A Time-Synchronized Video Reference System for Data Analysis of Body-Attached Sensor Nodes in Outdoor Scenarios
Lukas Schulthess, Fabian Pleisch, Matheo K\"ach, Bj\"orn P. Bruhin, Michele Magno, Luca Benini, Christoph Leitner

TL;DR
This paper introduces a lightweight, power-efficient timecode generator that converts GNSS time into a video LTC signal for outdoor sensor data analysis, enabling accurate synchronization without continuous communication.
Contribution
A novel GNSS-based LTC generator that reduces power consumption and hardware size for outdoor wearable sensor synchronization.
Findings
Maintains accurate time alignment for several minutes without GNSS updates.
Supports common video frame rates of 24, 25, and 30 fps.
Operates up to 75 hours on two AAA batteries with 35.37 mW power consumption.
Abstract
Wearable body-attached multi-sensor systems enable detailed analysis of human motion and physiological signals in sports, rehabilitation, and movement research. While wireless synchronization techniques can reliably align sensor data streams, interpreting and validating complex or unconstrained activities often requires an additional, objective visual reference. Existing laboratory-grade reference systems provide high accuracy but are impractical for outdoor or field deployments. In contrast, commercial video timecode solutions typically rely on local device-to-device synchronization, which increases the power required to maintain synchronization. This is not desirable in many application scenarios. This paper presents a lightweight Timecode Generator (TCG) that converts Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-derived time directly into a Linear Timecode (LTC) signal that is injected…
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