Modular force sensor system, device, and method for behavioral measurement

A method of measuring behavior of a test subject having two or more feet and having a first weight, the method comprising:

• placing said test subject on a surface of a high resolution force module, the surface of the high resolution force module including:
• an array of force sensors, wherein each individual force sensor of the array of force sensors is capable of sensing individual forces, wherein each force sensor of the array of force sensors;
• a rigid support module have a first surface, wherein the rigid support module comprises one or more vacuum ports configured to preload at least one of the array of force sensors;
• and
• a flexible stack forming the first surface of the high resolution force modules, the flexible stack containing the array of force sensors, and the flexible stack being secured to the first surface of the rigid support module;
• preloading at least one of the array of force sensors using the one or more vacuum ports;
• receiving a first signal from a first force sensor of the array of force sensors corresponding to a first foot of the two or more feet and receiving a second signal for a second sensor of the array of forces sensors corresponding to a second foot;
• determining a first amount of force applied by the first foot based on the first signal at a first time;
• determining a second amount of force applied by the first foot based on the second signal at a second time;
• and
• processing the received first signal and a second signal from the array of force sensors to determine behavior of said test subject with respect to the surface of the high resolution force module based on the first amount of force and the second amount of force.

A method of performing a behavioral assessment of a test subject having multiple legs and weighing less than 5 kg, the method comprising:

• administering a first behavioral assessment of said test subject, comprising:
• placing said test subject on a surface of a high resolution force module, the surface of the high resolution force module including:
• an array of force sensors wherein each individual force sensor of the array of force sensors is capable of sensing an individual force, each force sensor of the array of force sensors is positioned within a predetermined distance from any adjacent force sensor of the array of force sensors;
• a rigid support module have a first surface, wherein the rigid support module comprises one or more vacuum ports configured to preload at least one of the array of force sensors;
• and
• a flexible stack forming the first surface of the high resolution force modules, the flexible stack containing the array of force sensors, and the flexible stack being secured to the first surface of the rigid support module;
• preloading at least one of the array of force sensors using the one or more vacuum ports;
• and
• obtaining force and location information from the array of force sensors;
• and
• measuring behavior of the test subject by processing the obtained force and location information.

A system for measuring behavior of a test subject having two or more feet and having a first weight, the system comprising:

• a plurality of high resolution force modules each having a first surface, the first surface comprising:
• an array of force sensors each individual force sensor capable of sensing an individual force, each force sensor of the array of force sensors positioned within a predetermined distance from any adjacent force sensor of the array of force sensors;
• a rigid support module have a first surface, wherein the rigid support module comprises on or more vacuum ports configured to preload at least one of the array of force sensors;
• a flexible stack forming the first surface of the high resolution force modules, the flexible stack containing the array of force sensors, and the flexible stack being secured to the first surface of the rigid support module;
• and
• a control system in functional communication with the high resolution force module, the control system comprising a processor and physical memory, the control system containing instructions stored in the physical memory that when executed by the processor, cause the control system to perform the following acts:
• receiving a first signal from a first sensor of the array of force sensors corresponding to a first foot of the two or more feet and receiving a second signal from the array of force sensors corresponding to a second foot at a predetermined rate;
• determining a first amount of force applied by the first foot based on the first signal;
• determining a second amount of force applied by the first foot based on the second signal;
• and
• determining behavior of said test subject with respect to the first surface of the high resolution force module based on the first amount of force and the second amount of force.