Recognition of military-specific physical activities with body-fixed sensors.
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an algorithm for recognizing military-specific, physically demanding activities using body-fixed sensors. To develop the algorithm, the first group of study participants (n = 15) wore body-fixed sensors capable of measuring acceleration, step frequency, and heart rate while completing six military-specific activities: walking, marching with backpack, lifting and lowering loads, lifting and carrying loads, digging, and running. The accuracy of the algorithm was tested in these isolated activities in a laboratory setting (n = 18) and in the context of daily military training routine (n = 24). The overall recognition rates during isolated activities and during daily military routine activities were 87.5% and 85.5%, respectively. We conclude that the algorithm adequately recognized six military-specific physical activities based on sensor data alone both in a laboratory setting and in the military training environment. By recognizing type of physical activities this objective method provides additional information on military-job descriptions.
Federal Institute of Sports, Alpenstrasse 21, CH-2532 Magglingen, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Wyss
Urs
U
Mäder
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013557:Switzerland; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation