Influence of Aging on Lower Extremity Electromyogram under Crash Stopping

Abstract

This study examined the potential use of human biosignal reactions for automatic vehicle braking compared to driver reaction and braking in an impending vehicle accident. Reaction times to a visual stimulus and subsequent foot movement for both middle-aged volunteers (male and female) and younger male volunteers were measured while also undertaking lower extremity electromyograms. The electromyogram measure used lower extremity muscle groups tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, peroneus longus and vastus medialis for accelerator and brake pedal operating analysis. Experimental results showed that middle-aged volunteers had longer and more variation in reaction times compared to younger male volunteers. However, electromyogram of tibialis anterior due to volunteer reaction and subsequent accelerator pedal release was similar, regardless of age difference. Based on the results of this study, we found that the detection of tibialis anterior muscle response due to differential processing was 0.1 second faster than the integral processing. Analytical methods are described in this study, and this study shows that the use of the muscular biosignals could be an effective part of a vehicle pre-crash system.