IMU Sensor Hub to test horses for Laminitis

what?

Design outputs .pptm

In collaboration with Dr. Babak Faramarzi from the Western University of Health Sciences, the Hoof IMU team developed a Bluetooth-enabled embedded system called the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Sensor Hub. This device was designed to monitor and analyze gait patterns in horses, aiming to detect early signs of laminitis—a condition that significantly impacts equine health.

how?

Sensor Integration: Integrated a 9-DoF IMU and a high-g accelerometer using I2C communication protocols to capture detailed movement data, including pitch, yaw, and roll of the horse’s gait.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Leveraged the Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense microcontroller for wireless data transmission, enabling real-time analysis.
Data Analysis: Packaged and processed data in MATLAB, creating visualizations and analytical tools to quantify movement patterns. These tools were specifically designed to highlight gait irregularities associated with laminitis.
Battery Management System: Designed a custom battery management system to ensure compactness and sufficient power for long-term, high-frequency data collection during extensive testing periods.

Github

Result

This IMU Sensor Hub successfully visualized and quantified key aspects of equine gait, supporting the early detection of laminitis. The project, which combined expertise from engineering and veterinary science, expanded my skills in embedded systems, sensor selection, and data analysis, and demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing veterinary diagnostics.