• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.61-67
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• 2023

Gait analysis plays a key role in the research field of exploring and understanding human movement. By quantitatively analyzing the complexity of human movement and the various factors that influence it, it is possible to identify individual gait characteristics and abnormalities. This is especially true for people with walking difficulties or special circumstances, such as amputee, for example. This is because it can help us understand their gait characteristics and provide individualized rehabilitation plans. In this paper, we compare and analyze the differences in ankle joint motion and angles between normal and amputee. In particular, a filtering process was applied to the ankle joint angle data to obtain high accuracy results. The results of this study can contribute to a more accurate understanding and improvement of the gait patterns of normal and amputee.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2023

In this study, we formulated a method that evaluates Taekwondo Poomsae performance using a series of choreographed training movements. Despite recent achievements in 3D human pose estimation (HPE) performance, the analysis of human actions remains challenging. In particular, Taekwondo Poomsae action analysis is challenging owing to the absence of time synchronization data and necessity to compare postures, rather than directly relying on joint locations owing to differences in human shapes. To address these challenges, we first decomposed human joint representation into joint rotation (posture) and limb length (body shape), then synchronized a comparison between test and reference pose sequences using DTW (dynamic time warping), and finally compared pose angles for each joint. Experimental results demonstrate that our method successfully synchronizes test action sequences with the reference sequence and reflects a considerable gap in performance between practitioners and professionals. Thus, our method can detect incorrect poses and help practitioners improve accuracy, balance, and speed of movement.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to improve the ankle joint to mechanical energy in Crouching start according to the backward block inclined angle(F, F(+1), F(+2)) increase. For purpose of this study the ankle joint was considered as a single hinge joint rotation about a transverse axis. A two-dimensional(sagittal plane) analysis was performed on data collected from 3 spriters(university student). During Crouching start, the ankle joint moment showed a similar patterns according to the backward block inclined angle increase. The peak values of ankle joint moment was plantar flexion approximately 80% throughout the contact phase for Crouching start. The absorbed and generated energy represented different values from the backward block inclined angle increase at ankle joint. On the backward block inclined angle F, subject A($55^{\circ}$) and C($50^{\circ}$) Produced energy generation more than other block inclined angles. On the backward block inclined angle F(+2), subject B($50^{\circ}$) showed largest energy generation.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.723-730
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• 2007

The typical design of automotive driveshafts generally utilizes Constant Velocity(CV) joints as a solution to NVH. CV joints are an integral part of vehicles and significantly affect steering, suspension, and vehicle vibration comfort levels. Thus, CV joints have been favored over universal joints due to the constant velocity torque transfer and plunging capability. Although CV joints are common in vehicle applications, current research works on modeling CV joint friction and assumes constant empirical friction coefficient values. However, such models are long known to be inaccurate, especially under dynamic conditions, which is the case for CV joints. In this paper, an instrumented advanced CV joint friction apparatus was developed to measure the internal friction behavior of CV joints using actual tripod-type joint assemblies. The setup is capable of measuring key performance of friction under different realistic operating conditions of oscillatory speeds, torque and joint installation angles. The apparatus incorporates a custom-installed triaxial force sensor inside of the joint to measure the internal CV joint forces(including friction). Using the designed test setup, the intrinsic interfacial parameters of CV joints were investigated in order to understand their contact and friction mechanisms. The results provide a better understanding of CV joint friction characteristics in developing improved automotive driveshafts.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2004

To optimize movement of a multi-joint robot arm is known to be a difficult problem, because it is a kind of redundant system. Although the end-effector is set its position by each angle of the joints, the angle of each joint cannot be uniquely determined by the position of the end-effector. There exist the infinite number of different sets of joint angles which represent the same position of the end-effector. This paper describes how to manage the angle of each joint to move its end-effector preferably on an X-Y plane with obstacles in the end-effector’s reachable area, and how to optimize the movement of a multi-joint robot arm, evading obstacles. The definition of “preferable” movement depends upon a purpose of robot operation. First, we divide viewpoints of preference into two, 1) the standpoint of the end-effector, and 2) the standpoint of joints. Then, we define multiple objective functions, and formulate it into a multi-objective programming problem. Finally, we solve it using multi-purpose genetic algorithm, and obtain reasonable results. The method described here is possible to add appropriate objective function if necessary for the purpose.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.237-250
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• 2017

