Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Fall 1-31-2013
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Bryan J. Pfister
Second Advisor
Michael T. Bergen
Third Advisor
William Corson Hunter
Abstract
Case reports have been published of people experiencing symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or ailments of the vascular tissue around the head. These reports pointed towards G-forces, a scalar measure without a specified direction, which represent the measure of the acceleration of an object divided by acceleration caused by gravity (9.81 m/s2), as a cause of said injuries. Research has been conducted on quantifying the G-forces experienced while on roller coasters, as well as the change in heart rate. However these studies have not been able to show a link between roller-coasters and symptoms.
This thesis aims to conceive of a system to capture total body motions and physiological properties, and to prove that the data can be successfully recorded. A system is built which would contain a series of sensor systems to sense and record various biomechanical and physiological parameters; with these data one can assess effects on the body. Along with this system, a BioHarness device is used on participants, which would record a number of physiological parameters. Testing is conducted on fourteen subjects on three rides, and the data are evaluated to see whether total body motions are successfully captured.
Recommended Citation
Burman, Chirag, "Quantification of human motion on roller coaster rides" (2013). Theses. 140.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/140
