A force plate based method for the calibration of force/torque sensors

Abstract This study describes a novel calibration method for six-degrees-of-freedom force/torque sensors (FTsensors) using a pre-calibrated force plate (FP) as a reference measuring device. In this calibration method, the FTsensor is rigidly connected to a FP and force/torque data are synchronously...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2012-04, Vol.45 (7), p.1332-1338
Main Authors: Faber, Gert S, Chang, Chien-Chi, Kingma, Idsart, Martin Schepers, H, Herber, Sebastiaan, Veltink, Peter H, Dennerlein, Jack T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
6-Component force/moment transducer
Ambulatory measurement
Biological and medical sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
Calibration
Filled plastics
Foot - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Ground reaction force
Humans
Instrumented force shoes
Least-Squares Analysis
Mathematical analysis
Matrices
Matrix methods
Methods
Models, Biological
Movement - physiology
Multi-axis force/torque sensor
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Pressure
Pushing
Sensors
Stress, Mechanical
Torque
Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
Walking
Walking - physiology
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Summary:Abstract This study describes a novel calibration method for six-degrees-of-freedom force/torque sensors (FTsensors) using a pre-calibrated force plate (FP) as a reference measuring device. In this calibration method, the FTsensor is rigidly connected to a FP and force/torque data are synchronously recorded while a dynamic functional loading procedure is applied by the researcher. Based on these data an accurate calibration matrix for the FTsensor can easily be obtained via least-squares optimization. Using this calibration method, this study further investigated what loading methods are appropriate for the calibration of FTsensors intended for ambulatory measurement of ground reaction forces (GRFs). Seven different loading methods were compared (e.g., walking, pushing while standing on the FTsensor). Calibration matrices were calculated based on the raw data from the seven loading methods individually and all loading methods combined. Performance of these calibration matrices was subsequently compared in an in situ trial. During the in situ trial, five common work tasks (e.g., walking, manual lifting, pushing) were performed by an experimenter, while standing on the FP wearing a “ForceShoe” with two calibrated FTsensors attached to its sole. Root-mean-square differences (RMSDs) between the FTsensor and FP outcomes were calculated over all tasks. Using the calibration matrices based on all loading methods combined resulted in small RMSDs (GRF:
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.01.024