Development of a Mechanical Chest Motion Simulator for Validating Non-Contact Vital Sign Monitoring

This paper introduces a novel simulator for heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR), critical parameters in human vital sign monitoring. Traditional contact-based methods for monitoring these vital signs are well-established, yet non-contact methods are increasingly preferred for various applications such as in nursing and fitness monitoring due to their convenience and non-invasive nature. Current non-contact technologies, however, face challenges related to accuracy due to external motion and noise interference. To address these challenges, a mechanical simulator is developed to replicates human cardiorespiratory motion, providing a controlled and noise-free baseline for testing non-contact HR and RR monitoring technologies. Using linear actuators and a micro stepper motor, our simulator mimics the subtle chest movements caused by cardiovascular and respiratory activity. The device can accurately replicate heart rates and respiratory rates within specified ranges, offering a vital tool for developers and researchers to validate the accuracy and reliability of non-contact monitoring devices. This simulator serves as a ground truth in experiments where other human activities may significantly interfere with data accuracy, thus fostering advancements in non-contact monitoring technology. Additionally, this study employs a 77 GHz mmWave radar to capture the fine motion of the actuators, demonstrating that the mmWave radar achieves a resolution of 0.1 mm.