Pressure sensors to measure force for walking

[bsberg]

Have any of you had experience with pressure sensors and people walking, i.e. sensors on the sole of someone's foot to measure the force when they walk to derive some biomechanic equations. I need to explore some thin film type sensors....anyone with experience??

 

[microsearch]

we use kistler force transducers and strain gauges ...... sorry no experience with thin films.

 

[GSC]

http://www.sensorprod.com/

No experience, but seen various papers and reports on the topic here and there; mostly on knee joints.

gsc

 

[IRstuff]

You probably need to look for something akin to a force "mat", that allows you to measure force over the entire insole.

Something like:

http://www.swri.org/3pubs/ird2000/09-9178.htm

but maybe a little more integrated

TTFN

 

[alnik]

Have any of you had experience with pressure sensors and platform...? I need some equations to calculate the foot area in an intensity graph. Could you help me?

 

[IRstuff]

You need to use the original data for that.

The foot area would vary as a function of time during the step.

TTFN

 

[SEAnderson]

It sounds like you need a force plate, or matt. I thought I saw a group called AMTI out of Boston with something like that.

 

[mediaids]

try getting more info from sports shoes manufacturers like nike.they put various sensors in thier shoes for various purposes.

 

[Unit]

i'd imagine that some load-cells might do what you want--what kind of resolution are you looking for? are you looking for max load per cycle or the time-varying dynamic load? if just max load, a pressure sensitive film would probably work--but if looking for detailed information on the dynamic loading of different areas of the sole, then you probably will need something much more complex.

 

[biomech]

Try this company.

http://www.tekscan.com/medical.html

GL

 

[jmarti4]

hi,
your problem is quite simple. try

http://www.vishay.com/brands/measurements_group/strain_gages/tclass/gages/indexes/cir_dia.htm

the diaphragm strain guages can be used to transduce applied pressure. there is also lots of do-it-yourself kind of stuff in the website.