Development of Force Plates Installed with Five-Axis Load Cells and Analysis Using a Wearable Sensor System

In this study, we developed a new force plate system. Conventional force plates output force and moment by using the signals of three-axis load cells. The developed force plate installs four 5-axis load cells, and each load cell can output 3-axis force and 2-axis moment relating to deflection. The moment components of load cells are used for the compensation of cross talk and the calculation of moment in the force plate. The force plate can measure force and moment on the outside of load cells installed in the force plate. Gait measurement and analysis were conducted by using the developed force plate, a conventional force plate, and a wearable sensor system (wearable force plate). The results of the comparison of the developed force plates and the conventional force plate outputs indicated a difference in performance on the outside of load cells.