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Hello Kat, I would think very carefully about what exactly you want to
measure in terms of movement and the activity(s). Using accelerometers
and/or gyros can be tricky in terms of sensitivity and body alignment.
You can build your own but it would require a good technician. There are
company's that specialize in providing this sort of equipment and even
though it can be pricey, you get the right tool and alot of support.
I used a company called xsens (www.xsens.com) which have a system that is
wireless and can be configured depending on your application. It consists of
a small unit (battery and telemetry) that can support many sensors (3D
acceleration and 3D rate of turn (gyros)) and will stream data to a laptop.
They can also provide you with algorithms for analysis.
Good luck
Dimitrios
PhD candidate
BSS
UTwente (NL)
2008/5/13 Brent Ulrey :
> Kat,
> In response to your original question:
> I have not used the accelerometer you mentioned. However our lab has a
> Biometrics Datalogger, and it works well with Biometrics brand sensors. If
> you connect sensors that are not Biometrics brand, you have to be sure that
> the sensors' output is within +/-3V. Maybe this has changed in the newer
> Datalogger, but that is the sensitivity of the older model.
>
> In response to Chris Kirtley:
> This is a timely question for me, as I am in the process of connecting
> accelerometers to our existing data acquisition equipment. I agree with you
> that it is a good experience, and it is nice to know every aspect about how
> they are hooked up. However, I would not be opposed to buying something off
> the shelf that works, and for two justifiable reasons, neither being
> laziness!
>
> 1. It may not be cheaper in the long run. Sure the actual accelerometers
> are cheap, but all the supporting material adds up. Wire, connectors,
> enclosures, soldering iron and tips, solder, de-soldering wick (you know
> you'll need that!), wire strippers, etc, It all adds up! I have spent
> $500-$600 on my "inexpensive" accelerometers, I even bought cheap connectors
> and used some leftover wire from another project. We already have the data
> acquisition equipment, so for me it is cheaper. For others, it's hard to
> say. If you add a microcontroller and telemetry system, that would bring
> the cost up.
>
> 2. I am not an electrical engineer, I am a biomechanical engineer.
> Therefore it is taking much more time. (As the saying goes, "Time is
> money." In this case, "Time is more tuition.") I am consulting with
> someone else that knows about electronics every step of the way to make
> certain I am doing it correctly. When all is said and done, sure I will
> have learned something, but my degree is not in electronics or electrical
> engineering, and it does not matter at all for my dissertation whether I
> build the sensor myself or not. I could have been collecting data awhile
> ago if I wasn't busy soldering these sensors!
>
> I would suggest to Kat to look at all options. If you have the time and
> money to do it yourself, and can be fun. If you want to start to collect
> data as soon as possible, an off the shelf system is the way to go.
>
> Brent Ulrey
> PhD Candidate
> Occupational Biomechanics Laboratory
> University of California, Davis
>
>
> --- On Tue, 5/13/08, Chris Kirtley wrote:
>
> > From: Chris Kirtley
> > Subject: Re: [BIOMCH-L] - 3D Accelerometers
> > To: BIOMCH-L@NIC.SURFNET.NL
> > Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 6:20 AM
> > Dear Kat,
> >
> > My opinion is that people are too lazy these days - and for
> > no justifiable
> > reason, since it is so easy to build your own circuits now.
> >
> > You can buy a 3D accelerometer chip for about $10 and build
> > a nice
> > microcontroller around it, with flash memory and maybe
> > Bluetooth telemetry,
> > for not much more. In doing so you will get a much more
> > versatile tool and,
> > more importantly, will understand every step of how you
> > obtain the data.
> > This is what universities are for - designing and building
> > instruments - not
> > buying off-the-shelf products.
> >
> > I would be interested in what others think!
