Human and Animal Motion Tracking Using Inertial Sensors

Sensors (Basel). 2020 Oct 26;20(21):6074. doi: 10.3390/s20216074.

Abstract

Motion is key to health and wellbeing, something we are particularly aware of in times of lockdowns and restrictions on movement. Considering the motion of humans and animals as a biomarker of the performance of the neuro-musculoskeletal system, its analysis covers a large array of research fields, such as sports, equine science and clinical applications, but also innovative methods and workplace analysis. In this Special Issue of Sensors, we focused on human and animal motion-tracking using inertial sensors. Ten research and two review papers, mainly on human movement, but also on the locomotion of the horse, were selected. The selection of articles in this Special Issue aims to display current innovative approaches exploring hardware and software solutions deriving from inertial sensors related to motion capture and analysis. The selected sample shows that the versatility and pervasiveness of inertial sensors has great potential for the years to come, as, for now, limitations and room for improvement still remain.

Keywords: Inertial Mouvement Unit (IMU); biomechanics; inertial sensors; motion analysis; motion capture.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Horses*
  • Humans
  • Motion
  • Movement*