Below-Knee Motion Evaluation for Indirect Foot Movement Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion evaluation systems face challenges in accurately assessing foot movements when sensors cannot be worn on the foot due to difficulty in attachment.
Innovation Solution
A control method utilizing a sensor attached below the knee, combined with a server device, to detect motion information, estimate foot movements based on below-knee length and height, and perform evaluations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is attached to the foot for direct measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by placing the sensor on the lower leg instead of directly on the foot. The sensor acts as a mediator that indirectly measures foot movements through the kinematic relationship between the lower leg and foot, avoiding the attachment difficulties while preserving measurement capability through computational estimation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model of foot movement by copying and transforming the sensor data from the lower leg position. Instead of directly measuring the foot, the system reconstructs foot movement characteristics through mathematical models that map the lower leg sensor readings to equivalent foot movement parameters
2Ease of operation
If a sensor is attached below the knee to improve ease of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to indirect measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical measurement approach with a computational model-based approach. Instead of mechanically attaching the sensor to the foot for direct measurement, the system uses mathematical models to substitute and estimate foot movement from lower leg sensor data, transforming a mechanical measurement problem into an information processing problem
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by measuring at a different location (lower leg instead of foot) and then transforming these parameters through computational models. The system measures acceleration and angular velocity at the lower leg position and transforms these parameters into equivalent foot movement parameters through kinematic relationships and mathematical estimation algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for a motion evaluation system including a sensor attached at a predetermined wearing position below a knee of a subject, and a server device that generates an evaluation report based on a detection result of the sensor, the method includes a first step of causing the sensor to detect motion information indicating a motion below the knee of the subject, a second step of causing the sensor to transmit the motion information to the server device, a third step of causing the server device to acquire length information based on a height of the subject, a fourth step of causing the server device to estimate a movement of a foot of the subject from the received motion information and the acquired length information, and a fifth step of causing the server device to perform an evaluation on the estimated movement of the foot.