Comparison of Motion Capture Technologies: Accelerometry Versus Kinemetry

Abstract

In machine design, from an engineering perspective, the need for motion evaluation is commonplace. Such a need entails the assumption of limitations associated with the boundaries of actually existing technology. Image analysis of video clips is an affordable possibility, but with spatial limitations due to opacity due to obstacles, as well as an infrastructure that is often not feasible. The technology market offers other possibilities such as biomechanical suits based on inertial technology, as well as those that combine inertial technology with other technologies such as infrared, image analysis or artificial intelligence. Such options are very costly and specific, and therefore usually economically unfeasible. In addition, there is enormous opacity of such technologies due to corporate confidentiality. Therefore, the long-term development of a flexible, robust, reliable and affordable system for the analysis of the spatial motion of points is proposed in order to obtain, through classical mechanical engineering formulations, information on the kinematics and dynamics of the solids under study. This study is part of a general investigation to study the potential of using accessible and affordable inertial technology developed for the analysis of spatial motion. For this purpose, two models of affordable IMU inertial sensors were chosen from the market and subjected to a rectilinear displacement. This motion was also analysed by video clip image analysis. Using this analysis as a reference, the results of the analysis of the evolution of the position of these sensors were evaluated.