Biomechanics, Biomechatronics, and Motion Analysis Research Group

Our research group is active in two research areas: the development of human motion analysis methods and the analysis of material characteristics of human tissue. Motion analysis measurement have an important role in studying the effects of disorders and injuries. Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) plays a leading role in developing the underlying technology for such measurements. In the early 2000s, we focused on the development of ultrasound-based gait analysis methods and their practical applicability. During the period of 2011-2016, we proved that the sudden perturbation balance test is applicable for both healthy persons and patients with orthopedic disorders. In the 2016-2020 period, we validated a commercially available OptiTrack optical camera-based motion capture system intended for (among other applications) laboratory use. That research focused on the measurement of balance in quiet standing and after sudden perturbation as well. Since 2020, our research aims at both the modeling of the balancing human body and at simplifying motion analysis measurement methods to make them more easily applicable in clinical settings. To this aim, we carry out novel research in the area of acoustic gait analysis and also researching simpler, but still objective balance assessment methods. In the field of human tissue research, we focus on the changes in the material properties caused by handling of the samples. Human grafts, e.g., tendons, are treated by various sterilization methods and samples also need shorter or longer durations of storage. Our research focuses on the effects of the sterilization and storage methods on material strength to help with selecting the appropriate methods.