CradlePosture: Camera-Based Approach for Estimating Neonate’s Posture Based on Caregiver’s Holding Behaviors

In holding behaviors, the posture of a neonate is crucial for ensuring safety. In this study, assuming a system for users to learn proper holding posture, we propose an approach for measuring the posture of a neonate during holding behaviors. Our method estimates the posture angles of a neonate based on holding behaviors captured by a camera. By using regression models to estimate a neonate’s posture angles based on the posture of a person holding a neonate, estimation can be made of the posture angles of the neonate without directly attaching sensors to an actual neonate. The results show for within-participant validation, both the inclination angle– the angle at which the doll is rotated around its chest from a horizontal position towards raising its head– and the adduction angle– the angle at which the doll is rotated from a horizontal position around its body axis towards the person’s body side– could be estimated with high accuracy, but for between-participant validation, only inclination angles could be estimated.