Construction of a system scanning the movement of human upper limbs

The paper presents a prototype of a new input–output device which is a constructed scanner of human upper limb movement which, together with the software layer, creates a new user interface of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools. The constructed scanner contains a sensory system based on acceleration sensors and gyroscopes which are distributed within the key areas on the human upper limb. On the basis of the signals registered during the movement of operator's upper limbs, basing on the solution of a simple kinematics model, it is possible to determine the location and orientation of operator’s hands. A combination of the developed technology with ready solutions of gloves scanning movements of fingers and hands provides a new intuitive input-output device for the communication with the machine.