Motion Capture System

描述（由申请人提供）：当前申请寻求资金（231,783.00美元），以升级目前在人类运动和平衡实验室（HMBL）中可用的VICON运动捕捉系统，该实验室位于匹兹堡大学生物工程系。现有的动作捕捉系统正在失效。该实验室的主要长期研究目标是提高老年人的活动能力并减少跌倒的风险。使用该仪器的用户的其他研究兴趣包括上肢生物力学、膝关节生物力学、孕妇姿势控制研究和职业性跌倒。HMBL已被许多学科的研究人员使用，并具有广泛的专业知识，包括老年病学家、神经学家、成像专家、精神科医生、物理治疗师、职业治疗师、统计学家、工程师和机器人专家。这些用户在匹兹堡大学、卡内基梅隆大学和密歇根大学的各个学校都有预约。HMBL的具体目标是继续提供最先进的运动捕捉设备，可用于运动和姿势控制研究。HMBL目前由Rakii Cham博士和Mark Redfern博士指导。HMBL设施的日常运作由April Chambers， m.s.管理，她是一名研究协调员和实验室经理。由于动作捕捉系统可能会升级，从而进一步扩大设施的用途，我们将成立一个内部咨询委员会，协助实验室主任监督设施的管理。总之，HMBL设施是许多当前资助和潜在未来研究人员使用的共享资源，其运动字幕系统的升级对于成功完成他们正在进行和计划中的研究项目至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The current application seeks funding ($231,783.00) to upgrade a VICON motion capture system currently available in the Human Movement and Balance Laboratory (HMBL), a gait laboratory housed in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. The existing motion capture system is failing. The major long-term research goals of this laboratory are to improve mobility and to reduce the risk of falls in older adults. Other research interests of users using this instrumentation include upper extremity biomechanics, knee biomechanics, postural control research in pregnant women and occupational falls. HMBL has been used by investigators from many disciplines and with a wide range of expertise including geriatricians, neurologists, imaging experts, psychiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, statisticians, engineers and roboticists. These users have appointments in various schools at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Michigan. The specific objective of the HMBL is to continue to provide a state-of-the art motion capture facility that can be used in movement and postural control research. HMBL is currently directed by Rakii Cham, PhD and Mark Redfern, PhD. The day-to-day operations of the HMBL facility are managed by April Chambers, M.S., a research coordinator and laboratory manager. With the potential upgrade of the motion capture system and thus further expanded use of the facility, an internal advisory committee will be formed to assist the laboratory directors in overseeing the management of the facility. In summary, the HMBL facility is a shared resource used by many currently funded and potential future investigators and the upgrade of its motion caption system is critical to the successful completion of their active and planned research projects. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The current application seeks funding to upgrade a motion capture system used in balance and walking research at the University of Pittsburgh. The major long-term goal of this research is to improve mobility in older adults and to minimize their risk of falls. The motion capture system is needed by many investigators with a wide range of expertise (clinicians, engineers, mathematicians and roboticists), all interested in human movement studies with the majority of users having a focus on geriatric balance/gait research. Other research interests include upper and lower extremity biomechanics related to the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, impact of pregnancy on gait and balance and influence of flooring support surfaces on fatigue.