Miniaturised 9-axis IMU supports new generation of rehabilitation applications
The MotionPod is a patented hardware solution for motion sensing that incorporates a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis magnetometer in fully integrated package complete with software and wireless interface. The device is a wireless Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that uses MEMS sensors to accurately measure 9 Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) motion with a PCB module that is about the size of a small wristwatch.
The miniaturized MotionPod is now an off-the-shelf component, ready to be used in a wide range of applications including fitness, gaming, and sports.
“The MotionPod is a perfect solution for the health and fitness market,” explained Sam Guilaumé, Movea’s CEO. “This nine-axis sensing device provides precise, real-time angular information with a dynamic accuracy of 1 degree, enabling very accurate measurement of rehabilitation and fitness activities.”
RM Ingénierie, which specializes in medical and paramedical management software, uses Movea MotionPods in their Physical Rehabilitation solution. The MotionPods capture limb movement and provide precise information on limb orientation and mobility. MotionPods provide a fast and accurate record of a patient’s progress to be used for biofeedback into evaluation and exercises, making limb rehabilitation interesting and fun by engaging the patient.
Pierre Foucault, CEO at RMI, explained, “Our speciality is in creating software for medical applications. MotionPods provide us with exactly the data we need from the sensors without us having to invest time and effort in the details of how it is obtained. This is a perfect plug and play solution that helps us get to market quickly secure in the knowledge that we can rely on the Movea’s expertise in motion technology.”
A single MotionPod can provide information like range of motion, rotation, speed, and acceleration. Multiple MotionPods can also be networked to gather information simultaneously from different parts of the body for applications such as performance analysis and full body motion capture. The MotionPod measures 33 x 22 x 15 mm (1.3 x 0.8 x 0.6 inch) and weighs 14g (0.5 oz). It is designed to clip onto a strap for easy attachment to the body or even to be patched directly onto the body.
Each MotionPod has a built-in, 2.4 GHz wireless transmitter that uses Movea’s proprietary wireless technology to deliver a range of up to 30 m (100 ft) with low power consumption to maximise battery life, providing up to eight hours of usage. Data from the MotionPod is transmitted wireless to a receiver that’s connected to a computer via a standard USB connection. Up to 32 MotionPods can be connected to a single MotionController.
The MotionPod comes with Movea’s SmartMotion Development Kit (SMDK) which provides a Windows-based API allowing application developers, systems integrators and OEMs to rapidly integrate and customize the use of wireless multi-sensors in their applications. It also includes a companion application, the MotionDevTool that has an intuitive graphical user interface for real-time visualization and integration.
Visit Movea at www.movea.com
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