Design and Development of a Mobile Motion Capture Suite for Advancing Technology Adoption

Abstract

Motion Capture (MoCap) technology has revolutionized several industries, including filmmaking, manufacturing, sports, and healthcare. Yet, the high cost and complexity of existing precise MoCap systems can make them inaccessible to many people. In addressing this accessibility problem, the Lab-in-a-Box (LabX) project was initiated within MIT’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) to develop a portable, accurate, user-friendly, and inclusive MoCap system to be used in healthcare applications and beyond.

This thesis explores the initial stages of developing the LabX system, including extensive market research and user interviews, user-centric hardware design, software development, and camera integration and sensor fusion. Decisions such as Raspberry Pi camera selection and ROS2 utilization for system integration are made to ensure optimal performance. Structural tests are conducted to ensure durability and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and natural vibrations. This stage of the LabX project lays the foundation for creating accessible markerless tracking and less-invasive radar motion capture systems in the future. The current design of LabX enables quick customization, creating a robust foundation for broader applications in physical therapy education, in-home remote sensing, and other use cases.