Development of a Protocol for Biomechanical Gait Analysis in Asian Elephants Using the Triaxial Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

• Published in: Veterinary sciences Vol. 9; no. 8; p. 432
• Main Authors: Wantanajittikul, Kittichai, Thitaram, Chatchote, Khammesri, Siripat, Kongsawasdi, Siriphan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 15.08.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: accelerometers; algorithms; Animals; Biomechanics; Clinical medicine; Communication; Data collection; elephant; Elephants; Energy; Gait; hindlimbs; IMU; Kinematics; Kinetics; Laboratories; Legs; Metabolism; Microelectromechanical systems; prototypes; Sensors; Velocity; Veterinarians; Veterinary medicine; Walking
• ISSN: 2306-7381; 2306-7381
• DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080432

Gait analysis is a method of gathering quantitative information to assist in determining the cause of abnormal gait for the purpose of making treatment decisions in veterinary medicine. Recent technology has offered the wearable wireless sensor of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for determining gait parameters. This study proposed the use of a triaxial IMU, comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer, for detecting three-dimensional limb segment motion (XYZ axis) during the gait cycle in Asian elephants. A new algorithm was developed to estimate the kinematic parameter that represents each limb segment of the forelimbs and hindlimbs while walking at a comfortable speed. For future use, this study aimed to create a new prototype of the IMU with a configuration that is tailored to the elephant and apply machine learning in an effort to achieve greater precision.