Development of Finger-Motion Capturing Device Based on Optical Linear Encoder
By Li, Kang; Chen, I-Ming; Yeo, Song Huat; Lim, Chee Kian; Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 69-82Publication Date: January/February 2011
Paper documents the development of a hand motion monitoring and tracking device based on the concept of newly invented optical linear encoders (OLEs).The device, SmartGlove, was designed in light of monitoring and tracking human hand motion being crucial applications in rehabilitation and skill training. The OLE, worn on the body crossing a joint, captures body-joint movements; with multiple OLE sensors placed on the back of all fingers, the finger-joint movements can be captured accurately. The OLE designed for this project is compact and lightweight, has low power consumption, and is immune to temperature and electromagnetic interferences. Ten finger OLEs form a soft exoskeleton mounted on the SmartGlove which, due to its structure, fits all hand sizes. In addition to acting both as a stand-alone device and as part of a Body Sensor Network, the device can interface with general computing systems through wired and wireless standard interfaces. The first prototype of SmartGlove was constructed based on the multi-point-sensing method. A user study with 5 nondisabled male students aged 22 to 27 years evaluated the SmartGlove using a standard protocol and found high repeatability and reliability in both the gripped and flat hand positions compared with 4 other evaluated data gloves, the Data Glove, Humanglove, Shadow Monitor, and WU Glove, using the same protocol. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Published by:
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (Web Site: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov )
Link to text: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/11/481/li.html
