High-flexible multi-technique acquisition system for human postural stability tests onboard ships

For validating theoretical models aiming to simulate the postural behaviour of working personnel one of the possible methods is the execution of trials onboard full-scale ships. This kind of tests requires measuring ship and human movement simultaneously. Up to now, international guidelines for standardizing human postural stability tests onboard have not been established. Scientific works focused on this topic do not make use of human motion capture techniques commonly employed for postural stability studies indoor. This paper presents an innovative motion acquisition system usable onboard ships while accomplishing the daily mission. The system integrates different techniques (photogrammetry, inertial measurements, global positioning system) for acquiring both ship and human motions. Its core is an owndeveloped low-cost motion capture system fundamental in analysing and understanding the measurements from the inertial sensors. Preliminary laboratory tests and results from measurement campaigns onboard are presented and discussed.