Human Body Movement Analysis Research Articles

Pre-braking behaviors analysis based on Hilbert–Huang transform

Previous studies have shown that about 90% of traffic accidents are due to human error, which means that human factors may affect a driver's braking behaviors and thus their driving safety, especially when the driver makes a braking motion. However, most studies have mounted sensors on the brake pad, ignoring to some extent an analysis of the driver's behavior before the brake pad is pressed (pre-braking). Therefore, to determine the effect of different human factors on drivers' pre-braking behaviors, this study focused on analyzing drivers' local joints (knee, ankle, and toe) by a motion capture device. A Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT)-based local human body movement analysis method was used to decompose the realistic complex pre-braking actions into sub-actions such as intrinsic mode functions (IMF1, IMF2, etc.). Analysis of the results showed that IMF1 is a common and necessary action when pre-braking for all drivers, and IMF2 may be the safety assurance action that allows right-foot transverse movement at the beginning part of the pre-braking process. We also found that the experienced, male, and Phys.50 groups may have consistent characteristics in the HHT scheme, which could mean that such drivers would have better performance and efficiency during the pre-braking process. The results of this study will be useful in decomposing and discerning the specific actions that lead to accidents, providing insights into driver training for novice drivers, and guiding the construction of daily automated driver assistance or accident prevention systems (advanced driver assistance systems, ADASs).

Design of UHF RFID Sensor-Tags for the Biomechanical Analysis of Human Body Movements

This paper presents the design and the development of a Battery Assisted Passive Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag in the Ultra High-Frequency band integrated with inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors tested for the biomechanical analysis of human body movements. Enhanced by a compact and efficient meandered Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA), the device exploits a specific RFID chip having a dual-access -wired and wireless- to the memory. A properly decoupled cell battery is also foreseen to boost the chip sensitivity and to supply power to an ultra-low power microcontroller and to the sensors. The device has been realized using off-the-shelf low-cost discrete components on FR4 substrate, validated, and tested in capturing real human movements. Two sensor-tags have been applied on the pelvis and on the torso of an individual moving in front of the RFID Reader antenna. Afterward, sensor data have been collected, processed, and filtered with specific algorithms, and used to control a musculoskeletal virtual model in the OpenSense software tool. The results show that the whole system correctly reproduces the performed movements, demonstrating the appropriateness of the proposed RFID-sensor in wireless movement capture applications.

Hand movement classification from measured scattering parameters using deep convolutional neural network

Human body movement analysis aids in implementing the physical rehabilitation process to regain the diminished motor abilities. In this work, the feasibility of using antennas and no dedicated sensors for movement identification is explored. Compact dual-band transmitting and receiving antennas of size 37.6 mm × 27 mm with frequency accuracy of 87% at lower band and 76% at higher band are simulated, fabricated and placed on the body of ten healthy subjects with normal BMI (18.5–24.9) kg/m2. Subjects are made to demonstrate five different hand movements. The dataset for each hand movement is experimentally measured using a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). Measurement results reveal that the Reflection and Transmission coefficients (S11 and S21) of on-body antennas for each hand movement exhibit unique channel functionalities with respect to frequency. The uniqueness of the exhibited parameters aids in identifying the hand movements. Classification of hand movements based on measured data set is carried out using Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN). The classification accuracy of movement comes out to be 93.32% when classifying using S11 parameters, and an accuracy of 98.67% when classifying using S21 parameters.

Deep Learning Approach for Emotion Recognition from Human Body Movements with Feedforward Deep Convolution Neural Networks

Nowadays, analysis of human body movements for emotion recognition is essential for social communication. Non-verbal communication methods like body movements, facial expression, gestures and eye movements are used in several applications. Among them emotion recognition from body movements has an advantage of recognize emotions of person from any camera view and also recognize emotions, if person is too far from camera. The body movements can strongly convey emotional states than other studies. In this paper, emotional state recognizes from full body motion patterns using feedforward deep convolution neural network architecture with different parameter. The proposed system can be evaluated by emotion dataset (University of YORK) with 15 types of emotions and GEMEP corpus dataset with 5 emotions. The experimental result showed the better recognition accuracy of the proposed system.

