurements were taken by using a vest equipped with five Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) with 9 Dimensions of Freedom (DOF) each. In the following the IMU data captured for these two movements will be evaluated using statistics and visualized. It will also be discussed with respect to their suitability as features for further machine learning classifications. The reason for observing these movements is that occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system lead to a reduction of the workers’ quality of life and extra costs for companies. Therefore, a vest, called CareJack, was designed to give the worker a real-time feedback about his ergonomic state while working. The CareJack is an approach to reduce the risk of spinal and back diseases. This paper will also present the idea behind it as well as its main components.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1804
Author(s):  
Jorge Posada-Ordax ◽  
Julia Cosin-Matamoros ◽  
Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias ◽  
Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo ◽  
Laura Esteban-Gonzalo ◽  
...  

In recent years, interest in finding alternatives for the evaluation of mobility has increased. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) stand out for their portability, size, and low price. The objective of this study was to examine the accuracy and repeatability of a commercially available IMU under controlled conditions in healthy subjects. A total of 36 subjects, including 17 males and 19 females were analyzed with a Wiva Science IMU in a corridor test while walking for 10 m and in a threadmill at 1.6 km/h, 2.4 km/h, 3.2 km/h, 4 km/h, and 4.8 km/h for one minute. We found no difference when we compared the variables at 4 km/h and 4.8 km/h. However, we found greater differences and errors at 1.6 km/h, 2.4 km/h and 3.2 km/h, and the latter one (1.6 km/h) generated more error. The main conclusion is that the Wiva Science IMU is reliable at high speeds but loses reliability at low speeds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sota Araki ◽  
Masayuki Kawada ◽  
Takasuke Miyazaki ◽  
Yuki Nakai ◽  
Yasufumi Takeshita ◽  
...  

Many stroke patients rely on cane or ankle-foot orthosis during gait rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the gluteus medius (GMed) and tibialis anterior (TA) on gait performance in stroke patients, including those who needed assistive devices. Fourteen stroke patients were enrolled in this study (mean poststroke duration: 194.9 ± 189.6   d ; mean age: 72.8 ± 10.7   y ). Participants walked 14 m at a comfortable velocity with and without FES to the GMed and TA. After an adaptation period, lower-limb motion was measured using magnetic inertial measurement units attached to the pelvis and the lower limb of the affected side. Motion range of angle of the affected thigh and shank segments in the sagittal plane, motion range of the affected hip and knee extension-flexion angle, step time, and stride time were calculated from inertial measurement units during the middle ten walking strides. Gait velocity, cadence, and stride length were also calculated. These gait indicators, both with and without FES, were compared. Gait velocity was significantly faster with FES ( p = 0.035 ). Similarly, stride length and motion range of the shank of the affected side were significantly greater with FES (stride length: p = 0.018 ; motion range of the shank: p = 0.02 6). Meanwhile, cadence showed no significant difference ( p = 0.238 ) in gait with or without FES. Similarly, range of motion of the affected hip joint, knee joint, and thigh did not differ significantly depending on FES condition ( p = 0.115 ‐ 0.529 ). FES to the GMed and TA during gait produced an improvement in gait velocity, stride length, and motion range of the shank. Our results will allow therapists to use FES on stroke patients with varying conditions.


