<p>Subsequent to a difficult surgery or a sever injury to the lower part of the body, often partial </p><p>load bearing is needed to stimulate an optimal rehabilitation. Today, this is achieved by teaching </p><p>the patient the optimal load by iteration. This has been shown insufficient for many patients, due </p><p>to their difficulties of remembering the correct amount of load. Furthermore, patients who lack </p><p>proprioception are unable to feel the load. </p><p> </p><p>A portable measuring system would enhance the patient possibility of optimal loadings. This </p><p>thesis has two main objects. 1. A study of the state of the art on existing commercial system, </p><p>related patents and measuring techniques. 2. A new measuring technique, which is the part that </p><p>most of all determine the system performance, was developed. A new design, using off the shelf, </p><p>products is proposed. </p><p> </p><p>The design uses a finite number of thin sensors placed onto an insole. By placing the sensors at </p><p>the plantar pressure points most of the total load is captured by the insole setups. To compensate </p><p>for the measuring error fitting methods were evaluated. The result depends on the insole </p><p>calibration methods. The best result without individual calibration is: mean error for the group of </p><p>0.5% of the total patient load and a deviation of 24%. With individual calibration reduces the </p><p>deviation to about 12%.</p>

Subsequent to a difficult surgery or a sever injury to the lower part of the body, often partial load bearing is needed to stimulate an optimal rehabilitation. Today, this is achieved by teaching the patient the optimal load by iteration. This has been shown insufficient for many patients, due to their difficulties of remembering the correct amount of load. Furthermore, patients who lack proprioception are unable to feel the load. A portable measuring system would enhance the patient possibility of optimal loadings. This thesis has two main objects. 1. A study of the state of the art on existing commercial system, related patents and measuring techniques. 2. A new measuring technique, which is the part that most of all determine the system performance, was developed. A new design, using off the shelf, products is proposed. The design uses a finite number of thin sensors placed onto an insole. By placing the sensors at the plantar pressure points most of the total load is captured by the insole setups. To compensate for the measuring error fitting methods were evaluated. The result depends on the insole calibration methods. The best result without individual calibration is: mean error for the group of 0.5% of the total patient load and a deviation of 24%. With individual calibration reduces the deviation to about 12%.

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Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται τον σχεδιασμό ενός πρωτότυπου μετρητικού συστήματος που έχει ως εφαρμογή τον εντοπισμού απόστασης ενός αντικειμένου από ένα ζεύγος πομπού/δέκτη αισθητήρων με χρήση υπερήχων. Ο πομπός εκπέμπει ένα σήμα δημιουργούμενο από έναν μικροελεγκτή, το οποίο ανακλάται πάνω στο δοθέν αντικείμενο και επιστρέφει στον δέκτη, από τον οποίο έπειτα από σχετική μορφοποίηση οδηγείται πίσω στον μικροελεγκτή προς επεξεργασία. Στην συνέχεια τα δεδομένα οδηγούνται σε έναν προσωπικό υπολογιστή, όπου και μπορούν να υποστούν οποιαδήποτε επεξεργασία και να τα εκμεταλλευτούμε με οποιονδήποτε τρόπο. Γι αυτόν τον λόγο σχεδιάστηκε μια απλή και εύχρηστη διεπαφή για το χειρισμό του συστήματος, η χρήση του οποίου βρίσκει μεγάλη εφαρμογή σε μετρητικές διατάξεις στις οποίες είναι επιθυμητή η ταχύτητα και η ακρίβεια. / The goal of this diploma thesis is to design a prototypical measuring system that has application in the location of an object by using a pair of ultrasound transceivers. The transmitter emits a signal that is generated by a microcontroller, which is reflected on the given object, returning to the receiver, though which is modified so as to be processed by said microcontroller again. After that, the results are sent to a personal computer to be used in any way possible. For that very reason a simple, yet handy, interface is developed so as to control the system, which can be used in measuring arrays that demand great speed and precision.

This diploma thesis deals with the topic of "The application of the PASCO measuring system in experimental Science teaching". It is focused on the support of this technology in lessons and it shows the usage of this system at secondary school. It concentrates on the use of the pupils' set PASCO Sensorium - a set of measuring probes, sensors and other accessories, at selected secondary schools during experimental teaching in Science. The theoretical part deals with the definition of the territory Frýdlantsko, physical geographic characteristics, and localities that were used for field experiments. It also explains properties and application of individual sensors associated with this system. It is a kind of a methodical aid for teachers of Science.The practical part of the work includes experiments worked out by the author. These experiments can be used for Science teaching in the classroom or for field research. It also includes a research relating to the use of this experimental system at selected secondary schools in Liberec Region. Keywords: experimental teaching, Pasco, aid, locality, measuring system