Статодинамическая устойчивость тела спортсмена как основа эффективных двигательных действий в неожиданных ситуациях (на материале рукопашного боя)

Objective. To perform biomechanical analysis and to assess the peculiarities of static dynamic stability of the body in athletes of different qualification who perform motor actions in unexpected and rapidly changing situations (based on the materials of hand-to-hand combat). Methods. Analysis of specialized scientific and methodological literature; biomechanical analysis of human body movements using the system of 3D kinematic analysis "Qualisys" and synchronized force platform "Kistler"; methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The biomechanics of static dynamic stability of the body was studied during execution of motor tasks in unexpected situations of hand-to-hand combat. A series of strikes performed by highly qualifi ed athletes is characterized by a rational distribution of the fighter's efforts in the direction of the strike with the appropriate minimization of lateral movements and vertical displacements of the body center of gravity. The motor actions are accompanied by the rapid stabilization of the body between the phases of strike movements and, especially, in the final stage, that allows the fighter to promptly make subsequent decisions and translate them into the required motor actions, which are appropriate to the changing conditions. The data of measurements indicated a high level of static dynamic stability of the body. Achievement of model values of motor actions of the fi ghters is associated with the development and the use of special local programs for the development and improvement of the "motor field" as a basis for technical preparation and technical preparedness of athletes. Conclusion. Maintenance of static dynamic stability when executing motor actions in unexpected and constantly changing situations is associated with the use of special training programs focused on expanding and deepening the motor memory and the “motor field” as the most important components of the athletes' technical preparedness.

DISSECAÇÃO SIMBÓLICA DO CORPO: OS ESTUDOS ANATÕMICOS DE FRANÇOIS DELSARTE E SUAS REVERBERAÇÕES NA PERCEPÇÃO DO MOVIMENTO, A PARTIR DE UM RECORTE SOBRE A DANÇA MODERNA AMERICANA

Este artigo reflete sobre as percepções desenvolvidos pelo artista e pedagogo francês François Delsarte (1811-1871) a partir do campo do conhecimento da anatomia. Delsarte foi responsável por um amplo estudo e análise do movimento do corpo humano no contexto europeu do século XIX, quando se propõe a desenvolver uma sistematização que refletiria sobre a simbologia do gesto e também uma investigação da expressividade através do corpo. Sob a perspectiva dos saberes da anatomia e também da transmissão de conhecimento, o artigo analisa textos de Genèvieve Stebbins e cartas James Steele Morrison MacKaye dentro do movimento nomeado como “Delsartismo Americano”, que alteraram e atualizaram o saber sobre o estudo do movimento proposto inicialmente por Delsarte dentro do contexto do território americano na virada do século XIX para o XX. Por fim desenvolve a análise de trechos da obra “Every Little Movement”, de Ted Shaw (1963) e discute como o conhecimento anatômico inicial de François Delsarte foi compreendido e posteriormente incorporado à percepção de movimento de Shawn, ao influenciar o pensamento em dança do artista americano.

A Study on Fall Simulation and Shock Absorption Systems for the Development of a Fracture Prevention System

With modern society entering an aging society, revitalizing elderly people's social activities and thus increasing their fall injuries leading to the fracture of various parts of the body, this study sought to examine shock amount generated when elderly people fall in diverse directions and hit the ground in a bid to develop a system aimed at minimizing shocks and preventing bone fractures. Existing studies dealt with young subjects sustaining fall injuries because a more number of elderly people suffer them, compared with young people, making it hard to obtain fall injuries data of elderly people. Thus, in this study, a system enabling a rapid movement and fall induction was used so as to simulate forced falls, and various joint movements during falls were measured using a 3-D human body movement analysis system. Young subjects participated in actual forced fall experiments, due to their safety, and their body movement data were input onto the human body movement simulation program so as to simulate falls, and resulting shock amounts were measured. Dynamic elements occurring during falls in various parts of the body, such as displacement, speed and acceleration, were input into the various parts of the body of elderly people models which were incorporated into the simulation program, and falls were simulated so as to calculate shock amounts generated when elderly people fall and hit the ground. Also, herein proposed was a system designed to reduce fall shock amounts with the aim of preventing bone fractures, using carbon dioxide gas, solenoid valves, air bag systems. This shock reduction system is believed to be used in the bone fracture prevention system that we are keeping researching on.