Author(s):  
Ryan S. McGinnis ◽  
Jessandra Hough ◽  
N. C. Perkins

Newly developed miniature wireless inertial measurement units (IMUs) hold great promise for measuring and analyzing multibody system dynamics. This relatively inexpensive technology enables non-invasive motion tracking in broad applications, including human motion analysis. The second part of this two-part paper advances the use of an array of IMUs to estimate the joint reactions (forces and moments) in multibody systems via inverse dynamic modeling. In particular, this paper reports a benchmark experiment on a double-pendulum that reveals the accuracy of IMU-informed estimates of joint reactions. The estimated reactions are compared to those measured by high precision miniature (6 dof) load cells. Results from ten trials demonstrate that IMU-informed estimates of the three dimensional reaction forces remain within 5.0% RMS of the load cell measurements and with correlation coefficients greater than 0.95 on average. Similarly, the IMU-informed estimates of the three dimensional reaction moments remain within 5.9% RMS of the load cell measurements and with correlation coefficients greater than 0.88 on average. The sensitivity of these estimates to mass center location is discussed. Looking ahead, this benchmarking study supports the promising and broad use of this technology for estimating joint reactions in human motion applications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward P. Washabaugh ◽  
Tarun Kalyanaraman ◽  
Peter G. Adamczyk ◽  
Edward S. Claflin ◽  
Chandramouli Krishnan

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatas Lukšys ◽  
Gintaras Jonaitis ◽  
Julius Griškevičius

Background. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects human voluntary movements. Tremor is one of the most common symptoms of PD and is expressed as involuntary oscillation of the body. Tremors can be analysed in the frequency domain. Objective. The aim of the current study was to examine selected tremor parameters (frequency, root mean square, and approximated entropy) in order to quantify the characteristics of patients diagnosed with PD, compared to a healthy control group, and to compare the parameters by dividing the subjects according to UPDRS assessment. Methods. The subjects were divided into two groups: a group of people diagnosed with PD (n = 19) and a control group consisting of healthy volunteers (CO = 12). Each subject performed motor tasks specific to certain tremors: the finger-to-nose test. Each subject performed a motor task three times. A nine degree of freedom (DOF) wireless inertial measurement unit was used for the measurement of upper limb motor tasks. For the quantitative estimation of kinetic and postural tremors, dominant frequency, root means square, and approximation entropy were selected and calculated from the measured angular velocity and linear acceleration signals. A one-way ANOVA with a significance level of α = 0.05 was used to test the null hypothesis that the means of the tremor metrics were the same between the PD and CO groups. Results. Statistically significant differences between PD patients and control groups were observed in ApEn acceleration signal of kinetic tremor, ApEn angular velocity signal of kinetic tremor, ApEn angular velocity of postural tremor, frequency acceleration signal of postural tremor, and RMS angular speed kinetic tremor. Conclusion. Application of inertial measurement units for clinical research of patients and PD tremor evaluation allows providing quantitative information for diagnostic purposes, during screening in a clinical setting that differentiates between PD patients and controls.


Sensors ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 376
Author(s):  
Cornelis J. de Ruiter ◽  
Erik Wilmes ◽  
Pepijn S. van Ardenne ◽  
Niels Houtkamp ◽  
Reinder A. Prince ◽  
...  

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) fixed to the lower limbs have been reported to provide accurate estimates of stride lengths (SLs) during walking. Due to technical challenges, validation of such estimates in running is generally limited to speeds (well) below 5 m·s−1. However, athletes sprinting at (sub)maximal effort already surpass 5 m·s−1 after a few strides. The present study aimed to develop and validate IMU-derived SLs during maximal linear overground sprints. Recreational athletes (n = 21) completed two sets of three 35 m sprints executed at 60, 80, and 100% of subjective effort, with an IMU on the instep of each shoe. Reference SLs from start to ~30 m were obtained with a series of video cameras. SLs from IMUs were obtained by double integration of horizontal acceleration with a zero-velocity update, corrected for acceleration artefacts at touch-down of the feet. Peak sprint speeds (mean ± SD) reached at the three levels of effort were 7.02 ± 0.80, 7.65 ± 0.77, and 8.42 ± 0.85 m·s−1, respectively. Biases (±Limits of Agreement) of SLs obtained from all participants during sprints at 60, 80, and 100% effort were 0.01% (±6.33%), −0.75% (±6.39%), and −2.51% (±8.54%), respectively. In conclusion, in recreational athletes wearing IMUs tightly fixed to their shoes, stride length can be estimated with reasonable accuracy during maximal linear sprint acceleration.


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