Skeletal tracking and muscle activation detection technologies are both useful on their own, but exist in separate realms. Our product combines Kinect 2.0 skeletal tracking with electromyography to accomplish the goal of better understanding human biology. Our product provides the user a graphical representation of muscle activity by plotting the magnitude of muscle signals and their spectrum versus time. This real time plot is augmented by the Kinect's moving skeletal figure. With this system, athletes and patients can train while being monitored by a physical therapist in order to reduce the risk of injury and increase athletic efficiency. In addition to advanced guided training, our product would also allow safe, quality training in the absence of a professional with the user being able to deeply understand the errors they are making in their motions because concrete feedback will be provided by the user interface.
This first year project serves as the basis for continuing education and research into the relationship of movement and muscle activation. Further Senior Design groups will further develop the wealth of information as well as physical subsystems developed by team Thunder Guns. The final goal is a medical grade product for use in the field by professionals or at home by novices.