Motion capture and wearable technology
Motion capture as the name suggests, involves any method of capturing motion for the purpose of analysing human or object movement. Such analyses provide a range of applications spanning from medical applications, sport, ergonomics, military applications and entertainment just to name a few. Motion can include many components including, position, orientation, velocity and acceleration, all of which are related to one another. For example, velocity describes how fast we move through the distance between positions, and acceleration describes how we increase or decrease velocity. All of these are mathematically related, and each can be measured as either a magnitude (scalar), or a magnitude with direction (vector).
There are many different methods of motion capture that span both optical and non-optical methods. 2D video analyses have been used as an easy way to evaluate critical variables and enhancing communication between coaches and players. However, these methods also have the disadvantage of being misleading when viewed out of plane, as the footage only represents the particular plane of view it was filmed from. This has led to 3D motion analysis techniques including opto-electronic and retro-reflective systems. These systems have a high degree of precision and accuracy, however can lack ecological validity.
Inertial measurement units (IMU), show great promise in terms of its accuracy, as well as having strong ecological validity from being in the user’s natural environment. IMU’s are a collection of measurement tools that capture data about the device’s movement. Each IMU contains 3D accelerometers, 3D gyroscopes and 3D magnetometers, each being a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS). Briefly, an accelerometer is a device that measures accelerations, or the change of velocity (speed) with respect to time. Accelerometers consist of a mass-spring system contained within a vacuum. As an acceleration occurs, this causes displacement of the mass in the mass-spring system, which is measured. A gyroscope is a device that measures orientation about one plane, as well as angular velocity (rate of turn). It can also provide stability to reference directions in navigation systems. Gyroscopes contain a spinning wheel or disc that track rotations or twist. A tiny oscillating mass is suspended in a spring system, from which rotations exert a force perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation. A magnetometer is a device that measures the direction and strength of a magnetic field at a given location. Much like the workings of the needle of a compass, it can be used to inform heading or direction along the ground plane of the earth.
With these IMU’s, our physical, biological and technological worlds are merging like never before, and the potential of wearable technologies is only restricted by the extent of our imagination. Recent developments in body-worn inertial motion trackers such as the Xsens DOT, allow an affordable and highly accurate method of measuring human motion, with strong ecological validity. To enable new generations of students with this powerful tool, we have created a teaching curriculum that has been developed under the syllabus of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), to achieve many educational outcomes across Biomechanics, sports science and STEM-based subjects. The curriculum incorporates a theoretical framework describing several important concepts across STEM and Biomechanics. It then provides practical lessons for students to work with the technology to enhance understanding. Finally, field-based assignments can be performed to enhance student’s ability to collect, analyse and report data, with assessment criteria provided. Collectively, this allows a robust educational framework to provide students with a real-life feel for a career in STEM.
We will be providing a webinar on wearable technology in education. In this webinar we will talk about wearable technologies and how they can be a valuable tool for academics and teachers. We will also present the curriculum that will be available for education and research professionals to use in their research or integrate into educational programs. More information and registration can be done in the link below.