SBIR Phase I: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered, Wearable Technology to Monitor and Assess Strength Training Activities

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发改进的评估工具，从而提高对肌肉健康和力量训练的认识。 美国疾病控制中心（CDC）的数据显示，美国有7600万人持续进行力量训练，并符合运动要求标准。 力量训练的社会和健康益处，如肌肉生长，减少脂肪，更好的身体平衡和改善心理健康，在许多同行评议的研究中得到了很好的描述。市场上有许多可穿戴设备可以通过心率和呼吸率监测心血管健康，但肌肉健康数据却缺失，因为监测力量训练要困难得多。该项目将开发一种低调的人工智能（AI）驱动的可穿戴系统，由手腕和躯干传感器组成。 所提出的系统将自动识别培训计划，了解用户的目标和培训经验，并提供一步一步的指导，个性化的用户的能力和活动。该解决方案将在任何环境中工作（例如，家庭、健身房或室外位置）。该系统将能够启动，维持和改善力量训练健康方案。这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将结合联合收割机和信号处理技术，使基于惯性测量单元（IMU）的传感器能够稳健地检测力量训练动作，准确地计算重复次数，并提供性能指标，如紧张状态下的时间，锻炼者的速度，锻炼期间的总工作量，为此，将建立一个优化的深度学习模型，该模型将以99%的准确率检测15个力量训练练习，并且不会错过超过百分之一的重复。另一个关键目标是创建一个神经网络结构，以减少IMU漂移通过特征聚合的知识正在执行的运动类型和人体运动学。预期的技术成果是性能评估，弹道均方根偏差小于0.02米，速度均方根偏差小于0.025米/秒。最后，预期的结果包括用户需求的文档与实现和未来的产品功能相一致。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

The broader impact /commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing improved assessment tools and as a result, improved knowledge about muscle health and strength training. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) data shows that 76 million people in the US do strength training consistently and meet exercise requirement standards. The social and health benefits of strength training like muscular growth, fat reduction, better body balance, and improved mental health have been well characterized in numerous peer reviewed studies. There are many wearable devices on the market that can monitor cardiovascular health via heart and respiratory rates, but muscle health data is missing, because monitoring strength training is much more difficult. This project will develop a low-profile, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven wearable system composed of wrist and torso sensors. The proposed system will automatically recognize a training program, learn about the user goals and training experience, and provide step by step guidance, individualized to the user's abilities and activities. The solution will work in any environment (e.g., home, gym, or outdoor location). The system will be able to initiate, maintain, and improve strength training health regimens.This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will combine AI and signal processing techniques to enable inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based sensors to robustly detect strength training movements, accurately count repetitions, and provide performance metrics like time under tension, exerciser pace, amount of the total work during an exercise, power generated, range of motion, etc. Towards this end, an optimized deep-learning model will be built that will detect 15 strength training exercises with 99% accuracy and will miss no more than one out of hundred repetitions. Another key objective is the creation of a neural network structure to reduce IMU drifts via feature aggregation of the knowledge of an exercise type being performed and human kinematics. The anticipated technical result is performance assessment with a root-mean-square deviation of less than 0.02 m for trajectory and less than 0.025 m/s for velocity. Finally, anticipated results include documentation of user needs aligned with implemented and future product features.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.