There has been increasing attention in many countries on seismic retrofit of old fashioned RC structures in recent years. In such buildings, the joints lack transverse reinforcement and suffer inadequate seismic dimensional requirements and the reinforcement is plain bar. The behavior of the joints is governed by sliding of steel bars and diagonal shear failure is less influential. Different methods to retrofit beam-column joints have been proposed in the literature such as wrapping the joint by FRP sheets, enlargement of the beam-column joint, and strengthening the joint by steel sheets. In this study, an enlargement technique that uses external prestressed cross ties with steel angles is examined. The technique has already been used for substructures reinforced by deformed bars and has advantages such as efficient enhancement of seismic capacity and lack of damage to the joint. Three reference specimens and two retrofitted units are tested under increasing lateral cyclic load in combination with two levels of axial load. The reference specimens showed relatively low shear strength of 0.150${\surd}$($f_c$) and 0.30${\surd}$($f_c$) for the exterior and interior joints, respectively. In addition, relatively brittle behavior was observed and large deformations extended into the panel zone of the joints. The retrofit method has increased ductility ratio of the interior beam-column joints by 63%, and energy dissipation capacity by 77%, relative to the control specimen; For external joints, these values were 11%, and 94%. The retrofit method has successfully relocated the plastic joints far from the column face. The retrofit method has improved shear strength of the joints by less than 10%.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between center of pressure (CoP) and local stability of the lower joints, which was calculated based on approximate entropy (ApEn) during walking in elderly women. Method: Eighteen elderly women were recruited (age: $66.4{\pm}1.2yrs$; mass: $55.4{\pm}8.3kg$; height: $1.56{\pm}0.04m$) for this study. Before collecting data, reflective marker triads composed of 3 non-collinear spheres were attached to the lateral surface of the thigh and shank near the mid-segment to measure motion of the thigh and shank segments. To measure foot motion, reflective markers were placed on the shoe at the heel, head of the fifth metatarsal, and lateral malleolus, and were also placed on the right anterior-superior iliac spine, left anterior-superior iliac spine, and sacrum to observe pelvic motion. During treadmill walking, kinematic data were recorded using 6 infrared cameras (Oqus 300, Qualisys, Sweden) with a 100 Hz sampling frequency and kinetic data were collected from a treadmill (Instrumented Treadmill, Bertec, USA) for 20 strides. From kinematic data, 3D angles of the lower extremity's joint were calculated using Cardan technique and then ApEn were computed for their angles to evaluate local stability. Range of CoP was determined from the kinetic data. Pearson product-moment and Spearman rank correlation coefficient were applied to find relationship between CoP and ApEn. The level of significance was determined at p<.05. Results: There was a negative linear correlation between CoP and ApEn of hip joint adduction-abduction motion (p<.05), but ApEn of other joint motion did not affect the CoP. Conclusion: It was conjectured that ApEn, local stability index, for adduction/abduction of the hip joint during walking could be useful as a fall predictor.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.109-114
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• 2015

In this study, joint angles of the lower extremity and tibial acceleration and angular velocity were measured during a snowboard simulator exercises in order to evaluate the skill of snowboarders. Ten unskilled and ten expert snowboarders were recruited for the study. A three-dimensional motion capture system and two inertial sensor modules were used to acquire joint movements, acceleration and angular velocity of the lower extremities during snowboard simulator exercises. Pattern variations were calculated to assess variations in the snowboard simulator motion of unskilled and expert snowboarders. Results showed that expert snowboarders showed greater range of motion in joint angles and greater peak to peak amplitude in acceleration and angular velocity for tibia than unskilled snowboarders. The unskilled snowboarders did not show symmetrical shape(same magnitude but opposite direction) in tibial angular velocity during two edge turns in snowboard simulator exercises. The expert snowboarders showed smaller pattern variations for joint angle of lower extremity, tibial acceleration and tibial angular velocity than unskilled snowboarders. Inertial sensor data and pattern variations during the snowboard simulator exercises could be useful to evaluate the skill of snowboarders.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.361-367
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare three-dimensional kinematic changes of the lower extremity between the two different braking distances during snowplow in alpine skiing. Method: Six alpine ski instructors (age: $25.3{\pm}1.5yr$, height: $169.3{\pm}2.9cm$, weight: $66.2{\pm}5.9kg$, career: $4.2{\pm}2.9yr$) participated in this study. Each skier was asked to perform snowplow on the two different braking distances (2 and 4 m). Results: Snowplow and edging angles (p = .006 and p = .005), ankle adduction and inversion (p = .033 and p = .002), knee extension (p = .003), and hip abduction and internal rotation (p = .043 and p = .006) were significantly greater in the 2 m than in the 4 m braking distance. Conclusion: Based on our results, we suggest that skiers should make greater snowplow and edging angles on the shorter braking distance. In this situation, ankle joint adduction/inversion angle and hip joint internal-rotation make greater snowplow angle, and hip joint abduction make greater edging angle. In addition, greater knee joint extension angle may lead to more posteriorly positioned center of mass.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.156-162
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• 2022

This study estimates the relative position between body segments using segment orientation and segment-to-joint center (S2J) vectors. In many wearable motion tracking technologies, the S2J vector is treated as a constant based on the assumption that rigid body segments are connected by a mechanical ball joint. However, human body segments are deformable non-rigid bodies, and they are connected via ligaments and tendons; therefore, the S2J vector should be determined as a time-varying vector, instead of a constant. In this regard, our previous study (2021) proposed a method for determining the time-varying S2J vector from the learning dataset using a regression method. Because that method uses a deformation-related variable to consider the deformation of S2J vectors, the optimal variable must be determined in terms of estimation accuracy by motion and segment. In this study, we investigated the effects of deformation-related variables on the estimation accuracy of the relative position. The experimental results showed that the estimation accuracy was the highest when the flexion and adduction angles of the shoulder and the flexion angles of the shoulder and elbow were selected as deformation-related variables for the sternum-to-upper arm and upper arm-to-forearm, respectively. Furthermore, the case with multiple deformation-related variables was superior by an average of 2.19 mm compared to the case with a single variable.