This document contains the results of an experiment conducted in the Biomechanics Research Laboratory at the University of Miami. Vicon motion capture data are used as a baseline for comparing values generated by an innovative motion capture technique using digital video analysis and other software packages. Marker locations, knee angle, ankle angle, knee moment and ankle moment values were produced by each system. The values show statistically significant differences, however if used as an estimator, digital analysis can be of great value. Possible applications for the use of the innovative video analysis technique are discussed. Methods for improving the accuracy and precision of the digital video motion analysis technique are outlined.

Background: PostureScreen Mobile® is an app created to quickly screen posture using front and side-view photographs. There is currently a lack of evidence that establishes PostureScreen Mobile® (PSM) as a valid measure of posture. Therefore, the purpose of this preliminary study was to document the validity and reliability of PostureScreen Mobile® in assessing static standing posture. Methods: This study was an experimental trial in which the posture of 50 male participants was assessed a total of six times using two different methods: PostureScreen Mobile® and Vicon 3D motion analysis system (VIC). Postural deviations, as measured during six trials of PSM assessments (3 trials with and 3 trials without anatomical markers), were compared to the postural deviations as measured using the VIC as the criterion measure. Measurement of lateral displacement on the x-axis (shift) and rotation on the y-axis (tilt) were made of the head, shoulders, and hips in the frontal plane. Measurement of forward/rearward displacement on the Z-axis (shift) of the head, shoulders, hips, and knees were made in the sagittal plane. Validity was evaluated by comparing the PSM measurements of shift and tilt of each body part to that of the VIC. Reliability was evaluated by comparing the variance of PSM measurements to the variance of VIC measurements. The statistical model employed the Bayesian framework and consisted of the scaled product of the likelihood of the data given the parameters and prior probability densities for each of the parameters. Results: PSM tended to overestimate VIC postural tilt and shift measurements in the frontal plane and underestimate VIC postural shift measurements in the sagittal plane. Use of anatomical markers did not universally improve postural measurements with PSM, and in most cases, the variance of postural measurements using PSM exceeded that of VIC. The patterns in the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) suggest high trial-to-trial variation in posture. Conclusions: We conclude that until research further establishes the validity and reliability of the PSM app, it should not be used in research or clinical applications when accurate postural assessments are necessary or when serial measurements of posture will be performed. We suggest that the PSM be used by health and fitness professionals as a screening tool, as described by the manufacturer. Due to the suspected trial-to-trial variation in posture, we question the usefulness of a single postural assessment.

The aim of the thesis is a realization of advanced analysis of signals from gait laboratory. The introductory part deals with the gait cycle and its relation to the joints kinematic is discussed. Additionally, the work is focused on the description of the gait laboratory and the definition of the indexes in order to quantify patient´s overall gait in kinematic analysis. In the practical part, kinematic data analysis was implemented in the MATLAB environment and the results of healthy individuals and patients with cerebral palsy were compared. Kinematic analysis included peak detection in specific kinematic variables. In the last part a graphical user interface for visualization was implemented.

L'objectif général de cette thèse est d'observer, d'un point de vue biomécanique, comment le vieillissement agit sur le mouvement de préhension et en particulier lorsque celui-ci est perturbé par la présence d'obstacle. Pour cela, le gant de données Cyberglove et le système optoélectronique Vicon ont été utilisés conjointement dans deux protocoles expérimentaux pour recueillir les données relatives aux mouvements du tronc, du membre supérieur et de la main lors d'un geste complexe de préhension. Dans un premier temps, l'effet des propriétés intrinsèques et extrinsèques de l'obstacle a été testé chez des sujets adultes où les modalités de taille, de distance et de position variaient afin d'observer l'influence de l'environnement sur le mouvement. Nos résultats confirment que la présence d'un obstacle modifie la cinématique des composantes de "transport" et de "saisie". Cependant, la variation des propriétés intrinsèques et extrinsèques de l'obstacle a peu d'effet sur les paramètres spatio-temporels ce qui suggère un contrôle global du mouvement. Dans un deuxième temps, une population composée d'adultes et de personnes âgées a été comparée afin de considérer l'effet de l'âge sur la fonction de préhension en présence d'obstacle. Nos résultats montrent que les propriétés intrinsèques et extrinsèques de l'obstacle affectent plus particulièrement les mouvements des personnes âgées qui se caractérisent par une augmentation de la durée de mouvement, une modification des profils angulaires et une augmentation de la variabilité comparés à ceux des adultes. L'utilisation de stratégies motrices spécifiques aux personnes âgées impliquant de manière prépondérante le tronc et l'élévation du bras semble leur permettre de compenser leur déficit de mobilité.

