System for Measuring the Walking Speed of a Human Subject on a Force Plate

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a system for measuring the walking speed on a force plate that measures ground reaction. The walking speed measurement system must meet the following criteria: minimal impact on the force plate, easy installation/dismantling, speed must be detected "without contact" and speed of subject must be detected irrespective of the subject's clothing colour, it must provide the possibility of using several types of force plate, it must allow the addition of new functions and have a competitive price. Ground reaction force was measured using the AMTI's AccuGait force plate and the NetForce component, while analysis was performed using the BioAnalysis module. To assess the three components of the ground reaction force provided by the force plate, for a subject not wearing shoes, walking at different speeds, two measurement sessions were organized: placing optical barriers of the walking speed measurement system at distances of 2.5 m and 0.7 m, respectively. Upon analyzing the values ? ? obtained in this case study, we can observe an increase in values of the following components: vertical component, Fz, medio-lateral component, Fy and anterior-posterior component, Fx at the speed of 2.33 m/s, compared to those obtained at 0.6 m/s. By comparing values provided by the force plate with optical barriers of the walking speed measurement system placed at distances of 2.5 m and 0.7 m, respectively, very small differences can be noticed. Therefore, the position of optical barriers does not affect the measurement of ground reaction force components. KEY WORDS: speed, walking, ground reaction force SISTEM DE MÃSURARE A VITEZEI DE DEPLASARE A SUBIECTULUI UMAN LA MERSUL PE O PLATFORMÃ DE FORÞÃREZUMAT. În cadrul acestei lucrãri se prezintã realizarea unui sistem de mãsurare a vitezei de deplasare deasupra unei platforme de mãsurare a reacþiunii solului. Sistemul de mãsurare a vitezei de deplasare trebuie sã respecte urmãtoarele criterii: impact minim asupra platformei, permiterea unei montãri/demontãri facile, detecþia vitezei sã se realizeze "fãrã contact" ºi cea a subiectului sã se realizeze indiferent de culoarea îmbrãcãmintei subiectului, sã ofere posibilitatea folosirii la mai multe tipuri de platforme de forþã, sã permitã adãugarea unor noi funcþiuni ºi sã fie la un preþ competitiv. Mãsurarea forþei de reacþiune a solului s-a realizat cu platforma AMTI's AccuGait, folosind componenta NetForce, iar analiza acesteia s-a realizat cu modulul BioAnalysis. Pentru evaluarea celor trei componente ale forþei de reacþiune a solului furnizate de platforma de forþã, în cazul unui subiect ce nu poartã încãlþãminte, mergând cu viteze diferite, au fost organizate douã sesiuni de mãsurare: amplasarea barierelor optice ale sistemului de mãsurare a vitezei de mers la distanþa de 2,5 m, respectiv 0,7 m. Analizând valorile obþinute în acest studiu de caz, se poate observa o creºtere a valorilor componentelor: verticale Fz, medio-laterale Fy ºi a celei antero-posterioare Fx la viteza de 2,33 m/s faþã de cele obþi...

Plantar Footprints Analysis - Case Study (Part 2)

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