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STMicroelectronics has developed a smart suit prototype with sewn-in new multi-sensor iNEMO motion co-processor that can recognise complex body movements and translate them to a digital model with precision and speed. The iBMR, iNEMO Body Motion Reconstruction technology could improve outcomes in clinical and sports medicine applications, as well as enhance augmented reality where users could, for example, jog side by side with the world champion on their local running track.
The company’s current-generation prototype of body-motion reconstruction suit demonstrates the optimal performance of the miniaturised iNEMO multi-sensor nodes attached on each arm, forearm, thigh, calf, and two on the back; additional nodes can be mounted on hands, on shoes or on the head.
The integration of ST motion and magnetic MEMS sensors with a 32-bit STM32 microcontroller and dedicated software in one miniaturized solderable module with a very small size form factor (13x13x2 mm), make the iNEMO motion co-processor part of a flexible solution for effortless orientation estimation embedded applications.
Using sophisticated data fusion software, each iNEMO smart sensor node represents one of the smallest and highest performance Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) modules available on the market. All nodes send their data to the control unit, which applies the measurements to a graphical skeleton model and displays body motions in real time.
Extensive tests with realistic, complex human body motions have demonstrated the precision and speed of the body-motion reconstruction suit, with deviation in spatial accuracy below 0.5 degrees during movements and the time needed to process and apply the sensor data to the skeleton model less than 15 milliseconds.
