Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gyroscope: Precession01:24

Gyroscope: Precession

6.1K
Precession can be demonstrated effectively through a spinning top. If a spinning top is placed on a flat surface near the surface of the Earth at a vertical angle and is not spinning, it will fall over due to the force of gravity producing a torque acting on its center of mass. However, if the top is spinning on its axis, it precesses about the vertical direction, rather than topple over due to this torque. Precessional motion is a combination of a steady circular motion of the axis and the...
6.1K
Moments of Inertia for an Area about Inclined Axes01:18

Moments of Inertia for an Area about Inclined Axes

1.3K
In physics and engineering, understanding the moments of inertia for a given area with asymmetrical mass distribution is critical for proper design and analysis. When considering an arbitrary coordinate system, the moments of inertia can be obtained by integrating the moment of inertia for an infinitesimal area element.
1.3K
Gyroscope01:02

Gyroscope

4.7K
A gyroscope is defined as a spinning disk in which the axis of rotation is free to assume any orientation. When spinning, the orientation of the spin axis is unaffected by the orientation of the body that encloses it. The body or vehicle enclosing the gyroscope can be moved from place to place, while the orientation of the spin axis remains the same. This makes gyroscopes very useful in navigation, especially where magnetic compasses cannot be used, such as in crewed and crewless spacecraft,...
4.7K
Inertia Tensor01:24

Inertia Tensor

1.4K
The concept of the inertia tensor is employed to depict the mass distribution and rotational inertia of a solid or rigid object. This tensor is expressed through a three-by-three matrix. Each component within this matrix corresponds to varying moments of inertia about specific axes.
The diagonal components of the inertia tensor matrix represent the moments of inertia concerning the principal axes of the object. These primary axes are defined as the axes where the object experiences the least...
1.4K
Inertial Frames of Reference01:03

Inertial Frames of Reference

10.0K
Newton’s first law is usually considered to be a statement about reference frames. It provides a method for identifying a special type of reference frame: the inertial reference frame. In principle, we can make the net force on a body zero. If its velocity relative to a given frame is constant, then that frame is said to be inertial. So, by definition, an inertial reference frame is a reference frame where Newton's first law holds valid. Newton's first law applies to objects with...
10.0K
Measuring Acceleration Due to Gravity01:12

Measuring Acceleration Due to Gravity

1.4K
Consider a coffee mug hanging on a hook in a pantry. If the mug gets knocked, it oscillates back and forth like a pendulum until the oscillations die out.
A simple pendulum can be described as a point mass and a string. Meanwhile, a physical pendulum is any object whose oscillations are similar to a simple pendulum, but cannot be modeled as a point mass on a string because its mass is distributed over a larger area. The behavior of a physical pendulum can be modeled using the principles of...
1.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Topology and Morphology Design of Spherically Reconfigurable Homogeneous Modular Soft Robots.

Soft robotics·2022
Same author

Compact Shape Morphing Tensegrity Robots Capable of Locomotion.

Frontiers in robotics and AI·2021
Same author

A Definition of Soft Materials for Use in the Design of Robots.

Soft robotics·2017
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 14, 2026

An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
06:52

An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field

Published on: May 26, 2020

8.8K

Bioinspired dynamic inclination measurement using inertial sensors.

Vishesh Vikas, Carl Crane

    Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
    |April 17, 2015
    PubMed
    Summary

    Human body balance relies on vestibular feedback. This study models the body as an inverted pendulum to define a dynamic equilibrium axis, crucial for understanding orientation on various surfaces.

    Area of Science:

    • Biomechanics
    • Human Physiology
    • Sensor Technology

    Background:

    • Vestibular feedback is essential for human balance in dynamic environments.
    • Understanding the body's reference equilibrium position is key to analyzing balance.
    • Existing methods struggle to accurately measure orientation during motion.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To propose and validate a concept of dynamic equilibrium for the human body.
    • To explain body alignment on different surfaces (horizontal, inclined, accelerating).
    • To develop a novel sensor system inspired by the human vestibular system.

    Main Methods:

    • Modeling the human body as an inverted pendulum to define a dynamic equilibrium axis.
    • Designing vestibular dynamic inclinometers with multiple accelerometers and a gyroscope.

    More Related Videos

    Oscillation and Reaction Board Techniques for Estimating Inertial Properties of a Below-knee Prosthesis
    08:08

    Oscillation and Reaction Board Techniques for Estimating Inertial Properties of a Below-knee Prosthesis

    Published on: May 8, 2014

    17.4K
    Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
    07:24

    Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis

    Published on: August 8, 2019

    7.4K

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Apr 14, 2026

    An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
    06:52

    An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field

    Published on: May 26, 2020

    8.8K
    Oscillation and Reaction Board Techniques for Estimating Inertial Properties of a Below-knee Prosthesis
    08:08

    Oscillation and Reaction Board Techniques for Estimating Inertial Properties of a Below-knee Prosthesis

    Published on: May 8, 2014

    17.4K
    Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
    07:24

    Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis

    Published on: August 8, 2019

    7.4K
  • Developing an analytical, non-time-recursive measurement algorithm to separate gravity from motion.

    • Main Results:

    • The dynamic equilibrium axis is dependent solely on surface contact acceleration (e.g., gravity).
    • The proposed sensor systems successfully measure absolute orientation and angular acceleration.
    • The system effectively separates gravity from motion for ground-based moving objects.
    • Experimental results validate the analytical solution for the measurement algorithm.

    Conclusions:

    • The dynamic equilibrium axis provides a reference for orientation measurements in dynamic conditions.
    • The vestibular dynamic inclinometer offers accurate orientation sensing, inspired by biological systems.
    • The analytical algorithm overcomes limitations of integration errors and body dynamics dependence.