Investigation question
Can a baseline-normalised fatigue-asymmetry index derived from paired biceps sEMG provide an sEMG-only warning at least 0.5 seconds before qualifying bar tilt during fixed-bar biceps-curl trials?
DSL project
Group 06
Curls for Gurls: sEMG-based fatigue asymmetry detection
Group 06 is developing a low-cost dual-channel surface electromyography (sEMG) system to investigate whether differences in left and right biceps fatigue appear before mechanical asymmetry during fixed-bar curl trials. The prototype is an engineering research tool, not a diagnostic or injury-prediction system.
Intended outcome
The project aims to produce matched acquisition hardware, a reproducible median-frequency and fatigue-asymmetry analysis pipeline, and a validation result comparing sEMG warning times with independently labelled bar-tilt video under the defined study protocol.
Student profiles
Jatin Charles
I’ve always been fascinated by how intricate engineering systems operate—from high-performance powertrains to biomedical sensors. As a final-year Electrical Engineering student at Wits, I enjoy doing projects from idea to implementation. Outside of lecture halls and lab benches, my passion is Formula 1. I love analysing the cutting edge of automotive engineering and race strategy. I’m also interested in AI, high-performance computing, and gaming, and I’m always curious about new technology and what makes it tick. For me, engineering is all about staying curious, embracing tough design constraints, and collaborating with great people to build solutions that actually make an impact.
Sinade Naidoo
I am a fourth-year Electrical Engineering student at Wits University, and what I enjoy most about engineering is that there is always something new to learn. Some of my favourite projects have been making a Yagi-Uda antenna, developing an MGU-K controller for an F1 powertrain, and now a biomedical project, which is a new field I am eager to learn more about. Outside of engineering, I have experience tutoring, volunteer with different charities, and enjoy reading and learning new languages. I tend to pick up new interests simply for the sake of learning something different, as they give me the opportunity to stay curious outside of engineering too. In the future, I would like to work in industry, explore different fields, and keep building a broad and adaptable range of skills. More than anything, I want to become the kind of engineer who can walk into an unfamiliar problem, figure it out, and make a meaningful impact.