The presentation and evaluation of a video based, six degree-of-freedom approach for analyzing human motion

An evaluation is presented of the measurement accuracy of a video-based procedure for analyzing the motion of rigid bodies for eventual application to human motion. The procedure, named MOVE3D, evaluates six-degree-of-freedom motion by monitoring the three-dimensional spatial coordinates of at least three noncollinear target markers per segment and then applying the principles of rigid body mechanics. A five-camera Vicon system, an AMTI force plate, and AMASS reduction software were used to supply the input for MOVE3D. A pendular test apparatus, synchronized to the system and mounted on the force plate, was used to produce known motions. Time histories for the five measured parameters were collected over five trials and demonstrated that a video-based data collection system can be used to measure accurately the parameters which characterize the motion of rigid bodies.< >