Developing a practical wireless monitoring solution for a size-constrained, low-power, biomechanical, sports telemetry system
Abstract
As sport-related concussions become more prevalent, the ability to quickly and reliably assess brain injury risk is increasingly essential. Commercially-available systems exist with the goal of assessing the risk of traumatic brain injury in athletes in real-time. These systems utilize a pre-determined acceleration threshold, discarding all captured information below this arbitrary threshold. The use of an event-based model to assess the risk of traumatic brain injury has been shown to be inadequate. Therefore, these systems falsely promote "accurate" real-time communication of risk. Research conducted by the Purdue Neurotrauma Group (PNG) seeks to advance the field by developing a biomechanical sports telemetry system capable of monitoring and continually storing all captured data, while providing accurate real-time communication of risk. This project focuses on the development of a wireless monitoring solution for real-time communication from sensors designed by the PNG. Analysis of commercially-available systems is conducted to illustrate the drawbacks of current wireless solutions. Problem constraints and potential solutions for wireless monitoring are detailed along with the embedded, modular approach utilized by the PNG system. An ecosystem was created with the sensors and a base station using compatible wireless software similar to the sensor software framework. Challenges in implementing the solution are discussed from both hardware and software perspectives, along with recommendations for future work regarding the deployment and expansion of the wireless monitoring solution.
Degree
M.S.E.C.E.
Advisors
Nauman, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Neurosciences|Computer Engineering|Electrical engineering
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