IMU Tracking of Kinematic Chains in the Absence of Gravitational and Magnetic Fields

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that IMU-based tracking of kinematic chains can be effectively performed in microgravity environments without relying on gravity or magnetic fields, using a novel drift correction algorithm based on local accelerations.

Contribution

The authors introduce a new algorithm that compensates gyroscopic drift using local accelerations alone, enabling IMU tracking in space without gravity or magnetic references.

Findings

Dead-reckoning accuracy within 1 degree for 30 seconds

Drift correction reduces yaw error to within 3.3 degrees within 4 seconds

System effectively compensates gyroscopic drift using local accelerations in microgravity

Abstract

Tracking kinematic chains has many uses from healthcare to virtual reality. Inertial measurement units, IMUs, are well-recognised for their body tracking capabilities, however, existing solutions rely on gravity and often magnetic fields for drift correction. As humanity's presence in space increases, systems that don't rely on gravity or magnetism are required. We aim to demonstrate the viability of IMU body tracking in a microgravity environment by showing that gravity and magnetism are not necessary for correcting gyroscope-based dead-reckoning drift. We aim to build and evaluate an end-to-end solution accomplishing this. A novel algorithm is developed that compensates for drift using local accelerations alone, without needing gravity or magnetism. Custom PCB sensor, IMU, nodes are created and combined into a body-sensor-network to implement the algorithm and the system is evaluated to determine its strengths and weaknesses. Dead-reckoning alone is accurate to within 1 degree for 30s. The drift correction solution can correct large drifts in yaw within 4 seconds of lateral accelerations to within 3.3 degrees RMSE. Correction accuracy when drift-free and under motion is 1.1 degrees RSME. We demonstrate that gyroscopic drift can be compensated for in a kinematic chain by making use of local acceleration information and often-discarded centripetal and tangential acceleration information, even in the absence of gravitational and magnetic fields. Therefore, IMU body tracking is a viable technology for use in microgravity environments.