Posts Tagged ‘Sensor’

Shimmer Research has launched the first of a new range of solutions for the Shimmer platform. Multi Shimmer Sync is an application which allows for the configuration of and synchronised data capture from multiple Shimmers.

About Multi Shimmer Sync

The application is ideal for users looking to develop applications where simultaneous data capture from a number of units is required, and interpretation and analysis requires the data to be synchronised, with accuracy up to 0.98ms. Multi Shimmer Sync permits the user to configure multiple Shimmer units, can be used with Shimmer’s full range of sensing modules, and allows for synchronisation with external systems such as camera based motion capture systems.

With a range of features and data capture tools users can select sampling rate, detect and notify of dropped packets, save and load application settings for future use, annotate data, and name Shimmer units to ensure functionality, efficiency, and ease of use in data capture and synchronisation.

Core Features Include:

• Synchronised data capture from up to 7 Shimmers to a single file
  • Synchronisation accuracy of up 0.98ms depending on sampling rate and number of Shimmers
  • Allows for synchronisation with external systems e.g. Camera based motion capture systems
• Data stored in a tab delimited text format (files compatible with Microsoft Excel, Open Office, Matlab and most standard data manipulation programs).
  • Includes a verified .m script for loading data directly into Matlab
• Controls to configure each Shimmer
  • Configure features such as sampling rate, enable/disable sensors, set accelerometer range etc.
• Detection and notification of dropped packets
  • If packets are dropped due to the Shimmer going out of range or the UI will notify the user through the flashing of a red LED
• Monitor data using real-time plot
  • When the application is streaming data the real-time plot can be used to view the data from one or more signals
• Save and load application settings
  • This allows the user to save the settings for their particular experimental set-up and quickly reload the settings into the application when they resume their data capture session.
• Annotate Data with pulse marker and level marker
• Synchronise with an external system (e.g. Camera based motion capture systems) using trigger input (Requires Shimmer expansion board) or system timestamp

Shimmer Solutions provide software and applications that are designed and developed to meet specific end user application requirements. Shimmer Solutions are the latest addition to the current range of Shimmer products, OEM, Consultancy and Customisation services.

Driven by feedback from existing users, researchers, and companies the software and solutions aim to improve the quality and ease of data collection, research, and application development work by addressing challenges, techniques and providing tools associated with wireless sensing applications.

The software and applications are available to individuals, groups, and organisations via our website’s e-store.

Visit the Multi Shimmer Sync product page to read more, download an evaluation copy of the software, and watch a video demonstration.

Shimmer Research has added to their sensing range with the addition of a GPS expansion module for the Shimmer platform. The module provides accurate location and global time to sensing applications, along with ambient data via a pressure / temperature sensor integrated onto the GPS daughter-board.

The GPS module maintains the wearable form factor associated with Shimmer, with a small size (53mm x 32mm x 23mm) and light overall weight (32grams). The assembled unit provides an impressive list of sensing capabilities combining Shimmer’s integrated motion sensors (Accelerometer and Tilt/Vibration), with GPS, Temperature, and Barometric pressure sensing.

The module has received robust pre-launch interest from industry and researchers, with the Shimmer GPS already being used for people tracking, sports informatics, and maritime monitoring. Enquiries have also been received in the areas of transport, logistics, defence, and the social sciences with particular attention given to the ability to develop globally synchronized sensing systems via the GPS’s accurate timing capacity.

One of the key features of the module is the provision of raw data, with no proprietary software or predefined analysis parameters.  As outlined by Kieran Daly (VP of Business Development) the ‘Shimmer GPS hardware enables researchers to interpret data specific to their application requirements, unlike many end user, domain focused GPS products currently available. For industry, the Shimmer GPS module can be used as the hardware to develop customised commercial solutions with a faster time to market – driving business growth’.

Driver and test application code for the GPS module are available in the TinyOS Sourceforge/Googlecode repositories, with a user manual available to new and existing customers via the download section of the website. Separate drivers provide support for both the GPS and Pressure Sensor modules, and test applications demonstrate the use of both.

The GPS Development Kit, and GPS Module are now available, and can be purchased via our online store.

Keep up to date with the latest news and announcements:

The TRIL Centre (Technology Research for Independent Living) is currently conducting a programme call Stepping Stones using Shimmer (a wearable wireless sensors system) and BioMOBIUS (an open shareable software platform).

Stepping Stones is a short term high intensity programme of physical exercise to improve fitness levels in healthy middle-aged people (55-65 years). A complete home / work technology platform has been developed for the project. This facilitates effective monitoring and biofeedback during exercise whilst enhancing end-user motivation and involvement in the process.

Shimmer was chosen over existing commercial products such as the Wii Fit due to its ability to provide greater contextual information. With real-time digital signal processing Shimmer provides comprehensive instantaneous feedback on movement, and biophysical parameters as opposed to intermittent data provided by the Wii Fit (data only provided when the participant is on the step).

