The quality in-shoe dynamic
pressure measuring system

Visit applications of pedar
and pedar-software

The pedar system is an accurate and reliable pressure distribution measuring system for monitoring local loads between the foot and the shoe. The pedar-X offers the ultimate versatility with its multiple standard features and operating modes. The pedar-X can be tethered to a PC via a fiber optic USB cable. It can function in a mobile capacity with its built-in state of the art Bluetooth TM technology that is able to communicate with Bluetooth TM compatible pocket, notebook, or standard PC‘s. And, as yet another alternative, the pedar-X has a built-in flash memory storage allowing data to be collected anywhere and later downloaded to the computer.

All of these features make the pedar system extremely mobile and flexible to meet virtually all testing needs such as walking, running, climbing stairs, carrying loads, playing soccer, or even riding a bicycle. The results are therefore more relevant to real-life.

The pedar system connects to highly conforming, elastic sensor insoles that cover the whole plantar surface of the foot or sensor pads for the dorsal, medial or lateral areas of the foot. The pedar system allows multiple synchronisation options to use with EMG and video systems for gait analysis.


Applications of pedar systems

• shoe research and design
• aid in orthotic design
• rehabilitation assessment
• kinetic analysis of free gait
• long term load monitoring
• sport biomechanics
• biofeedback

Technical data for pedar-X system

pedar Insole Catalogue >>> Download here
To receive the complete insole catalogue and see the schematic drawing of each sensor insole, please download the "pedar insole catalogue 2010" here.

 
Bluetooth TM telemetry
The pedar functions with Bluetooth TM wireless telemetry systems in a wide range. The pedar system comes with a built-in Bluetooth TM system and communicates with various Bluetooth TM PC adapters. The telemetry allows the user to watch the subject and at the same time fully control the testing from a PC. The dynamic pressure data can be viewed online and the subject advised how to perform. The system is a perfect tool for teaching and for biofeedback testing.

Pedar-pda
The pedar-pda software communicates with a Windows based handheld personal digital assistant (called PDA or Pocket PC). pedar-pda data collection and presentation is performed with the handheld. Additional functions such as sensor calibration and data analysis are completed on a PC. The PDA transfers the data to a notebook or desktop computer, using the MS ActiveSync® software.

trublu calibration device
With the aid of the trublu calibration device, all sensors of the pedar system are individually calibrated. Calibration guarantees accurate and reproducible data and can be checked by the user at any time.

pedar software
The pedar data acquisition software contains many helpful and user friendly options for fast pressure data collection and presentation.

Features of pedar 

• individual sensor selection
• online and off-line modes
• online 2D or 3D display
• isobar display
• numeric display
• animation of foot contact phases
• maximum pressure picture (MPP)
• step selection
• step timing analysis
• comparison picture
• averaged and individual gait lines
• ASCII output
• long term body load analysis
• links to novel databases
• links to novel scientific software
• automatic data exchange between PDA and PC

golf

 

For technique analysis and subsequently improving the golf swing, the pedar system can be used. Masking the foot in different regions provides a simple way to monitor and assess weight transfer during the swing, which is an important factor influencing the quality of the swing.

nordic walking

Nordic walking, walking while using Nordic ski poles, has become very popular. By using poles, the upper body is trained in addition to the lower body. The use of poles may reduce the load placed on the joints of the lower limb. novel is currently conducting a study
of the influence of ski poles on the loads on the feet.

shoes

pedar systems can be used for all kinds of shoe research. Especially in biomechanics it is indispensable to measure the pressure distribution inside the shoes during the dynamic event.
novel sensors can be placed on many locations inside the shoe to cover all contacts between the foot and the shoe. pedar inshoe measurement can easily be synchronised with other dynamic measurement systems such as accellerometers, goniometers, EMG, video etc.

cross-country skiing

novel is presently testing new sensor technology
for measurements under skis.
They connect to the pedar -x or pliance-x 32 system and
will need pliance software.

A pedar-x system with sensor insoles was used in a study about cross country skiing at CeBiSM (Research Centre for Bioengineering and Motor Sciences at the University of Brescia, Trento, Udine  and Verona) in 2007

This study was requested by the technical staff of the Italian Federation of Cross Country Skiing and some Italian top athletes. The aim was to evaluate the load during pushing phase in diagonal stride, one of the techniques of the classical style in cross country skiing. The load exerted on the skis determines the grade of bending, and its knowledge is important for the choice of stiffnes of the ski and the way of waxing.




The pictures shows a measurement session done at an altitude of 3200m in the Schnalstal skiing area, close to the place where "Ötzi the Iceman" was discovered

downhill skiing

The new pedar-x systems allow quick and easy field testing in sports science. Long lead insole designs may be used for measurements inside the ski boot.
The measuring insoles are cabled to the pedar-X, which is secured on the individual with a sport belt.

The data can be sent during the measurement directly to the PC via the built-in bluetooth wireless technology or stored on the built-in flash memory. The flash memory capacity is 6 minutes when recording 100 frames per second. For longterm measurements(up to several hours) the data can be stored on a Windows pocket PC carried by the individual. Upon completion of datat collection, the data can be transfered from the pedar-X flash memory or pocket PC via bluetooth to any PC for further evaluation. Synchronised pressure and video data is presented in novel player.

running

novel tested the Bluetooth™ telemetry over long distances in Englische Garten in Munich. The data were recorded on the internal flash memory and the steps were shown on the monitor at the same time via Bluetooth™ telemetry.

walking

Measuring on the plantar (left pressure distribution) and the dorsal (right pressure distribution) aspect of the foot in a walker system gives valuable information about the fit and the achieved unloading inside such a device.

skating

   

   

The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) of Salt Lake City recently performed a study examining kinetic and kinematic aspects of long track speed skating. In-skate pressures and forces were recorded using a pedar insole pressure system.These data were collected simultaneously with a 3D motion capture system.

To collect in-skate pressures and forces, each Olympic skater was instrumented with a pair of pedar insoles and a telemetry (wireless) transmitter/receiver.Data collection began at the start position and continued until the skater completed just over one lap.The telemetered novel system delivered data at 50 Hz to a laptop computer while the skater circled the 400 meter oval at speeds over 15 m/s.

The pressure and force data were synchronized with the motion capture data.Together, these data can provide valuable information about athletic performance.The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital’s objective is to provide individual skater profiles that correlate 3D kinematics with in-skate pressure and force recordings.Analysis of these data will be used
to develop a real-time testing and training tool for US Speed Skating coaches and athletes.

highheels

   

RTL, a public television station with a viewing area covering Germany, joined the novel Munich office in producing a film segment about the effects of high-heeled shoes and other footwear on the feet.

   

The novel emed pressure platform and pedar inshoe pressure systems were used for the testing conducted on Wednesday January 9, 2003 in the novel Munich office and the feature was aired a week after the shooting in the 'Explosiv-Weekend' program. The segment was produced to give the public valuable information about considering the health of their feet when choosing footwear.

pedar-x testing treadmill walking

treadmill walking 2

In-shoe pressure distribution while walking on a treadmill with the pedar system. Synchronised within novel player.

running studies

An example for running studies done at the INESCOP Institute in Mallorca by Caspar Morey and collegues.

climbing

climbing 2