Abstract:

Scientists and engineers understand a great deal about human movement thanks to lab-based research tools such as optical motion capture, force plates, and instrumented treadmills. However, the use of these research tools is limited by the environments they can be used in and the time and knowledge needed to obtain usable data. Wearable inertial sensors enable the measurement of human movement in non-laboratory environments. However, there are numerous limitations and challenges that must be addressed when making use of the data from these sensors; measurements from inertial sensors are different from both traditional biomechanics measurements and the visual measures and cues used by experienced coaches and skilled observers. This presentation will describe some of the limitations and challenges of using wearable sensors for accurately quantifying human movement in real-world environments and describe our approach across varied applications, including bicycle riding, warfighter performance, manual wheelchair use, and baseball pitching.

Biography:

Dr. Stephen Cain is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He earned degrees in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University (B.S.) and the University of Michigan (M.S.) as well as degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan (M.S. and Ph.D.) He held postdoctoral research positions in the School of Kinesiology and Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and joined the research faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan in 2015. Dr. Cain’s research is focused on using principals from inertial navigation, engineering dynamics, biomechanics, and kinesiology to develop algorithms and data collection protocols that utilize data from body-worn inertial sensors and other wearable technologies to quantify human movement and health in non-laboratory environments. Through the measurement of human movement in the real world, Dr. Cain’s research enables new research discoveries and the development of personalized interventions to help improve human health and performance.