Microelectronic Measuring Systems (MEMS) are being used to capture kinematic data in real-world environments. The benefits of using MEMS are their small size, relatively low cost (compared to an Optical Motion Capture System) and the ability to capture real-time data in almost any environment. The accuracy and precision of MEMS can be influenced by elements in their surrounding environment such as building materials (i.e., reinforced steel) and structural components (i.e., elevators). Recognizing the influence of the environment on MEMS output is important if the MEMS are to be used in real-world environments where subjects could navigate between various environments. MEMS can also be affected by dynamic motion therefore testing of the MEMS in the same conditions in which they are to be used will help to identify any issues prior to data collection. The overall purpose of this thesis was to determine if the outputs of four Shimmer 2r MEMS were accurate and precise enough in static and dynamic conditions to use in a future study to assess gait activities of daily living in individuals with a unilateral transtibial amputation. In order to understand the effect of the environment on the MEMS, accuracy and precision were assessed in a rural environment (to reduce the effect of building materials and structural components) as well as the clinical environment where they will eventually be used for research. The MEMS were also evaluated in static and dynamic conditions to better understand how motion affected accuracy and precision. The results of this study confirmed that the clinical environment affected the MEMS outputs. During the dynamic condition, the gyroscope output of one MEMS sensor was significantly different than the other devices indicating recalibration or possible exclusion from future studies. Prior to using MEMS in research, it is advisable to investigate the effects of the environment on the sensor outputs as well as assess the performance of the individual sensors. / Thesis / Master of Science Rehabilitation Science (MSc) / The overall objective of this thesis was to determine if four Shimmer 2r Microelectronic Measuring Systems (MEMS) were accurate and precise enough in static and dynamic conditions prior to their use in a future study to assess seven activities of daily living (including level walking, ramp walking and stairs) in individuals with a unilateral transtibial amputation in a clinical environment. To understand the effect the environment has on the MEMS, they were assessed in both a rural environment to reduce the effect of building materials, as well as the clinical environment where they will eventually be used for research. This study confirmed that the clinical environment affected the MEMS outputs, although these effects were deemed to be clinically insignificant for the intended purpose of these MEMS. Calibration as well as accuracy and precision assessment of MEMS should be executed in the conditions and environments in which they are to be utilized.

The paper describes how a two-dimensional absolute measuring system can explicitly be realized. The theoretical background, the experimental setup, the evaluation algorithm, and the results of measurement are discussed in detail.

The paper describes how a two-dimensional absolute measuring system can explicitly be realized. The theoretical background, the experimental setup, the evaluation algorithm, and the results of measurement are discussed in detail.

To address odour and gas problems generated by livestock facilities, air dispersion models have been used to determine reasonable science-based setback distances between the livestock operations and the neighbouring residences. However, none of the existing models consider diurnal, seasonal and climate variations of odour and gas (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide) concentrations and emission rates (OGCER), which may result in great uncertainties in setback distance calculations. Thus, the purpose of this project was to monitor and model diurnal and seasonal OGCER from swine grower/finisher rooms. Specifically, this research was conducted to: 1) characterize diurnal OGCER between two different flooring systems (fully and partially slatted floorings) under three different weather conditions (August, October and February); 2) identify seasonal OGCER over a 12-month measuring period; and 3) develop mathematical models to predict the OGCER. <p>A two-factorial strip-block experiment was designed for measuring diurnal OGCER in two grower/finisher rooms. It was found that: 1) the diurnal OGCER in the fully slatted flooring system was 27.6 to 39.5% higher than that in the partially slatted flooring system; however, no significant differences in the diurnal OGCER were found between the two rooms, except for the NH3 concentrations in August, the NH3 and H2S concentrations and emissions in October, and odour concentrations and emissions in February (P > 0.05), and 2) significant diurnal variations in the OGCER (except for the odour concentrations and H2S emissions) have been observed in August (P < 0.05); only gas emissions showed significant fluctuation patterns in October (P < 0.05); no significant variations in the OGCER (except for the CO2 concentrations and emissions) were found in February (P > 0.05). <p>A repeated measurement method was used to monitor seasonal OGCER in four grower/finisher rooms over a period of 12 months. It was found that: 1) the seasonal OGCER from the fully slatted flooring system was 2.9 to 40.6% higher than that from the partially slatted flooring system; however, the seasonal OGCER (except for the NH3 concentrations in October, November and January; the CO2 concentrations in August and the CO2 emissions in December) between the two different floors for each measuring month did not differ significantly (P > 0.05); and 2) the seasonal OGCER was significantly affected by the sampling month (P < 0.05), and no specific seasonal pattern was observed. <p> The statistical models developed for each type of the flooring system determined the OGCER based on the room and ambient temperatures, the ventilation rates and the animal units. The predicted results showed good agreement with measured values for most of OGCER (r2: 0.67-0.95). In order to improve odour and gas prediction models, animal activity and dirtiness of pens should be further investigated.