Development of a Modular Data Acquisition System Based on Multimodal Sensors for Gait Assistance Systems

Existing studies mainly conducted experiments using a single sensor system targeting static motion in a limited environment; therefore, the scope of application was limited. However, as the demand for walking and muscle assistance systems has recently increased in various fields, a data acquisition system for developing walking assistance systems that can accommodate various walking conditions is required. Consequently, in this study, we developed a modular data acquisition system based on multimodal sensors for gait assistance systems. This system consists of a multimodal sensor system including a flex sensor, IMU, EMG sensor, and insole sensor, and the data acquisition system is modularized for wearer convenience, range of motion, and efficient data collection and processing. The experiment was conducted on healthy adult males without gait disorders in a variety of daily walking situations, including walking on a flat ground, sprinting, uphill and downhill walking, and going up and down stairs. The effectiveness of the walking assistance system was proven through analyzing the collected data.