free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

[Jonas Rubenson]

Hello helpful List,

I am wondering if people have recommendations for low cost / free / open-source software apps that are useful for an undergraduate biomechanics course. In particular, using things like mobile phone accelerometer, gyro, gps, etc. I'm also wondering if people have recommendations for free video capture/digitizing?

I run a senior-level undergraduate biomechanics course at Penn State where we undertake 'mini' research projects at the end of the semester. They are meant to be small, fun projects over a couple of weeks that introduces students to concepts of study design / hypothesis testing, data collection and analysis. I try to keep the equipment as simple as possible. In the past we have had fun taping into smart phone accelerometer data.

I apologize if this question has been posted before (I suspect it has but my initial search was not very successful). Since this technology changes so quickly an updated summary might be helpful.

Best Regards,

Jonas

--
Jonas Rubenson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Integrative and Biomedical Physiology
Muscle Function & Locomotion Lab and Biomechanics Lab
Pennsylvania State University
29 Recreation Building
University Park, PA, 16802
Tel: + 1 814 867 6209
Fax: + 1 814 863 4755
Email: jonas@psu.edu
Web: www.locomotionlab.net

[R. Clark]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

for simple (very simple) 2D kinematics, have a look at HUDL Technique. Free for iphones. great tools for drawing showing angles. Does not do tracking. Students really like using this in my undergrad classes. It's great for learning the basics especially phone/camera placement, background, contrast. The slow motion function is great. So are the overlays and viewing two video clips side by side.

[Stefan Litzenberger]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Hi Jonas.
Things we use in our undergraduate courses:
Phone sensor access:

Phybox: https://phyphox.org/de/home-de/
for android and apple

physics toolbox sensor suite

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chrystianvieyra.physicstoolboxsuite&hl=de_AT

try out which one you like more..

2D Videoanalysis
Kinovea (only for Windows)

https://www.kinovea.org/download.html

I suggest to use the Beta Version 0.8.27.
Marker Tracking (pattern matching algorithm with adjustable marker and search area size, we usually use markers nonetheless to make students familiar with the concept(s) of marker placement)
angular measurements (dynamic)
data export (for further use in Matlab, Python, etc.)
picture calibration (export of results in real-world units, however we let students calculate these in Matlab)
Kinovea works with a multitude of USB cameras and framerates (we are using a cheap full HD USB cam at the moment)
trajectory and angle display (but afaik already filtered, so again students are only allowed to use raw data to learn the effects and downsides of filtering)


Biomechanical simulation (musculoskelettal simulation)
Opensim (though we do not use it in the undergrad courses to be honest https://opensim.stanford.edu/)


If you are willing to spend a few bucks on devices take a look at what PASCO has to offer:

https://www.pasco.com/index.cfm

We use the 2D-Forceplates and are more than happy, we even had a carpenter make a catwalk with several elements where the FP can be embedded (flush with the catwalk's surface).
This is the one we use

https://www.pasco.com/prodCatalog/PS/PS-2142_pasport-2-axis-force-platform/index.cfm

up to 1.000 Hz recording frequency, sufficient forces, great for gait, run, jump (though a bit small for runnning experiments).
As there are no prices mentioned in the store. As far as I remember (no guarantee whatsoever) we paid around 400 Euros (maybe 5 years ago?)


Ah, one more! (although rather anatomy, but might also be interesting for you):

https://www.zygotebody.com/

or even more sophisticated
https://human.biodigital.com/index.html (registration required)

Hope this helps!
Looking forward to others' replies.
Kind regards from Vienna
Stefan

[Tim L. A. Doyle]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Hi Jonas,

Coach My Video (https://www.coachmyvideo.mobi/),
3DSSPP (app from UMich https://c4e.engin.umich.edu/tools-se...sspp-software/)
Force Data (uses iphone accelerometers to provide force, velocity, acceleration curves https://appadvice.com/app/forcedata/1315583528)

Cheers,
Tim.

[Chris Kirtley]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

I wrote a simple Javascript digitizer for teaching many years ago, and am surprised to find that it still seems to work:

http://www.clinicalgaitanalysis.com/courses/be522/cycling/Jayden_20kmh/

There's also some useful tools here: http://www.clinicalgaitanalysis.com/tools

I wrote lots of code in those days (especially using the amazing Supercard language on the old Apple OS), Visual Basic, Javascript etc. that no longer works with modern Apple and Widows OS and internet browsers. My code used to process video, but that became so difficult I ended up just using individual frames as image files.

It strikes me that it is a lot more difficult to write simple stuff these days. For example, zygotebody recommended by Stefan reminded me of VRML <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRML>, which was a way to make 3D objects (including humans) in the web browser. It was developing nicely in the early 90s (Jim Richards did some amazing figure-skating demos with it), but now discontinued - such a shame. The 90s were a golden period for software, possibly never to be seen again!

Chris

[Chris Kirtley]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

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[Ton van den Bogert]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Attached is a simple Matlab video digitizing tool, producing 2d scaled coordinates. It's easily customized for other applications. This is what I give to students for doing class projects.

