Final prototype

In this post is possible to see part of the project's final outcome. The first three pictures show the final prototype built using the available technology, and the following ones show the final concept proposal meant for sportive use. I'll be soon uploading the project's final report with the full story behind it and the complete development so make sure to keep checking i!

time is running out

new...

More rapids coming out of the oven...

First Prototype

Fresh rapids out of the printer

Fitting the electronics. Like a glove!

All snaps working like a precision watch, like a Swiss precision watch!

Quick tests with a generic nylon band.

Marcos testing the fitting. Thanks buddy!

Prototype

some new sketches

Interesting / Inspirational 2

Developed by researchers at the Tokyo University, the Magic Mirror is the state of the art technology in terms of stationary Movement Analysis. The full article at Pink Tentacle or if you speak Japanese go to the project's website.

First design study - Motion Capture Sensor

This is a first form exercise trying to defy a formal language for the Motion Capture Sensor. The fixation to the straps is made with the use of magnets. This is just a formal study used to analyze the general volume and proportions, it should not be taken as the final design.

New toys...

After my last meeting with the CMTF team I was able to get my hands on some of the electronic components that will dictate the dimensions of the units. The first picture shows the circuit board used for the motion capture sensor and the one used for the data collecting unit. The sizes are pretty fixed by now bit I had the chance to move some components on the capture sensor board.

This is the rough size of the capture sensor, looks pretty small the trick is that on top of it here is a 3 axis cubic accelerometer that measures around 20x20x20mm.

Some new sketches of the sensor now considering the right sizes and proportions. One of the directions looks really promising, simple shapes and construction... more to come on it.

Mockup 01 - Knee

Here are some pictures of a simple mockup tested with the help of one of my colleagues.
The chosen configuration for this test was the simplest possible, two leg braces connected by exposed cables. This mockup showed that exposed cabled may not be a problem during functional testings in a controlled environment but they can be quite of an issue for athletes and professional users. Was also possible to observe that a larger contact surface would provide better stabilization for the sensors.

Motion capture sensors

Even though I'm not in the styling phase of the project yet, I took some time to play around with the shape of the motion capture sensors. One of the conclusions I took after these sketches is that this sensor must be an independent product which can be attached or detached whenever it's necessary. This way the same sensor can be used in different harnesses and braces.

Design Language

I'm getting into a point on this project where things tend to get a bit more visual... A mood board helps keeping the track on the look and feel of the product and that's what I'm trying to get here. The final look of this product must evoke precision and professionalism since it's meant to be used by professionals in either sports or medicine fields. I named this Formal language "Technorganic" since the project has two strong sides the high-end electronic components and the organic shapes of the human body. here is a mood board to set the visual pace.

The Technology

At the moment we have one working unit with two Movement capture sensors. This unit is consisted of:
1 - Control box. This box holds one micro processor, one blue tooth radio transmitter, one SD card port, inboard memory and the system's batteries.
2 - Movement capture sensors. These sensors consist of one circuit board that holds one 5 axis accelerometer. The whole system is connected by flat circuit cables.

Scenarios - 03

Scenario 03
Work environment and professional measuring:

Many professions demand direct use of body and motion. The people responsible for executing these tasks can experience several orthopedic problems connected to their activities. In order to study and avoid possible problems a portable movement analysis unit aligned with a strain gauge could provide precise information about movement and force applied by these professionals during their activities. This data would help to optimize their routine and health.

Hospital Visits

During my second visit to the Norrlands Hospital I followed Dr. Anna Kallstromer, physiotherapist and I had a chance to observe the exam of a man who have had his hip joint replaced five weeks before. This exam consisted of a routine of really simple movements performed by the patient who was observed all the time by the doctor. The conclusions taken after this session are simple but prove what I was thinking since the start. A product used in such exam must be simple and easy to use but since it is such a controlled environment concerns about super strong fastening systems and placement of possible connection cables can be taken down a notch. Here you can see some quick sketches of the movements performed by the patient:

Scenarios - 02

Scenario 02
Functional exams for patients who had gone or are about to go through orthopedic surgery:

This is the original scenario thought for the project a small measuring unit connected to the patient's limbs to assist the doctor with real time numeric data during the exams. In a situation like this the patient would not have to wear it for long periods so it should be extremely easy to attach and detach.

Scenarios - 01

I'm currently working on possible scenarios for this technology. I'll be posting them here as well. Here is the first one...

Scenario 01
Professional Athlete | Performance enhancer:

An athlete’s body position can make or brake a result. Downhill skiing can be a good example, the slightest mistake during a run can add fractions of a second to the final time which can mean the difference between first or second place. Nowadays the analysis of an athlete’s movement’s is made with images recorded throughout his/hers run. The data acquired with these methods is only visual and not accurate. Aligning a PMAU with GPS technology would allow an athlete’s movements to be analyzed in real time in an specific spot of the track this data could be stored to be latter compared with others. A graphic skeleton representing the athlete would mimic all the movements so the trainer could observe gain or lost of time during certain moves in certain sections of the course. Allowing this way the trainer and athlete to discuss what can be done to improve the performance during the final run.

Product Architecture

Here are some early stage sketches exploring fixations and fastening methods. There were all donne before my visits to the hospital, so some ideas are discarded for functional testing on patients and others start to look really interesting for athletes.