Prototype for the estimation and evaluation of walking velocity using acceleration transducers

This work proposes the development of an electronic prototype with a low cost, based on the utilization of acceleration micro-electric-mechanical sensors (MEMS) which make possible to obtain the biomechanical information from movements when walking and so permit to obtain estimation about the average velocity. The system which has been put in practice captures the information from the sensors through the micro-controller and sends them through an intuitive interface, designed in the GUIDE environment of Matlab software. With the intention of validating the developed prototype it was proposed a new methodology in order to calculate the walking velocity, however, in this phase are used platforms which were certified acquired, developed by National Instruments and which have direct connection with the LabVIEW environment. Twenty tests were made simulating the walking using an ergometric treadmill with two different velocities, obtaining for the first prototype an estimated average error of 2.66% and 3.19% (1^st and 2^nd Velocities, respectively) and with the validation prototype an error of 1.38% and 2.25% from the acquisitions.