|
Another
world first in rider analysis for the SRT |
| Charitable
research group, The Saddle Research Trust (SRT), believe to
have set a new standard in rider performance assessment, which
they believe will make a significant difference to the future
of equitation, performance and welfare.
Following a series of pilot studies carried out in conjunction
with educational establishments throughout the UK, the charity
has collaborated with Sunderland University in a long term
research project, analysing measurable characteristics of
the horse, saddle and rider.
A recent pilot study was undertaken by researchers from the
university at Washington Riding Centre, which aimed to assess
the potential of the new Xsens 3D Motion Tracking system in
analysing rider posture. The system uses inertial sensors,
integrated with GPS position and velocity tracking, which
are located on the rider’s body. The system tracks full-body
motion in any environment, indoors or out, allowing the rider’s
innate, voluntary movements to be recorded, viewed and analysed
on a standard PC in real-time.
This new innovation is proving to be extremely impressive
claims the trust, generating huge amounts of highly accurate,
easy to analyse data. The video capture can illustrate joint
angles, centre of mass and motion, which enables the interpretation
of rider posture, balance and symmetry. Additional sensors
placed on the horse’s pelvis allow for the effect of the horse’s
movement on the rider to also be assessed.
Explains SRT Director, Anne Bondi: “The new technology offers
for the first time a real insight into horse and rider interaction.
It not only has the potential to have a significant impact
on the future of performance and welfare, but it is also huge
fun! The first time we saw the captured images of the rider
riding an invisible horse was just priceless!”
The new technology will be rolled out as part of a larger
study involving various groups of riders from around the country,
with the first study due to be held this autumn. This study
will examine elite riders from the three disciplines of dressage,
show jumping and eventing.
|
 |
 |
 |
Fig. 1 - An example
of how the Xsens data is represented on screen. In this instance,
the rider is on the horse at a walk pace. |
Fig.
2 - A rear view screen capture of the rider on a horse illustrates
that the rider is asymmetrical. The software also enables
analysis of the numerical data, as well as the dynamic on-screen
mannekin. |
Fig.3
- The above image is a line drawing to represent the SRT findings
of the 'Three Way A synchrony''
theory. You will observe that Fig. 3 is very similar to Fig.2
, suggesting that the horse/saddle/rider relationship in Fig.
2 is an asynchronous one. |
About
Xsens |
Xsens is a leading
global supplier of 3D motion tracking products based upon
miniature MEMS inertial sensor technology.
Since its inception in 2000, several thousands of motion sensors
and motion capture solutions have successfully been deployed
in areas such as 3D character animation, rehabilitation and
sports science, and robot and camera stabilization. Customers
include Electronic Arts, Sony Pictures Imageworks, INAIL Prosthesis
Centre, Daimler, Saab Underwater Systems, Kongsberg Defence
& Aerospace and many other companies and institutes throughout
the world.
Xsens’ research department has created unique intellectual
property in the field of multi-sensor data fusion algorithms,
combining inertial sensors with aiding technologies such as
GPS and RF positioning and biomechanical modelling. The company
and its products have received several awards, amongst which
five consecutive entries in Deloitte’s ranking of fastest
growing technology companies in Europe.
Members of Xsens’ R&D Team and the Rothschild Fund
performed the world's-first 3D inertial motion capture of
a horse's gallop in Woodside, CA, less than 15 kilometres
from the site of Leland Stanford's Palo Alto racetrack where
the famous photographer, Eadweard Muybridge, recorded the
world's-first 2D photographic motion capture of a horse's
trot 130 years ago.
"Study of equine locomotion for the past century has
remained predominantly laboratory experimentation, in which
horses are confined in a controlled environment with stationary
cameras," explains Chris Hart (PhD), a research associate
of the Rothschild Fund. "Our goal was to capture the
horse's motions, without capturing the horse. Remarkably,
Xsens, the one company capable of the technical innovation,
was also the one company that shared our interest in free-moving
horses."
The “MVN Equine” prototype will be used by the
Rothschild Fund to further current understanding of horses
and was recently presented to peers at the International Society
of Biomechanics Equine SIG in Brussels, July 2011. The technology
could potentially also be used to animate equine computer
characters for visual effects in a large film production without
the need to bring horses into a (motion capture) studio.
View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm8hVpvVX5M
|
 |
 |
| Fig.
4. A horse wearing the MVN Equine Xsens system and a screen
shot of the data captured |
Fig. 5 The
Xsens suit fitted to a human athlete |
The SRT,
in collaboration with Sunderland University, will hold it’s
first advanced / elite rider study on Sept 12th and 13th,
utilising the new Xsens system. Please see here for more details. |
i
|
