Application of Force and Inertial Sensors to Monitor the Usage of Walker Assistive Devices |
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| Vítor Viegas, J. M. Dias Pereira, Octavian Postolache, Pedro Silva Girão |
- Abstract:
- Walker assistive devices should be used properly in order to provide maximum safety and comfort to the user. We define two risk indexes to monitor walker usage, one related with force unbalance, and the other related with motor incoordination. We present a measurement system capable of measuring these two indexes and prevent potential risk situations. Force unbalance is measured using load cells attached to the walker legs. Motor incoordination is estimated by synchronizing force measurements with kinematic data provided by an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The measurement system is equipped with a Bluetooth link that enables local supervision on a computer or smartphone. Calibration and experimental results are included in the paper.
- Keywords:
- walker assistive device, load cell, IMU, gait analysis, usage monitoring
- Download:
- IMEKO-TC4-2017-036.pdf
- DOI:
- -
- Event details
- IMEKO TC:
- TC4
- Event name:
- TC4 Symposium 2017
- Title:
22nd IMEKO TC4 Symposium and 20th International Workshop on ADC Modelling and Testing
"Supporting world development through electric&electronic measurements"- Place:
- Iasi, ROMANIA
- Time:
- 14 September 2017 - 15 September 2017