University of Michigan

Ryan S McGinnis

Noel C Perkins

Brian R Copple

A method and apparatus for monitoring the head and torso orientation of a subject during physical motion. The method and apparatus employ at least two inertial measurement units (IMUs) being temporally synchronized with each other and each measuring three degrees of freedom of angular velocity, acceleration, and optionally magnetic field. A first IMU being affixed to the head of the subject and the second IMU being affixed to the torso of the subject. The orientation of the head, the orientation of the torso, and optionally the relative orientation of the head and torso are calculated based on the data from the IMU's and optionally magnetometer data. The resultant output data is transmitted to a host device (computer, tablet, smart phone) and can be used for monitoring, training, coaching, worker safety and health, and/or rehabilitation.

IMU system for assessing head and torso orientation during physical motion

A method for calculating the location of the center-of-rotation of a joint with an attached member. The method employs an inertial measurement unit (IMU) having an angular rate gyro and an accelerometer and coupling the inertial measurement unit to the member for detection of movement of the member. The inertial measurement unit outputs data representative of angular velocity and acceleration of the member mounted IMU in response to movement of the joint. The method further comprising analyzing the angular rate and acceleration data to determine the center-of-rotation of the joint.

Ball joint center locating method using data from attached inertial measurement unit

An apparatus and method for calculating athlete speed non-invasively, on the field/court of play using data from a torso-mounted inertial measurement unit. The method complements existing, GPS-based methods for calculating athlete speed by enabling use in environments where GPS signal is unavailable (i.e. indoors).

Athlete speed prediction method using data from attached inertial measurement unit

A measurement system having a miniature, wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU) disposed within or on a moving object, such as a ball or other member, to calculate the kinematics of the moving object.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Ryan S McGinnis