Solution for body kinematics monitoring

Project Information

GESTUS

Grant agreement ID: 101180173

DOI

10.3030/101180173

EC signature date 26 September 2024

Start date 1 October 2024

End date 31 March 2027

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 1 764 975,00

EU contribution

€ 1 362 420,00

Coordinated by

GTER SRL INNOVAZIONE IN GEOMATICA GNSS E GIS
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GESTUS (Solution for body kinematics monitoring)

Reporting period: 2024-10-01 to 2025-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The GESTUS project arises from the need to precisely monitor human body movements in real environments using wearable devices. The project aims to address the needs of athletic trainers and medical professionals to monitor and improve athletic performance, rehabilitation processes, and knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases by tracking body kinematics with a high degree of precision, for the required time, and remotely if needed. Wearable devices currently available on the market often fail to provide the accuracy required for detailed biomechanical analyses unless used in laboratory environments.
The objective of GESTUS is to meet this demand by developing a wearable device that integrates GNSS and IMU technologies. The device will be capable of tracking step length and stride with centimeter-level accuracy, representing a significant advancement in both sports and medical fields. Initially designed for professional athletes, GESTUS will eventually be used in the medical field to study neurodegenerative diseases and rehabilitation processes.
Thanks to its high precision in motion tracking, GESTUS aims to enable athletic trainers, physiotherapists, and doctors to adapt training and rehabilitation programs in real-time, with positive outcomes on the health of athletes and patients. If successful, the project will revolutionize the way human body movement is measured and analyzed, with beneficial implications in both medical and sports sectors.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project will focus on the design and prototyping of a wearable device that integrates GNSS and IMU sensors into a compact, user-friendly case that can be attached to any shoe. To enhance sensor accuracy, a patented algorithm called GREP, who reduces background noise and improves data accuracy, will be used. A cloud platform will also be developed for data processing and visualization, allowing doctors and athletic trainers to remotely monitor their patients and athletes.
Preliminary test results have shown promising outcomes on some athletes.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

By integrating GNSS and IMU sensor technology and using the GREP algorithm, GESTUS enables precise, continuous tracking of step and stride parameters in real environments—something not achievable with current wearable devices. This will revolutionize high-level training and rehabilitation by allowing data to be collected in real-world conditions, rather than being confined to lab settings, enabling targeted, contextual, and highly personalized interventions for both patients and athletes.