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Kat Arbour
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > Hi All-
> > >
> > > I am planning to research the landing accelerations of
> > various high impact
> > > jumping skills in an athletic population. Biometrics
> > LTD (Model ACL300) has
> > > an accelerometer that may be perfect for what I am
> > looking for. The
> > > accelerometer wires to the datalogger, worn on the
> > back, then the athlete is
> > > free to do whatever, where ever. (It measures
> > acceleration impact-by-impact
> > > , its not an "activity monitor" for daily
> > caloric expenditure). I am
> > > inquiring to see if anyone is familiar with the
> > accelerometer and has an
> > > opinion about its performance. If you have used it in
> > your research, I am
> > > very interested in your experiences with it. If you
> > have used different
> > > accelerometers that allows the subject to be
> > untethered, that would be great
> > > information, too.
> > >
> > > Thanks for sharing!
> > >
> > >
> > > Kat Arbour MS MPT
> > > PhD student
> > > Biomechanics and Movement Science
> > > University of Delaware
> > > Newark, DE 19716
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > > Information about BIOMCH-L:
> > http://www.Biomch-L.org
> > > Archives:
> > http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Biomch-L.html
> > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Dr. Chris Kirtley MB ChB, PhD
> > 608 Dockside
> > 44 Ferry St.
> > Kangaroo Point
> > Queensland 4169
> > Australia (GMT+10)
> > Tel. 61+7-3891 6644 x 1608
> > Fax 3891 6900
> >
> > West End Family Medical Centre
> > Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursday afternoon (07) 3844 4111
> >
> > Clinical Gait Analysis: http://www.univie.ac.at/cga
> > Book:
> > http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0443100098/203-6674734-4427132
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Dr. Chris Kirtley MB ChB, PhD
> > 608 Dockside
> > 44 Ferry St.
> > Kangaroo Point
> > Queensland 4169
> > Australia (GMT+10)
> > Tel. 61+7-3891 6644 x 1608
> > Fax 3891 6900
> >
> > West End Family Medical Centre
> > Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursday afternoon (07) 3844 4111
> >
> > Clinical Gait Analysis: http://www.univie.ac.at/cga
> > Book:
> > http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0443100098/203-6674734-4427132
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > Information about BIOMCH-L:
> > http://www.Biomch-L.org
> > Archives:
> > http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Biomch-L.html
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Information about BIOMCH-L: http://www.Biomch-L.org
> Archives: http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Biomch-L.html
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
measure in terms of movement and the activity(s). Using accelerometers
and/or gyros can be tricky in terms of sensitivity and body alignment.
You can build your own but it would require a good technician. There are
company's that specialize in providing this sort of equipment and even
though it can be pricey, you get the right tool and alot of support.
I used a company called xsens (www.xsens.com) which have a system that is
wireless and can be configured depending on your application. It consists of
a small unit (battery and telemetry) that can support many sensors (3D
acceleration and 3D rate of turn (gyros)) and will stream data to a laptop.
They can also provide you with algorithms for analysis.
Good luck
Dimitrios
PhD candidate
BSS
UTwente (NL)
2008/5/13 Brent Ulrey :
> Kat,
> In response to your original question:
> I have not used the accelerometer you mentioned. However our lab has a
> Biometrics Datalogger, and it works well with Biometrics brand sensors. If
> you connect sensors that are not Biometrics brand, you have to be sure that
> the sensors' output is within +/-3V. Maybe this has changed in the newer
> Datalogger, but that is the sensitivity of the older model.
>
> In response to Chris Kirtley:
> This is a timely question for me, as I am in the process of connecting
> accelerometers to our existing data acquisition equipment. I agree with you
> that it is a good experience, and it is nice to know every aspect about how
> they are hooked up. However, I would not be opposed to buying something off
> the shelf that works, and for two justifiable reasons, neither being
> laziness!
>
> 1. It may not be cheaper in the long run. Sure the actual accelerometers
> are cheap, but all the supporting material adds up. Wire, connectors,
> enclosures, soldering iron and tips, solder, de-soldering wick (you know
> you'll need that!), wire strippers, etc, It all adds up! I have spent
> $500-$600 on my "inexpensive" accelerometers, I even bought cheap connectors
> and used some leftover wire from another project. We already have the data
> acquisition equipment, so for me it is cheaper. For others, it's hard to
> say. If you add a microcontroller and telemetry system, that would bring
> the cost up.
>
> 2. I am not an electrical engineer, I am a biomechanical engineer.
