Gait Analysis on the move: The Infinite Gait Walkway

In order to analyze human gait patterns, highly accurate data

must be collected at high frame rates. The state of the art is to

deploy a carpet-like structure instrumented with pressure

sensors, which allows for measuring position, orientation and

pressure of each foot at each step.

Since such gait “walkway carpets” are highly expensive1 and

also limited in length, we propose an alternative in the form

of a wheeled walker equipped with a consumer depth camera.

We have designed and implemented algorithms that derive

the same set of parameters from the depth data as in a gait

walkway system, however without the need for the physical

presence of a walkway carpet. Moreover, we are able to

provide additional information, due to continuous observation

of the gait cycle, i.e. not only when the user steps on the

ground. In order to retrieve actual foot pressure information,

we use a shoe insole sensor.

Our experiments show that the system is able to collect gait

relevant data with sufficient accuracy and frame rates. While

the feet’s position accuracy depends primarily on the noise of

the depth sensor and is typically at a precision of less than 3

mm, the orientation accuracy is around 1-2 degrees for typical

foot orientations.