Comparison of Smart Bands with MEMS and Motion Tracking Systems Used in Running

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Technology
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of running parameters like step count is crucial for performance analysis and injury prevention.
• Traditional motion capture systems are effective but expensive and not easily accessible.
• Wearable inertial sensors offer a potential low-cost solution for motion analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of a self-developed inertial sensor and commercial smart bands in capturing running parameters.
• To compare the performance of smart bands against a gold-standard motion tracking system and an inertial measurement unit (IMU).
• To determine the reliability of wearable technology for analyzing running dynamics at various speeds.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a self-developed inertial sensor, a motion tracking system (MoCap), and four Smart Bands to record runner movements.
• Extracted running parameters including step number, length, and frequency at speeds of 6, 8, 10, and 12 km/h.
• Processed data to compare step counts recorded by IMU, MoCap, and smart bands, calculating correlation coefficients (r²).

Main Results:

• A very strong correlation was found between the IMU and MoCap systems across all tested speeds (r² ranging from 0.968 to 0.996).
• The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 demonstrated high agreement with the MoCap system (r² ranging from 0.861 to 0.987).
• The smart band showed excellent reliability, particularly at higher speeds, closely matching the IMU and MoCap data.

Conclusions:

• The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 can be considered a viable and cost-effective replacement for more expensive IMUs in running analysis.
• Smart bands provide accurate step count data, making them suitable for widespread use in sports science and fitness tracking.
• This study validates the use of accessible wearable technology for objective biomechanical analysis of running.