A six-dimension parallel force sensor for human dynamics analysis

In this paper, parallel support principle of force sensor is discussed, and a six-dimension parallel force sensor is presented for human dynamics analysis. The force sensor with parallel support mechanism was designed to measure six-axis reaction forces during human walking. Finite element method was adopted to optimize mechanism dimension of the force sensor. Sensitivity of force sensor was improved by distributing strain gages on the maximum strain positions. A three-direction drag mechanism was designed for calibrating load cells in the parallel force sensor, and method of least-squares was used to calculate calibration coefficients.