So glad that Chris brought up VRML. This was such a great tool, and easy to generate the files with Matlab or C code to visualize just about anything. My students got really good at this. Then Opensim came and became the de facto standard but I still miss that flexibility. VRML is plain text.

I have not used VRML since 2005 but there is nothing that stops you! I can still view my old files in Internet Explorer with the Cortona3D plugin. Firefox no longer works with that, alas.

Browser plugins are here: https://www.cortona3d.com/en/product...tona3d-viewers

These plugins allow you to zoom, pan, and tilt the scene interactively. Attached is one of my old VRML files, with two superimposed ankle sprain simulations, and an arrow indicating the magnitude of the supination moment. Even start and play buttons!

I'm not sure if it was easier to develop things in those days. Maybe it was actually harder but we were less dependent on complex tools and their limitations. I also blame the marketing by companies such as Mathworks to make students think you can't do anything without their products. Opensim has that effect sometimes also. Those who develop products have an interest in making people rely on them. It is our job, as academics, to empower students. Use the tools and platforms that make you more productive, but be open to other ways of getting things done.

Ton van den Bogert

[Chris Kirtley]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Great that VRML viewers are still available, Ton. I am up in Far North Queensland (across from Papua New Guinea) at the moment so can't try it myself, but would love to know if Cindy Reed-Ballreich's Nancy still works: http://www.clinicalgaitanalysis.com/nancy.wrl

[Tomislav Pribanic]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Dear All,

As a follow up of this interesting discussion, is anybody aware of free/low cost software specifically design for modelling of foot 3D point cloud.

Namely, during a custom fit insole production, one usually starts from some raw 3D point cloud of a scanned foot and/or its imprint in a foam. Next doctors usually make some adjustments in a dedicated SW for insole modelling before sending it to milling machine or whatever they use to print out a custom shoe insole.

Pointers to such CAD/CAM SW, preferably free/low cost, would be very much appreciated.

Thanks and best, Tomo.

[Ton van den Bogert]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Yes, Nancy can still walk, run, jump.

nancy.png

[Chris Kirtley]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Great to hear, Ton. I installed Cortona today on IE (the one hidden away in Windows Accessories these days, not the useless Edge). It was a little bit like seeing an old girlfriend again after many years! I notice that the Web is celebrating its 30th birthday this year:

https://glitch.com/culture/the-web-is-30-hbd/

Nancy is about 25, I guess, but I haven't seen anything like her in all that time.

[Jonas Rubenson]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Dear All,

Thank you for your excellent recommendations! There were a lot of very useful apps and web programs provided. Below I have summarized these, including information that I was provided through twitter:

iPhone accesses to acc / gyro / gps:
Sensor Log: sensorlog.berndthomas.net
Phyphox: https://phyphox.org/
Roto View; https://www.rotoview.com/sensor_kinetics.htm

iPhone biomechanics apps
Jump height / Acceleration & Force: http://www.carlos-balsalobre.com/#MyJump
Video analysis: https://www.hudl.com/products/technique
Video analysis: https://www.coachmyvideo.mobi/

Android accesses to acc / gyro / gps:
IMU+GPS-Stream: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...amgps&hl=en_US
Phyphox: https://phyphox.org/
Sensor Data Collector:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opendata.labs.sensorsdatacollector&hl=en_US

Accelerometer Data Recorder: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...d.acc&hl=en_US
Sensor Record: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ecord&hl=en_US
Roto View: https://www.rotoview.com/sensor_kinetics.htm

Android biomechanics apps
Jump height / Acceleration & Force: http://www.carlos-balsalobre.com/#MyJump

Web apps
Free video capture/analysis: kinovea.org/
Free video tracker / video modelling: https://physlets.org/tracker/\
Free ergonomics / lift force / load analysis: https://c4e.engin.umich.edu/tools-se...sspp-software/
Video digitizer (java): http://www.clinicalgaitanalysis.com/.../Jayden_20kmh/

Arduino / RaspberryPi
Reconstructing moving morphology using RaspberryPi: https://figshare.com/articles/Recons...ection/5155462

Excel Plugins / examples
biomechanicstoolbar.org/

http://www.clinicalgaitanalysis.com/tools/

MATLAB
Accesses the Iphone or Android IMU (wireless) in MATLAB: https://github.com/SjoerdBruijn/StreamPhoneData

3D modelling

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRML

https://www.cortona3d.com/en/products/authoring-publishing-solutions/cortona3d-viewers

[Jonas Rubenson]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

I've enjoyed following your thread here about 'Nancy'. I'm sorry I never met her until now, but looking forward to making aquintance.

[Jonas Rubenson]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Thanks Stefan- these are excellent.

[Jonas Rubenson]

Re: free / low cost biomechanics apps for education

Hi Ton,

Thanks for the Matlab digitizer and the VRLM info! These are really helpful,

cheers,
Jonas