Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait

This paper proposes a low-cost electronic system for estimating ground reaction forces (GRF) during human gait. The device consists of one master node and two slave nodes. The master node sends instructions to slave nodes that sample and store data from two force insoles located at the participant’s...

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Main Authors: Nelson E. Guevara, Carlos F. Rengifo, Yamir H. Bolaños, Daniel A. Fernández, Wilson A. Sierra, Luis E. Rodríguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:HardwareX
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246806722400083X
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author Nelson E. Guevara
Carlos F. Rengifo
Yamir H. Bolaños
Daniel A. Fernández
Wilson A. Sierra
Luis E. Rodríguez
author_facet Nelson E. Guevara
Carlos F. Rengifo
Yamir H. Bolaños
Daniel A. Fernández
Wilson A. Sierra
Luis E. Rodríguez
author_sort Nelson E. Guevara
collection DOAJ
description This paper proposes a low-cost electronic system for estimating ground reaction forces (GRF) during human gait. The device consists of one master node and two slave nodes. The master node sends instructions to slave nodes that sample and store data from two force insoles located at the participant’s feet. These insoles are equipped with 14 piezo-resistive FlexiForce A301 sensors (FSR). The slave nodes are attached to the ankles and feet of each participant. Subsequently, the start command is transmitted through the master node, which is connected to the USB port of a personal computer (PC). Once the walking session is completed, the information obtained by the slave nodes can be downloaded by accessing the access point generated by these devices through Wi-Fi communication. The GRF estimation system was validated with force platforms (BTS Bioengineering P6000, Italy), giving on average a fit measure equal to 68.71%±4.80% in dynamic situations. Future versions of this device are expected to increase this fit by using machine learning models.
format Article
id doaj-art-ca9a1542fa614d83a08d7c8acd03784b
institution OA Journals
issn 2468-0672
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series HardwareX
spelling doaj-art-ca9a1542fa614d83a08d7c8acd03784b2025-08-20T02:35:44ZengElsevierHardwareX2468-06722024-12-0120e0058910.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00589Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gaitNelson E. Guevara0Carlos F. Rengifo1Yamir H. Bolaños2Daniel A. Fernández3Wilson A. Sierra4Luis E. Rodríguez5Research Group of Automation, Universidad del Cauca, Colombia; Department of Electronic, Instrumentation and Control, Universidad del Cauca, Colombia; Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Corporación Universitaria Autónoma del Cauca, Colombia; Corresponding author at: Department of Electronic, Instrumentation and Control, Universidad del Cauca, Colombia.Research Group of Automation, Universidad del Cauca, Colombia; Department of Electronic, Instrumentation and Control, Universidad del Cauca, ColombiaFaculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Corporación Universitaria Autónoma del Cauca, ColombiaResearch Group of Automation, Universidad del Cauca, Colombia; Department of Electronic, Instrumentation and Control, Universidad del Cauca, Colombia; Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Corporación Universitaria Autónoma del Cauca, ColombiaFaculty of Biomedical Engineering, Escuela Colombiana de Ingeniería Julio Garavito, ColombiaFaculty of Biomedical Engineering, Escuela Colombiana de Ingeniería Julio Garavito, ColombiaThis paper proposes a low-cost electronic system for estimating ground reaction forces (GRF) during human gait. The device consists of one master node and two slave nodes. The master node sends instructions to slave nodes that sample and store data from two force insoles located at the participant’s feet. These insoles are equipped with 14 piezo-resistive FlexiForce A301 sensors (FSR). The slave nodes are attached to the ankles and feet of each participant. Subsequently, the start command is transmitted through the master node, which is connected to the USB port of a personal computer (PC). Once the walking session is completed, the information obtained by the slave nodes can be downloaded by accessing the access point generated by these devices through Wi-Fi communication. The GRF estimation system was validated with force platforms (BTS Bioengineering P6000, Italy), giving on average a fit measure equal to 68.71%±4.80% in dynamic situations. Future versions of this device are expected to increase this fit by using machine learning models.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246806722400083XGround reaction forcesForce insolesPiezo-resistive sensorsESP32 microcontrollersLow-cost3D printing
spellingShingle Nelson E. Guevara
Carlos F. Rengifo
Yamir H. Bolaños
Daniel A. Fernández
Wilson A. Sierra
Luis E. Rodríguez
Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
HardwareX
Ground reaction forces
Force insoles
Piezo-resistive sensors
ESP32 microcontrollers
Low-cost
3D printing
title Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
title_full Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
title_fullStr Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
title_full_unstemmed Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
title_short Design of a low-cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
title_sort design of a low cost force insoles to estimate ground reaction forces during human gait
topic Ground reaction forces
Force insoles
Piezo-resistive sensors
ESP32 microcontrollers
Low-cost
3D printing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246806722400083X
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