CES 2012: Smart sensor technology helps identify movement problems
1 min read
STMicroelectronics has unveiled a smart suit prototype with a sewn in multi sensor that recognises complex movements of the wearer's body and quickly translates them into a digital model.
The prototype is being demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The suit, which has ST's iNEMO motion co-processor sewn in, could help improve research in clinical and sports medicine applications.
The prototype suit has miniaturised iNEMO multi sensor nodes attached on each arm, forearm, thigh, calf, and two on the back. Additional nodes can be mounted on hands, on shoes or on the head. The solderable iNEMO motion co-processor is 13 x 13 x 2mm and integrates ST motion, magnetic MEMS sensors with a 32bit mcu and dedicated data fusion software. According to ST, using the software, each iNEMO smart sensor node represents one of the smallest and highest performance Attitude and Heading Reference System modules developed for the market. All nodes send data to the control unit, which applies the measurements to a graphical skeleton model and displays body motions in real time.
ST claims that tests with realistic, complex human body motions have proven outstanding precision and speed with deviation in spatial accuracy below 0.5° during movements and the time needed to process and apply the sensor data to the skeleton model less than 15ms.