Ambulatory Assessment of Ankle and Foot Dynamics

Ground reaction force (GRF) measurement is important in the analysis of human body movements. The main drawback of the existing measurement systems is the restriction to a laboratory environment. This paper proposes an ambulatory system for assessing the dynamics of ankle and foot, which integrates the measurement of the GRF with the measurement of human body movement. The GRF and the center of pressure (CoP) are measured using two six-degrees-of-freedom force sensors mounted beneath the shoe. The movement of foot and lower leg is measured using three miniature inertial sensors, two rigidly attached to the shoe and one on the lower leg. The proposed system is validated using a force plate and an optical position measurement system as a reference. The results show good correspondence between both measurement systems, except for the ankle power estimation. The root mean square (RMS) difference of the magnitude of the GRF over 10 evaluated trials was (0.012 +/- 0.001) N/N (mean +/- standard deviation), being (1.1 +/- 0.1)% of the maximal GRF magnitude. It should be noted that the forces, moments, and powers are normalized with respect to body weight. The CoP estimation using both methods shows good correspondence, as indicated by the RMS difference of (5.1 +/- 0.7) mm, corresponding to (1.7 +/- 0.3)% of the length of the shoe. The RMS difference between the magnitudes of the heel position estimates was calculated as (18 +/- 6) mm, being (1.4 +/- 0.5)% of the maximal magnitude. The ankle moment RMS difference was (0.004 +/- 0.001) Nm/N, being (2.3 +/- 0.5)% of the maximal magnitude. Finally, the RMS difference of the estimated power at the ankle was (0.02 +/- 0.005) W/N, being (14 +/- 5)% of the maximal power. This power difference is caused by an inaccurate estimation of the angular velocities using the optical reference measurement system, which is due to considering the foot as a single segment. The ambulatory system considers separate heel and forefoot segments, thus allowing an additional foot moment and power to be estimated. Based on the results of this research, it is concluded that the combination of the instrumented shoe and inertial sensing is a promising tool for the assessment of the dynamics of foot and ankle in an ambulatory setting.

AMBULATORY MEASUREMENT OF GROUND REACTION FORCE AND ESTIMATION OF ANKLE AND FOOT DYNAMICS

INTRODUCTION Traditionally, human body movement analysis is done in so-called ‘gait laboratories’. In these laboratories, body movement is measured by a camera system using optical markers, the ground reaction force by a force plate fixed in the floor, and the muscle activity by EMG. From the body movements and ground reaction forces, joint moments and powers can be estimated by applying inverse dynamics methods. However, the main drawback is the restriction to the laboratory environment. In order to overcome this lab restriction, several research groups try to develop ambulatory measurement systems (e.g. [2]). This study presents an ambulatory measurement system for the measurement of the Ground Reaction Force (GRF), and the estimation of ankle and foot dynamics. METHODS The measurement system consisted of an orthopaedic sandal with two six degrees-of-freedom force/moment sensors beneath the heel and the forefoot (Figure 1). The position and orientation of heel and forefoot were estimated using the 3D accelerometer and 3D gyroscope of two miniature inertial ensors (Xsens Motion Technologies, http://www.xsens), rigidly attached to the force sensors. Moreover, a third inertial sensor was attached to the lower leg. The GRF was measured by the force/moment sensors beneath the shoe. A derivation of the calculation of the dynamics of ankle and foot can be found in [1]. The performance of the developed measurement system was evaluated by comparing the ambulatory measurement system with a reference measurement system, consisting of an optical measurement system (Vicon) and a force plate (AMTI). During the measurements, a healthy subject wearing the instrumented shoes, inertial sensors and optical markers, was asked to walk repeatedly over the force plate. In order to compare the signals measured with both measurement systems, a global coordinate system was defined with the x-axis pointing forward, the y-axis to the right, and the z-axis upward, resulting in a right-handed orthogonal coorinate system. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The three components of the measured GRF of a healthy subject are shown in Figure 2. The signals measured with the instrumented shoe show good correspondence with the signals measured with the force plate, which is confirmed by the root-mean-square error between the magnitudes of the GRF, being 0.02 N/N or 1.8 % of the maximal magnitude. Figure 3 shows an integration of the measured GRF with the estimated position of the heel and forefoot sensor. The figure indicates the possibility of the ambulatory measurement system to measure several steps during a single measurement, which is not possible with the reference system. A detailed discussion about the performance of the ambulatory measurement system can be found in [1]. REFERENCES 1. Schepers HM, et al. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., Accepted, 2007. 2.Baten CTM, et al. ISEK, Torino, Italy, 2006. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research is part of the FreeMotion project, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.