Description

The Shimmer Strain Gauge Development Kit provides developers with a comprehensive tool set to support rapid design, prototyping and implementation of wireless solutions based on the state of the art Shimmer platform. The kit provides a complete development environment for Bluetooth*, IEEE 802.15.4*, or local storage in body worn applications.

Complete with three assembled Shimmer Strain Gauge units, the Strain Gauge Development Kit allows for strain (tensile and compressive) and load cell data acquisition for force measurement free from wired constraints.

The Shimmer Strain Gauge expansion module contains a bridge amplifier, excitation source, and connector or wire soldering points enabling force measurement with Shimmer. Ideal for all load, weight, force, torque, and pressure measurements through the connection of a user-supplied strain gauge based bridge sensors / load cell. The Strain Gauge module detects variance in resistance values when force is applied to the load cell. The small, lightweight, wearable form factor allows for measurements free from wired constraints to allow for natural range of motion, and measurement outside of a dedicated lab setting. *Note: Bluetooth or 802.15.4 facility required by the user on host device. For 802.15.4 - please refer to our Span module.

Package Highlights

Based on programmable Shimmer unit with versatile range of uses:

• Sensing capabilities include – Accelerometer, Tilt/Vibration and Force Measurement
• Minimal noise to radio for superb signal detection, strength and accuracy
• Highly configurable, multi-functional sensing platform for wireless sensor network /ad-hoc wireless network
• Integrated Bluetooth and 802.15.4 radios for wireless communications, peer-to-peer contact, and mesh networking
• Local storage via 2GB microSD card for data logging applications
• 12-Bit analog to digital conversion

Features and Benefits

The kit supplies researchers and developers with the necessary supports to realise market ready wireless solutions:

Highly Configurable

• Can be programmed to meet your specific application, with configurable sensitivity, sampling rate, transmission rate and frequency, communication protocols, and packet formats

Compatibility

• Shimmer platform easily integrates and interacts with existing systems and technologies

No Proprietary Software

• Full access to all raw sensed data to interpret data specific to your application, product or service requirements

Supporting Application

• Supporting developer applications including labVIEW, ShimmerConnect, and a full range of TinyOS firmware

Applications

Surface EMG is used extensively by clinicians, researchers, sports medicine professionals, athletics trainers and ergonomists for a wide range of applications such as:

• Strength Capacity and Force Measurement
• Rehabilitation
• Sports Training
• Muscular-skeletal Clinical Research
• Environmental Monitoring
• Fall Risk Assessment (Grip Strength)

***Hardware customization

We recognize the variation in gain and ranges of interest when performing research with load cells. Hardware customization is best discussed with our engineers at the time of order and executed by our factory.

Download the Strain Gauge Development Kit Data Sheet

Watch the tutorial:

Skip to the 4.25 mark to see the Shimmer Strain Gauge Streaming in real-time ...