High-impact sensing for personal electronics

By: Lisa Trollo, MEMS Sensors Ecosystem and Digital Marketing Manager, STMicroelectronics

A new way we connect with ourselves and the world

In today’s fast-paced world, staying connected with your body and understanding its performance is key to achieving personal goals, whether in fitness, sports, hobbies, or recovery. Advanced technology now offers us the opportunity to bridge the gap between physical activity and meaningful insights, helping us train smarter, recover faster, and perform better.

The Opportunity to Connect with Yourself

Modern wearable devices, powered by sophisticated sensors, are revolutionizing the way we approach training in sports, hobbies, and wellness. These devices capture detailed data about your movements, body, and overall performance. However, the real magic happens when this data is processed and analyzed, providing actionable insights that help you better understand your body’s needs and capabilities.

This connection with yourself is not just about tracking numbers; it’s about empowering you to learn from your performance, recognize areas for improvement, and take steps to optimize your training. Whether you’re preparing for a sports competition, participating in a musical event, recovering from an injury, or simply striving to stay fit, this technology gives you the tools to train like a professional.

Four Steps to Train Like a Pro

  1. Capture
    The first step in improving your performance is gathering accurate data. Wearable and smart devices equipped with cutting-edge sensors monitor your movements, intensity, and physiological responses in real time. From running speed to jump height, from practicing the drums to monitoring your boxing or fishing technique, every detail is recorded to provide a clear picture of your activity.
  2. Analyze
    Once the data is captured, it’s time to make sense of it. Advanced algorithms process the information, identifying patterns and highlighting key metrics. For example, you can track how your performance changes over time, detect inefficiencies in your movements, or monitor your recovery progress after an injury.
  3. Learn
    The insights gained from analysis allow you to learn more about your body. Are you pushing too hard? Are you ready to take your training to the next level? By understanding your strengths and weaknesses, you can make informed decisions about adjusting your routine or daily training for maximum benefit.
  4. Improve
    With a clear understanding of your performance, you can focus on improvement. Whether it’s refining your technique, increasing your endurance, or targeting specific goals, this data-driven approach ensures that every effort you make is aligned with your objectives.

The journey to peak performance is not linear. It involves preparation, action, and recovery. With the help of wearable technology and smart accessories, you can:

  • Get Ready to Play: Prepare your body with tailored training plans designed around your current fitness or skill level.
  • Play: Perform at your best with real-time feedback that guides your movements and effort for optimal results.
  • Return to Play: Recover effectively and safely by using insights to prevent injuries and track your progress back to full strength.

You and all around you

This is the essence of how advanced technology is transforming the way we connect with ourselves and our surroundings. Whether you’re an athlete striving for peak performance, a fitness enthusiast pushing boundaries, a musician perfecting your craft, or someone recovering from an injury, the ability to capture, analyze, learn, and improve is truly revolutionary.

At the heart of this transformation are motion sensors, such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) with dual accelerometers, seamlessly integrated into wearable devices and smart systems. These sensors provide critical insights that not only enhance your personal journey but also deepen your connection with the environment around you. By bridging the gap between you and your surroundings, IMUs empower you to unlock your full potential and embrace a smarter, more connected way of living.

What makes these IMUs different?

Traditional IMUs measure motion and orientation, but advanced IMUs take this further by embedding two accelerometers—one for everyday low-intensity movements and another for high-intensity impacts. This dual capability, combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced processing features, enables unparalleled contextual awareness.

One of the most exciting innovations in this field is the LSM6DSV320X, a cutting-edge 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) developed by STMicroelectronics. This IMU integrates a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensor and a control chip into a single package. The MEMS sensor includes both accelerometers and a gyroscope, while the control chip processes raw data and applies compensation algorithms for high accuracy.

What sets this IMU apart are its advanced features:

  • Machine Learning Core (MLC): Analyzes patterns and enables intelligent decision-making.
  • Finite State Machine (FSM): Allows customizable responses to specific events.
  • Adaptive Self-Configuration (ASC): Seamlessly adjusts to varying conditions for optimal performance.
  • Sensor Fusion Low Power (SFLP): Combines data from multiple sensors while conserving energy.

These capabilities make the LSM6DSV320X more than just a motion sensor—it’s a sophisticated system designed to adapt intelligently to real-world scenarios. Its precision, reliability, and efficiency make it ideal for applications ranging from fitness and healthcare to industrial automation and beyond.

Applications that make a difference

The combination of dual accelerometers and AI-powered features unlocks a wide range of applications, including:

  1. Emergency Calls
    In the event of a car crash or severe fall, the IMU can detect the impact and trigger an automated emergency response, potentially saving lives.
  2. Fall/Drop Reconstruction
    By analyzing high-intensity impacts, the IMU can reconstruct events such as device drops or accidents, providing valuable insights for safety improvements and product durability.
  3. Intense Movement Tracking
    Ideal for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the IMU tracks high-energy activities, offering actionable data to improve performance and prevent injuries.
  4. Musical Instrument Improvement
    A revolutionary way to learn and enhance your performance on instruments like drums, tambourines, and other percussion instruments, with always-on tracking of hand movements and intensity.
  5. Concussion Monitoring
    In sports or high-risk environments, the IMU can detect sudden impacts, assisting in monitoring and managing potential concussions for better safety.

LSM6DSV320X is transforming a wide range of industries by enabling smarter, safer, and more responsive technologies. In personal electronics, this sensor empowers smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches to detect drops, allowing devices to take protective measures like locking screens or safeguarding internal components. It also plays a critical role in car crash detection, ensuring timely assistance when it matters most. In gaming, a high-impact IMU enhance immersion by detecting rapid movements and impacts, creating a more dynamic and responsive experience. Similarly, smart tags equipped with these sensors provide real-time tracking and impact monitoring, ensuring the safety and integrity of valuable items.

In the automotive aftermarket, event data recorders with high-impact IMUs are invaluable in applications like assurance black boxes and child safety seats, capturing detailed data during accidents to analyze impact intensity and causes.

In industrial settings, logistics and transportation providers rely on these sensors to monitor for potential damage during shipping, improving quality control and customer satisfaction. Wearable devices for workers in hazardous environments use high-impact IMUs to detect falls or impacts, triggering emergency responses and enhancing workplace safety.

High-impact IMUs also aid in physical therapy by monitoring impacts during exercises, helping patients maintain proper technique and avoid injuries, ultimately supporting effective rehabilitation.

Why it matters

This advanced IMU is revolutionizing industries ranging from healthcare to consumer electronics. Its ability to capture, analyze, and respond to both subtle and extreme movements make it a versatile solution for enhancing safety, improving user experiences, and unlocking new possibilities in smart devices.

By connecting users with their environments in smarter and more intuitive ways, this technology is paving the way for a future where devices don’t just react—they understand. It offers an unprecedented opportunity to deepen the connection with yourself and enhance your quality of life.