title: Quantifying sway through surface deflection patterns: a novel approach using distributive tactile sensing.
abstract: This paper describes an experiment that extends the distributive sensing approach to identify the three-dimensional location of an object in constant motion. Distributive sensing has previously been successful in the identification of size and location of statically placed objects. Here, a novel system is developed to measure balance or sway in patients. The experimental set-up consisted of a pendulum structure positioned on a supported steel plate. Three low-cost deflection sensors were positioned under the plate with the resulting signals used as inputs to a neural network implemented on a field-programmable gate array. The results show that the embedded system can accurately track the pendulum position in real time with a mean tracking error of around 6 per cent in all three dimensions. This evidence indicates that the technique is sufficiently sensitive and could be implemented in a pragmatic configuration for discriminating between balance and sway.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bimedical Engineering Research Group, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petra
authors.forename: X-H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Holding
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014110:Touch; D014159:Transducers