Accurate Pedometer for Smartphones

Abstract

Accuracy of step counting is one of the main problems that exist in current Pedometers, especially when walking slowly on flat lands and performing different activities, such as climbing up and down stairs and walking on inclined planes. Although accelerometer based pedometers provide a reasonable accuracy when walking at higher speeds, the accuracy of them are not sufficient at slow walking speeds and performing different activities. This paper proposes a novel algorithm to detect steps using single-point gyroscopic sensors embedded in mobile devices. Preliminary analysis of data collected in different environments with the involvement of male and female volunteers indicated that gyroscope alone provides sufficient information necessary for accurate step detection. Algorithm was developed based on the gyroscopic data in conjunction with zero crossing and threshold detection techniques. The results proved that gyroscope based step detection algorithm provide a high accuracy when performing different activities and at slow paced walking.