Montana State University announced on Apr. 7 the installation of new markerless motion capture equipment in its Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab, making it easier and faster for students and researchers to study human movement.
The new technology aims to improve both the quality and efficiency of biomechanics research at MSU, broadening educational opportunities and supporting interdisciplinary collaborations. Markerless motion capture allows researchers to collect biomechanical data without attaching reflective markers to subjects, saving significant time during experiments and analysis.
Scott Monfort, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, said, “In the past, I would never have thought to use exposure to marker-based motion capture in my Biomechanics of Human Movement class as much as I do now. It was just too burdensome.” He added that with the new system, “We’re able to provide people with their biomechanical data for many common applications within minutes.”
The upgrade was made possible by a $278,500 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, matched by funds from various MSU departments and an equipment vendor. The system has already enabled research outside traditional lab settings; Jim Becker, associate professor of kinesiology at MSU, explained how his team used it during U.S. biathlon team trials: “This allowed us to capture the full 3D movement of the athletes as they skied up the hill on each lap of the race without requiring any sensors on the athletes or interfering with their race.”
Monfort said that beyond athletic performance studies, researchers are using this technology locally for projects such as improving care for amputees in rural Montana and assessing mobility risks among older adults. Sophia Stemler, a junior biomedical engineering major working in the lab since her freshman year, commented on its impact: “With markerless motion capture we are able to do quick collections… Now we have more time for analysis.”
Including Becker and Monfort, five principal investigators lead research efforts in MSU’s Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab across multiple disciplines. The university reports that these advances not only enhance academic programs but also support broader community engagement through volunteer efforts and outreach according to its official website.
MSU is recognized as Montana’s land-grant institution focused on education, research funding exceeding $288 million annually according to its official website, extensive academic offerings including top global rankings according to its official website, an enrollment around 17,165 students split between residents and nonresidents according to its official website, and ongoing contributions aimed at enhancing lives statewide according to its official website.
Dilpreet Bajwa, head of MSU’s mechanical and industrial engineering department said: “The Murdock grant is establishing cutting-edge biomechanics capabilities at MSU.”