Continuous In-Home Gait Analysis Using FMCW Radar in Naturalistic Environments

Gait analysis is one of the most useful predictors of disease in older adults, but it is not always practical for physicians to monitor. The aim of this paper was to create a system that could continuously and reliably monitor gait patterns of varying step lengths and speeds within cluttered environments, enabling around-the-clock monitoring within personal living spaces. This novel study uses Multiple Input Multiple Output Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (MIMO FMCW) radar to track non-linear movement in cluttered environments designed to replicate a living space within a home. A Subjects Tracker and Association (STA) algorithm was proposed to distinguish direct signals with multipath effects and remove ghost signals created by clutter. Six participants were instructed to walk along designated paths with varied step lengths (30 cm, 60 cm, and 80 cm), and our findings supported the system’s ability to capture walking speed, step count, and step length. The system was successful in accurately tracking gait parameters within the naturalistic settings, offering a potential solution to autonomous, continuous in-home gait analysis.