Shimmer takes Kinematic data (Accel + Gyro) via two ankle worn units, and Biophysical data via a Shimmer ECG connected to a Polar chest strap. This benefits participants by providing:

• Real-time feedback on steps take and progression through the exercise session
• Feedback on performance and accuracy of the prescribed exercise
• Feedback on heart rate and intensity of exercise / effort
• Motivation to improve performance and reach target performance and intensity zones.

The data captured during each exercise session is then sent back to remote servers to be viewed by clinicians. This allows clinicians to monitor the participant’s adherence and progress through the programme, if the person is performing the exercises correctly, and if the participant is reaching the right intensity / target zones during exercise. The historical data is also being analysed to identify if the programme needs to be altered to match an individual’s capabilities, and to establish changes to biomarkers and a participant’s health and well being over time.

See the video via our YouTube Channel.

Read about the Stepping Stones programme on the TRIL website.

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TEDMED has released the presentation given by Paul Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm at the conference last October. Jacobs shares his vision for the future of Wireless Healthcare where people will always feel in touch with their doctor, and their health can be monitored at all times for when something goes wrong. This he notes will be realised by wearable wireless sensors, to improve individuals’ healthcare from aiding acute and chronic conditions, to a person’s general health and wellbeing. Jacobs demonstrates a Shimmer on the 7:25 mark, which monitors the activity of a person whilst the data is being remotely interpreted in real time.

The program interpreting and displaying the data captured can be viewed on an interview conducted with Paul Jacobs at TEDMED. The program is displayed on the 1:50 mark – view video.

Kieran Daly, VP of Business Development at Shimmer Research was recently interviewed by John Kennedy of Digital 21 in relation to the importance of PhD graduates in developing R+D projects, innovation, and real business opportunities.

Commenting on Shimmer Research’s sustained commitment to wireless sensing innovation, Kieran Daly describes current collaboration being conducted in the area of integrating wireless sensors into garments, and the importance of IRCSET’s enterprise partnership scheme to the project.

You can view the full article on Digital 21’s website, along with a video clip with Kieran Daly being interview in the websites video section titled: ‘Digital-21-IRCSET’. Kieran is interviewed on the 1:10 mark.

Shimmer 2R, the latest revision of the Shimmer platform has been released and is now available to purchase from our online store. Changes to the platform include a lower power Accelerometer, new Bluetooth radio module, new 802.15.4 radio module, and a smaller more functional enclosure.

The Shimmer 2R platform has improved battery voltage monitoring, and the ability to measure/calculate instantaneous operating current. This new functionality will benefit customers seeking to develop resource aware applications. The new 802.15.4 radio module, developed by Shimmer Research and titled SR7, has FCC, IC, and ETSI certification and is also utilised on the recently launch Span Platform for low power standards based communication.

New Features of the Shimmer 2R Platform:

• New 3 Axis Accelerometer: Freescale MMA7361 1.5/6g Micropower MEMs Accelerometer

• New Shimmer Research SR7 Radio Module: 802.15.4 Radio Module with Chipcon CC2420, Chip Antenna. The SR7 has FCC, IC, and ETSI Certification.

• New Class 2 Bluetooth™ Radio: Roving Networks RN-42 with soft-power control and improved low-power and master-mode.

• Power Monitoring: Improved battery voltage monitoring and the ability to measure/calculate operating current.

• More Functional Case Design.

The release of Shimmer 2R coincides with the release of a full range of new enclosures. The new case design is 25% smaller in volume than the previous generation Shimmer unit, and offers greater functionality on the expansion modules.

For more details on the Shimmer 2R platform download the capabilities overview, or for registered users of our members section, download the Shimmer 2R manual.

Shimmer Research has released a new Gyro Sensor module. The new Rigid Gyro board design replaces the previous Flex Gyro board and adds additional features for enhanced operation and accuracy.

The Shimmer Gyro Board has an enhanced user interface with a programmable button for application control (such as sampling start/stop, RF transmission start/stop, data marker), a programmable indicator, and pinhole reset. The new rigid Gyro Board also burns 25% less power than the previous Shimmer Flexi Gyro design and with a rigid board implementation to ensure a perpendicular Z-axis, the new board reduces alignment error and provides mechanical stability. The size of the Shimmer is unchanged, even with the new features.

New Gyro Board – Key Features:

Sensing:

• InvenSense 500 series MEMs Gyros provide 500 degrees/s full scale, 2.0mV/degree/second sensitivity.
  • (Factory option for 110 degrees/s and 9.1mV/degree/second sensitivity)
• Planar design reduces alignment error and provides mechanical stability
• Burns 25% less power than previous Shimmer Gyro
• Zero-signal reference levels for offset calibration
• Gyro Temperature monitoring for precision sensing applications
• Auto-zero control for precision sensing applications
• Secondary power regulator rejects system noise
• Gyros can be disabled to save power

User Interface:

• Programmable Button for application control.  Examples: Sampling Start/Stop, RF transmission Start/Stop, Data Marker
• Programmable Indicator
• Pinhole reset