The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2007
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36298 |
| _version_ | 1826190572438683648 |
|---|---|
| author | Bates, Warren (Warren W.) |
| author2 | Lynette Jones and James Tangorra. |
| author_facet | Lynette Jones and James Tangorra. Bates, Warren (Warren W.) |
| author_sort | Bates, Warren (Warren W.) |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:42:21Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/36298 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:42:21Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/362982019-04-09T19:20:28Z The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision Human head dynamics Bates, Warren (Warren W.) Lynette Jones and James Tangorra. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 32). The current understanding of the dynamics of the human head, and the demands placed on its control and stability systems, is based largely on the results of experiments conducted in artificial settings, such as when subjects are tasked with walking or running in place, and may not reflect the dynamics of the head during normal behaviors. The objective of this research was to quantify the dynamics of the head during natural activities that require clear vision and to establish input-output relations between the trunk's motion and the head's response. A portable sensor and data acquisition system was developed using MEMs based angular velocity sensors to track the yaw and pitch velocities of the head and the trunk. Subjects were tested under experimental conditions that required them to 1) simultaneously walk or run, and visually track and catch a moving ball, 2) walk or run without being given a defined visual task, and 3) stand in place and maintain eye contact with the experimenter during a conversation. During all trials, head velocities rarely exceeded 160 deg/s in pitch and 200 deg/s in yaw, and trunk velocities rarely exceeded 90 deg/s in pitch and 200 deg/s in yaw. In yaw, head and trunk velocities were greatest when subjects ran without a defined visual task. (cont.) The velocities of the head and trunk decreased considerably when subjects had to also track and catch the moving ball. This reduction was in spite of subjects running approximately 50% faster than when no visual task had been given, and likely reflects the need to stabilize the head against yaw motions to maintain clear vision. Surprisingly, the results were reversed for pitch velocities. Larger magnitude head and trunk velocities occurred in pitch when subjects ran and visually tracked the ball's trajectory than when subjects ran without the visual task. For all conditions, the frequency spectra of head and trunk velocities were dominated by power between 0.0 and 2.0 Hz, with the power spectral density dropping by more than three orders of magnitude by 10.0 Hz. by Warren bates. S.B. 2007-02-21T13:24:06Z 2007-02-21T13:24:06Z 2006 2006 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36298 77743456 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 43 leaves application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Mechanical Engineering. Bates, Warren (Warren W.) The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| title | The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| title_full | The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| title_fullStr | The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| title_short | The dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| title_sort | dynamics of the human head during natural activities that require clear vision |
| topic | Mechanical Engineering. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36298 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bateswarrenwarrenw thedynamicsofthehumanheadduringnaturalactivitiesthatrequireclearvision AT bateswarrenwarrenw humanheaddynamics AT bateswarrenwarrenw dynamicsofthehumanheadduringnaturalactivitiesthatrequireclearvision |