Wearable knee joint angle measurement system based on force sensitive resistors

This paper presents a novel and cost effective human gait measurement system using the wearable sensors to calculate the gait cycle in variable locomotion activities. A body mounted wireless knee angle measurement system which utilizes a force sensing resistor (FSR) to calculate the joint angle of the knee has been developed. The Knee angle measurement system consists of two modules-knee brace slider crank assembly and signal processing unit with wireless communication. FSR is used to sense the force applied during walking and four bar slider crank system for converting circular motion to reciprocating linear motion. Joint angles are computed at signal processing unit in real time by online monitoring of knee angle. Results show that it is a simple and effective system to measure knee angle.