Sensorized Garment for Real-Time Motion Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable devices are limited in tracking complex motions and provide only 'after-the-fact' statistics, which are not useful for improving technique or reducing injury risk in activities like yoga, fitness, and tennis, as they lack real-time feedback and authoritative coaching.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using sensorized electronic garments with embedded sensors and conductive wires to capture and analyze full-body motions in 3D space, providing real-time coaching by comparing user motions with those of an instructor, and offering feedback through a mobile application for proper technique.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple sensors are used to track basic activities, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and capability to track complex motions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the body into multiple segments (head, torso, arms, legs) and places sensors at key joints and body parts. Each sensor tracks local motion, and the system reconstructs full-body 3D motion by combining these segmented measurements, enabling complex motion tracking without requiring a single complex sensor system
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from tracking simple 1D or 2D motion parameters to capturing full 3D spatial coordinates and orientations of multiple body segments simultaneously, adding dimensional complexity to the measurement space to comprehensively capture complex motions
2Device complexity
If after-the-fact statistics are provided, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information about proper technique and injury risk deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback by continuously comparing the user's motion data against correct technique models and injury risk thresholds, delivering immediate information about form errors and potential injury risks rather than delayed statistics, thus preventing information loss about proper technique
3Device complexity
If no real-time feedback is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity in learning complex activities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time feedback is provided through continuous comparison of user motion with instructor demonstrations and correct technique models, enabling immediate correction of errors and accelerating learning of complex activities like yoga, fitness, and tennis
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that captures raw sensor data, compares it against reference motion patterns, and translates it into actionable feedback, mediating between the sensors and the user to enable efficient learning without requiring direct complex analysis by the user
Data Source
AI summary
An article of clothing facilitating capture of motions is described. The clothing has an inner side. A plurality of sensor modules are respectively attached to designated locations on the inner side, where the sensor modules and batteries if not enclosed in the sensor modules are coupled by a plurality of conductive threads embedded in materials of the clothing. These sensor modules are responsible for capturing respective motions corresponding designated body parts when the clothing is worn by a wearer.