Fusion Motion Capture set to revolutionise biomechanical analysis

As more accurate dual frequency GPS systems become less expensive this type of system will become more accurate and affordable – Brodie’s current skier-wearable-kit cost around US$80,000, but Brodie suggests that once thoroughly developed, it will cost a faction of that amount, “particularly if it follows the same path as the Wii remote, which essentially uses the same technology.”

The abundant data available via FMC required the creation of new tools for measuring alpine ski racing technique, such as colour-coded force vector analysis. New parameters, such as effective inclination and ground reaction force power, are independent of the stylistic constraints often imposed by the coach or athlete.

There’s also a full article on Fusion Motion Capture (FMC) featured in Wiley-Blackwell’s journal, Sports Technology, this month. In the paper, two ski runs from the same skiier were compared. Although the difference between the two run times was only 0.14 s or 1%, FMC and force vector analysis were able to pick up the subtle changes in technique between the two runs and chat with Brodie indicates the vast knowledge he can glean from his analysis.

It is believed the analyses will provide useful design parameters to ski equipment engineers and will allow athlete feedback through augmented reality animations about variables, including limb dynamics, centre of mass (CoM) trajectory, CoM velocity, and external forces.

In-depth analysis of the changes in net joint torques with changes in athlete posture may be useful for coaching athlete specific technique changes to improve performance and reduce injury potential. In addition, it is possible to extract key performance indicators about the athlete's physical and physiological limits, such as the mean coefficient of wind drag and the maximum inclination angle while turning, which may be used to optimise race strategies. There are tentative plans to use an improved version of a similar motion capture system to analyse forerunners on the FIS world cup race circuit with a view to reducing knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

Future health applications for FMC might include activity monitoring, postural balance analysis in fall prevention programs, and gait analysis during everyday tasks. FMC also promises much as in the entertainment side of things (as a games interface), motion capture for the film and games industry and to provide a visual biomechanical analysis of an athlete playing any sport to enhance the experience of the television audience.

‘’’’’’’’’’ Sports Technology

Reproduced from a Brodie, M. A., Walmsley, A., & Page, W. (2008). Fusion motion capture: a prototype system using inertial measurement units and GPS for the biomechanical analysis of ski racing. Journal of Sports Technology, 1(1), 17-28.) with permission from Wiley-Blackwell.

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