A wearable system that can be used in different settings to collect gait parameters on subjects with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) would allow clinicians to collect needed data of subjects outside of the laboratory setting. Mild traumatic brain injuries stem from a number of causes such as illnesses, strokes, accidents or battlefield traumas. These injuries can cause issues with everyday tasks, such as gait, and are linked with vestibular dysfunction [1]. Different wearable sensor systems were analyzed prior to starting this study along with relevant gait parameters associated with mild traumatic brain injury. To monitor gait parameters relevant to mild traumatic brain injury (cadence, torso rate of rotation, head rate of rotation and stride length) a wearable sensor system was selected (APDM Opal Movement Monitor [13]) and compared against the gold standard optical tracking system (Vicon) [2]. A group of ten, 20-27 year old, healthy subjects were used to validate the APDM Movement Monitor system using the Pearson's R correlation value [35]. Subjects were asked to wear the APDM movement monitors in conjunction with the reflective markers of the Vicon system while performing three sessions of gait trials: a normal gait speed, a fast gait speed and a slow gait speed. Using the Pearson's R correlation values, cadence, torso rate of rotation, and head rate of rotation were found to be highly correlated between both systems. The Pearson's R correlations for cadence, torso rate of rotation, head rate of rotation and stride length were 0.967, 0.907, 0.942, and 0.861, respectively. These correlation values suggest the gait parameters relevant to mild traumatic brain injury are highly correlated between both the APDM Movement Monitor system and the Vicon system, and APDM's wearable sensor system was lightweight, portable and less costly than the Vicon system.

The thesis is focused on comparing the round baler with variable bale chamber. The press Vicon RV 1601 OC14 was compared with press Welger RP 435 Master. The evaluation was conducted from three perspectives. The first was the construction of the machine. The second was economic and the last one was the quality of work. Furthermore comparing was done per the performance, the cost of molding, packaging and simple analysis of investment and operating costs. The quality of the design was better with the press Welger. This press was measured to better results in bale density per hundred percent dry matter with straw 98.13 kg.m-3. Greater hourly output during molding were measured on the press Welger. From an overall perspective was evaluated press Welger better.

The goal of this diploma thesis is to explore possibilities and principals of virtual and augmented reality, especially in relation to use in the factories of Industry 4.0. Introduce also a optical location systems VICON and OptiTrack. . It also studies the possibilities of 3D visualization of technical objects using viewing glasses and selects a suitable framework for creating an augmented reality focused on the environment of MS Windows, UNITY 3D engine and the C# programming language. Last chapter designes and developes software solution depicting an artificial scene in viewing glasses.

The purpose of this project was to analyze the coordination between gaze and the upper limb movement while performing a predefined task. We implemented a method to simultaneously compute and visualize recorded gaze data from a head mounted eye tracker and motion data from a motion capture system in the same coordinate system.  A python script was implemented to temporarily synchronize the two systems and then proceed with the spatial/coordinate transformation which was validated with the data acquired while the subject was asked to perform specific tasks. Task 1 was to fixate his gaze on a block placed in the center of a table and the Task 2 was to stack the blocks by picking it up and placing it on top of each other. Wrist and elbow flexion-extension angles were tracked simultaneously based on reflective markers trajectories while performing the task. This was visualized and discussed on how the results of our study suggest that the eye movements play a vital role in planning, estimating, coordinating and providing feedback for the body to perform a motor task.

No description available.

The life expectancy of the elderly population is expected to increase with 22 % by 2050. As one grows older, the body starts to deteriorate, which can lead to a higher risk for diseases and accidents. During recent years shoulder surgeries have increased dramatically, and to assess the shoulder function the most common technique is the use of camera-based motion capture systems. However, this is very time consuming and does not completely represent the real shoulder performance. Therefore, this study was aimed to validate a new technique, the force range monitor (FRM). Thirteen volunteers participated in this study, which was divided into two sessions. Session one included abduction and flexion strength measurements using the FRM, as well as six mobility measurements with the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the FRM. The second session was conducted in the same manner, with the addition of the Vicon system (motion capture system). In this study a control session for FRM and the Vicon system was also performed for abduction and flexion movements with two participants, where the placement of the IMU was modified. As indicated by the results, FRM and the Vicon system do not measure the same parameters. Even if the FRM does not measure the same shoulder joint angles as the Vicon System, the FRM can still be of clinical importance when evaluating position deviation during strength and mobility measurements. Moreover, the FRM had a high repeatability for a number of participants, and most of the mobility measurements presented a distinct patterns for various activities. Hence, it can be concluded that the FRM is a potential technique to evaluate shoulder strength and mobility.