> Therefore it is taking much more time. (As the saying goes, "Time is
> money." In this case, "Time is more tuition.") I am consulting with
> someone else that knows about electronics every step of the way to make
> certain I am doing it correctly. When all is said and done, sure I will
> have learned something, but my degree is not in electronics or electrical
> engineering, and it does not matter at all for my dissertation whether I
> build the sensor myself or not. I could have been collecting data awhile
> ago if I wasn't busy soldering these sensors!
>
> I would suggest to Kat to look at all options. If you have the time and
> money to do it yourself, and can be fun. If you want to start to collect
> data as soon as possible, an off the shelf system is the way to go.
>
> Brent Ulrey
> PhD Candidate
> Occupational Biomechanics Laboratory
> University of California, Davis
>
>
> --- On Tue, 5/13/08, Chris Kirtley wrote:
>
> > From: Chris Kirtley
> > Subject: Re: [BIOMCH-L] - 3D Accelerometers
> > To: BIOMCH-L@NIC.SURFNET.NL
> > Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 6:20 AM
> > Dear Kat,
> >
> > My opinion is that people are too lazy these days - and for
> > no justifiable
> > reason, since it is so easy to build your own circuits now.
> >
> > You can buy a 3D accelerometer chip for about $10 and build
> > a nice
> > microcontroller around it, with flash memory and maybe
> > Bluetooth telemetry,
> > for not much more. In doing so you will get a much more
> > versatile tool and,
> > more importantly, will understand every step of how you
> > obtain the data.
> > This is what universities are for - designing and building
> > instruments - not
> > buying off-the-shelf products.
> >
> > I would be interested in what others think!
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Kat Arbour
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > Hi All-
> > >
> > > I am planning to research the landing accelerations of
> > various high impact
> > > jumping skills in an athletic population. Biometrics
> > LTD (Model ACL300) has
> > > an accelerometer that may be perfect for what I am
> > looking for. The
> > > accelerometer wires to the datalogger, worn on the
> > back, then the athlete is
> > > free to do whatever, where ever. (It measures
> > acceleration impact-by-impact
> > > , its not an "activity monitor" for daily
> > caloric expenditure). I am
> > > inquiring to see if anyone is familiar with the
> > accelerometer and has an
> > > opinion about its performance. If you have used it in
> > your research, I am
> > > very interested in your experiences with it. If you
> > have used different
> > > accelerometers that allows the subject to be
> > untethered, that would be great
> > > information, too.
> > >
> > > Thanks for sharing!
> > >
> > >
> > > Kat Arbour MS MPT
> > > PhD student
> > > Biomechanics and Movement Science
> > > University of Delaware
> > > Newark, DE 19716
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > > Information about BIOMCH-L:
> > http://www.Biomch-L.org
> > > Archives:
> > http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Biomch-L.html
> > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Dr. Chris Kirtley MB ChB, PhD
> > 608 Dockside
> > 44 Ferry St.
> > Kangaroo Point
> > Queensland 4169
> > Australia (GMT+10)
> > Tel. 61+7-3891 6644 x 1608
> > Fax 3891 6900
> >
> > West End Family Medical Centre
> > Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursday afternoon (07) 3844 4111
> >
> > Clinical Gait Analysis: http://www.univie.ac.at/cga
> > Book:
> > http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0443100098/203-6674734-4427132
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Dr. Chris Kirtley MB ChB, PhD
> > 608 Dockside
> > 44 Ferry St.
> > Kangaroo Point
> > Queensland 4169
> > Australia (GMT+10)
> > Tel. 61+7-3891 6644 x 1608
> > Fax 3891 6900
> >
> > West End Family Medical Centre
> > Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursday afternoon (07) 3844 4111
> >
> > Clinical Gait Analysis: http://www.univie.ac.at/cga
> > Book:
> > http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0443100098/203-6674734-4427132
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > Information about BIOMCH-L:
> > http://www.Biomch-L.org
> > Archives:
> > http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Biomch-L.html
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Information about BIOMCH-L: http://www.Biomch-L.org
> Archives: http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Biomch-L.html
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>