Wearable Motion Sensor Adaptive Thresholds Wheelchair Push Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices fail to accurately track repetitive arm motions and energy expenditure of wheelchair users, leading to inaccurate activity monitoring and caloric expenditure estimation.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device equipped with motion sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes, which collect data to detect activities, estimate energy expenditure, and adaptively set thresholds for push detection, incorporating GPS and heart rate data to refine caloric expenditure tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If motion sensors are used to detect wheelchair pushes, then activity tracking capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish pushes from other arm motions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the threshold for detecting pushes based on the user's current activity state and historical data. The threshold is not fixed but adapts to differentiate between pushing motions and other repetitive arm movements, improving measurement precision while maintaining versatility across different activity types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters including accelerometer threshold values, detection time windows, and motion pattern criteria based on the detected activity type. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves accurate push detection specifically within wheelchair pushing activities while maintaining broad adaptability for other activities
2Device complexity
If simple motion thresholds are used for push detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision worsens due to false positives from non-pushing motions
Solution Approach 1:
The detection algorithm is segmented into multiple independent evaluation stages: initial motion threshold check, pose angle verification, energy expenditure validation, and temporal pattern analysis. This segmentation allows the system to maintain relative simplicity while achieving high precision through cumulative filtering of false positives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary verification mechanisms between the simple motion detection and final push confirmation. These intermediaries include pose angle validation and energy threshold checks that filter out false positives without requiring complex algorithms, balancing simplicity and precision
3Measurement precision
If adaptive threshold updating is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration during an initial setup phase where it learns the user's baseline pushing patterns and establishes initial adaptive thresholds. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of continuous adaptation by pre-establishing reference values that simplify ongoing detection operations
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptive threshold updating is implemented periodically rather than continuously, with the system recalibrating at scheduled intervals or after detecting significant changes in user behavior. This periodic approach maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing the processing complexity compared to continuous adaptation
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 device effectively tracks wheelchair user activities, accurately detects pushes, and provides precise caloric expenditure estimates by filtering noise and using adaptive thresholds, improving monitoring accuracy and user data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof
Implementation Method 2
an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof
Implementation Method 3
an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system and method of detecting activity by a wheelchair user. In one aspect, a method comprises collecting motion data of a user device located on an appendage of the user; detecting, by a processor circuit, that one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred based on the motion data; calculating, by a processor circuit, an energy expenditure by the user based the one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred; and outputting, by a processor circuit, the energy expenditure estimation.