Sensors for Biomechanics

Sensor Workshop wiki

Kinematics: Orientation, joint angles, velocity, acceleration

• Orientation/tilt
  • Tilt switch
  • Digital compass

• Joint angles (rotary motion)
  • Goniometer

• Electrogoniometers
• Flex sensors
  • Demo project by 8th grader: sign language translation glove
  • PComp lab
• Encoders
• Potentiometers
• Kinect
• 3D Motion Capture

• Velocity (translation)
  • Inertial Measurement Unit
    • Q. Li, M. Young, V. Naing, and J. M. Donelan, “Walking speed estimation using a shank-mounted inertial measurement unit,” Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 43, no. 8, pp. 1640-1643, May 2010.

• Velocity (angular)
  • Gyroscope
  • Anything under orientation (as long as you have time as well since velocity = change in angle/time elapsed)

• Acceleration
  • Accelerometer

Kinetics: Forces and Torques

• Force
  • Push/Contact
    • Scales (kitchen scale, bathroom scale)
    • Piezoelectric sensors (see Nike’s piezoelectric shoe sensor tear down)
    • Force Sensing Resistors (PComp Lab)
    • Flexiforce pressure sensors
    • Digital force gauges
    • Load cells
    • Wii balance board
    • Muscle force – EMG sensor

used to create the Telemyograph

• Pull/Stretch
  • Luggage scale
  • Spring scale
  • Digital force gauges
  • Load cells
  • Stretch sensors (Example)

• Torque
  • Torque wrench? Just use Force and multiply by distance!

Other

• Fitbit
• Pulse sensor