Remote Motion Capture Protocol for Transferring 3D Motion Data to Remote Locations in Real Time

The demand for telemedicine systems has increased following the COVID-19 pandemic. Conventional telemedicine systems provide video and acoustic transferring functions using smartphones and other communication systems. However, it is difficult to use conventional telemedicine systems in rehabilitation fields because they require real-time motion data from patients. In this study, we introduce an innovative system to transfer three-dimensional (3D) motion data to remote places in real time, which is referred to as the “remote motion capture protocol (RMCP).” The RMCP runs on a conventional game engine (Unity) and multiple operation systems such as Windows, Mac OS, and Android. The transferring delay was estimated to be 230 ms at the maximum using remote procedure call. In addition, any type of motion capture can be used in this system if it is compatible with the conventional game engine. This technical note describes the basis of the system, a sample application, and usage of RMCP.