Automated Endurance Testing via mmWave Radar Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing lower body strength and endurance, such as the Sit to Stand test, face challenges in automation and privacy preservation, particularly in home settings, where wearable sensors require compliance and calibration, and camera-based systems raise privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing non-wearable, privacy-preserving sensors like mm-wave radar or LIDAR, which can automatically detect and measure sit to stand movements without calibration, providing a 3D point cloud analysis and trend monitoring for endurance testing, enabling self-administration and continuous assessment in home or clinical settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If camera-based systems are used for automated sit to stand testing, then automation capability is improved, but privacy concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces camera-based optical systems with mm-wave radar sensing technology. The radar system uses electromagnetic waves to detect motion and posture changes during sit-to-stand exercises, achieving automated testing without the privacy intrusion of visual recording. This substitution maintains automation capability while eliminating the harmful privacy factor associated with camera surveillance.
2Measurement precision
If wearable sensors are used for sit to stand testing, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to compliance and calibration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The radar-based system automatically detects and tracks the user's body movements without requiring the user to wear any devices or perform calibration procedures. The system self-adjusts to detect sit-to-stand motions passively, eliminating the compliance burden on users while maintaining measurement precision through automated motion detection algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensing function from the user's body (wearable sensors) and places it in the environment (radar system). This extraction removes the need for user compliance with wearable devices while preserving measurement capability through environmental sensing of body movements.
3Measurement precision
If specialized equipment is used for endurance testing, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system serves multiple functions: it detects posture changes, counts repetitions, measures exercise duration, and provides feedback for various types of physical exercises beyond just sit-to-stand tests. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized equipment for different exercise types while maintaining measurement precision through a single versatile platform.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively automates the 30 second Sit to Stand test, providing unbiased counting and additional metrics like upper body movement, while ensuring privacy and ease of use, allowing for continuous self-assessment and reducing the need for specialized equipment or calibration.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sensor may be an mm-wave radar sensor
Implementation Method 2
the at least one sensor may be an LIDAR sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A system for endurance testing including: at least one sensor configured to collect data associated with an individual's movement for an endurance test; an action module configured to determine endurance movements from the collected data and determine a set of test action; and an analysis module configured to analyze the set of test actions to provide a result for the endurance test. A method for endurance testing including: collecting data associated with an individual's movement, via at least one sensor; determining endurance movements from the collected data; determining a set of test action from the endurance movements; analyzing the set of test actions; and providing results associated with the endurance test based on the analyzed set of test actions.