Motion detection and recording method and apparatus

A reusable self-contained motion recorder apparatus free from any interconnections with any exterior subsystems and comprising:

• a sealed housing adapted for mounting to a structure;
• a controller contained in said sealed housing;
• a battery in operable communication with said controller and contained in said housing;
• a battery manager operably associated with said battery and said controller and contained in said housing, whereby said battery manager operates said controller in a high power consumption mode only when sensor data is being recorded;
• a sensor device having a plurality of sensors in operable communication with said controller and contained in said housing, whereby said sensor device is operative to produce signals as a function of time and representative of motion by the structure;
• and
• a recording device in operable communication with said controller and contained in said housing whereby data corresponding to said signals are stored.

A method for recording movement of a structure using a sealed, self-contained recorder free from any interconnections with any exterior subsystems and comprising:

• sensing acceleration of a structure along at least two directions and generating signals as a function of time representative of at least said acceleration;
• recording data corresponding to said signals generated over a predetermined period of time;
• controlling said sensing and recording steps using a microprocessor;
• and
• operating said microprocessor in a high powered consumption state while a predetermined acceleration is detected and in a lower power consumption state when said predetermined acceleration is not detected.