By Manuela Montes de Oca, Yididya Chane (Happy), Mark Aaronson, Yunqi Liu (Yoyo), Sophea Urbi Biswas
BACKGROUND:
The force plate is a critical tool in biomechanics, used to measure ground reaction forces during activities such as walking, jumping, and running. These devices capture precise three-dimensional
data, enabling detailed analysis of vertical, horizontal, and lateral force components as the body
interacts with the plate (J. Hanna, 2024). By collecting this information, researchers and clinicians
can quantify and evaluate balance, joint loading, and movement efficiency. This analysis has
significant applications in fields like sports performance and rehabilitation, where it aids in injury
prevention, optimizes athletic performance assessment, and monitors recovery progress.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Force plates currently have several limitations that reduce their portability and ease of use in community settings. Force plates are elevated surfaces that require platforms or ground embedding to record the natural walking or running patterns of the subject, strongly reducing their portability. Furthermore, there aren’t any portable, lightweight housing solutions that overcome these
constraints on the market.
Needs and Wants
Our customer, Dr. Cherice Hill, aims to collect biomechanics data out of the motion lab, in the
community: in school cafeterias, on a parking lot, or even on a sidewalk to make research more inclusive and get data from a broader population: sex, ages, and racial groups.
DESIGN EVOLUTION:
FINAL MATERIAL SELECTION:
- A composite aluminum and plastic material was chosen for the top layer of the device
due to its high strength, lower density and lower price than a solid aluminum sheet - 2 x 1 inch Multipurpose 6061 Aluminum 0.0625 in thick rectangular rod were used
along the device to provide strength - 1 x 0.5 inch Multipurpose 6061 Aluminum 0.0625 in thick rectangular rod were used as
feet to bring the height up to 2.8 in. - All metals were attached using impact-resistant structural adhesive
- 0.3 in thick layer of rubber was attached to all feet to even surfaces and avoid slipping
TRANSPORTATION MECHANISM:
The transportation mechanism is composed of a metal rolling cart where all the components will be loaded and tightened with straps for the four smaller platforms and two holding all six platforms together, a rolling cart for force plates and blocks, and Velcro will be used to attach all the blocks.
TESTING Results:
- The assembly time was tested to be
seven to eight minutes. - Testers said the block system felt
“safe to walk on” and “strong” - The total weight of the device was
tested to be 55 lb, compared to our
50.1 lb prediction
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
We would like to thank our supervisor, Dr. Amy
Lerner and Marin Gira for their invaluable support.