Modular Force Plate Synchronization for Multi-Rate Motion Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional measurement and testing systems with large measurement surface areas cannot separately analyze the movement of individual legs and are difficult to install and adapt to different space configurations, lacking the ability to combine data channels from devices with varying sampling rates into a single synchronized channel.
Innovation Solution
A measurement and testing system comprising multiple measurement devices with different sampling rates, a data processing device that synchronizes data values across these devices, and a modular configuration allowing for easy installation and adaptation, including force plates and inertial measurement units or motion capture devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large measurement surface area is used to capture full body movement, then the measurement coverage is improved, but the system becomes difficult to install and adapt to different space configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the measurement surface into multiple independent force plates instead of using one large continuous surface. Each force plate can be independently installed and positioned, allowing the system to cover large areas while maintaining ease of installation and adaptability to different space configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The force plates are designed as universal modules that can be configured in various arrangements to suit different testing requirements and space configurations. The same basic force plate unit can serve multiple functions and be adapted to different layouts, eliminating the need for custom installations for each application.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurement devices with different sampling rates are used to capture detailed movement data, then the measurement precision is improved, but the data synchronization becomes complex and difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated synchronization module acts as an intermediary between measurement devices with different sampling rates. This module receives timing signals from all devices, identifies corresponding data points across different sampling rates, and correlates them to a common time reference, thereby simplifying the synchronization process while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts and correlates data from devices with different sampling rates by identifying matching data points based on timing relationships. The synchronization module transforms multi-rate data streams into a unified dataset by parameter matching, allowing precise movement analysis without requiring all devices to operate at the same sampling rate.
3Measurement precision
If separate analysis of individual leg movement is required, then the measurement capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into multiple independent force plates, each capable of measuring forces independently. This physical segmentation enables the software to separately analyze data from each plate, allowing individual leg movement analysis while keeping the hardware configuration relatively simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The system collects more data than immediately needed by capturing forces on all force plates simultaneously, then selectively processes only the relevant portions for individual leg analysis. This approach allows separate leg movement analysis without requiring complex hardware configurations, as the excess data collection is handled efficiently through selective processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement and testing system is disclosed herein. The measurement and testing system includes a first measurement device and a second measurement device and a data processing device operatively coupled to the first measurement device and the second measurement device. In one or more embodiments, the data processing device is configured to synchronize each of a first plurality of data values from the first measurement device with each of a second plurality of data values from the second measurement device by determining which first timestamps associated with the first plurality of data values correspond to second timestamps associated with the second plurality of data values. In one or more other embodiments, the data processing device is configured to compute time-delayed values of one or more first measurement signals from a first measurement device using a predetermined time delay.