Wireless IMU Module

Motion capture is an important aspect of many research projects in the fields of ergonomics, sports science, and physical therapy where human motion analysis is required. Existing commercially available devices are expensive and lack customisability. The goal of this project is to reduce the cost and complexity related with this field of research by developing an open source, low-cost wireless motion capture solution.

Early testing involved 2 Arduino Nano 33 BLE modules, with one connected to a 9-axis IMU breakout board. The captured motion data was transmitted over bluetooth to the secondary module, which then relayed the information by changing the colour of the built in LED.

The proposed custom design uses an ESP32 mini SoC to read orientation data from an onboard 9-axis IMU and relay this information over Bluetooth or WiFi to a secondary device which will behave as a recorder or actuator. The design also allows for onboard recording of motion data using the built in 125MB flash memory. Other features include, battery charging via the IPX8 rated waterproof USB C port, charging LED indicator, RGB LED indicator that is compatible with the FastLED animation library. The board allows mounting with a single m3 screw through the centre hole. In the off-state, the board has a super low 1.2µA current to maximise battery run time.

Future testing may include a different microcontroller to optimise power draw, and a different set of IMU's to allow flexibility and added accuracy to the measurements.

We would like to collaborate with PCBWay to produce a high quality custom wireless IMU solution for researchers around the world.