Flexible Wearable Pathways for Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motion capture technologies are either cumbersome, expensive, or limited in their ability to track complex full-body motion in diverse environments, particularly in sports and outdoor activities, due to their immobility, high cost, and occlusion issues.
Innovation Solution
Development of Motion Recognition Clothing with flexible wearable pathways that use electromagnetic, light, or sonic energy pathways to non-intrusively measure body motion, posture, and configuration, enabling mobile and accurate tracking of body movements in various settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera-based motion capture systems are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex camera-based mechanical/optical systems with flexible wearable tubes containing sensors that directly measure body motion. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision by moving the sensing capability from external cameras to integrated wearable elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion capture system is divided into multiple independent flexible tubes worn at different body locations, each containing its own sensors. This segmentation allows distributed measurement points without requiring a complex centralized camera system, reducing overall system complexity while improving measurement coverage.
2Measurement precision
If multi-camera systems are used, then measurement precision is improved, but mobility is reduced due to fixed camera positions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixing sensors to the environment (cameras mounted in fixed positions), the patent inverts the approach by attaching sensors directly to the moving subject via flexible wearable tubes. This allows the measurement system to move with the subject, providing full environmental adaptability while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static camera positions to dynamic wearable sensors that move with the body. The flexible tubes allow the sensors to dynamically follow body movements, providing both measurement precision and environmental versatility across diverse settings.
3Measurement precision
If full-body motion capture suits with multiple sensors are used, then measurement precision is improved, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin flexible tubes as the primary wearable structure, which are lightweight and conform to body contours. These thin-film structures provide the necessary sensor integration for full-body motion tracking without adding significant weight or bulk, unlike traditional rigid motion capture suits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the wearable component from rigid and bulky to flexible and thin. By using flexible tubes with integrated sensors instead of heavy rigid structures, the patent achieves full-body motion capture capability while minimizing weight and bulk.
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 solution provides a wearable, mobile, and reasonably priced system for capturing complex full-body motion, suitable for diverse environments and applications, including sports and entertainment, while avoiding the constraints of traditional motion capture systems.
Implementation Method 1
flexible wearable pathways that use electromagnetic, light, or sonic energy pathways to non-intrusively measure body motion, posture, and configuration
Implementation Method 2
flexible wearable pathways that use electromagnetic, light, or sonic energy pathways to non-intrusively measure body motion, posture, and configuration
Implementation Method 3
flexible wearable pathways that use electromagnetic, light, or sonic energy pathways to non-intrusively measure body motion, posture, and configuration
Data Source
AI summary
This invention is an article of clothing or clothing accessory for measuring body motion, posture, and/or configuration comprising sets of multiple flexible electromagnetic, light, and/or sound energy pathways, wherein each set longitudinally spans the same body joint in a selected configuration to increase measurement accuracy. Multiple flexible energy pathways longitudinally spanning the same body joint can transmit the same type or different types of energy (e.g. electromagnetic, light, or sound) and can transmit energy flows with the same flow parameters or different flow parameters.