Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for monitoring one or more athletic perfor... more Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for monitoring one or more athletic performance characteristic of a user.
The winning and losing times in long-track speed skating competitions can differ by only a few hu... more The winning and losing times in long-track speed skating competitions can differ by only a few hundredths of a second, so even marginal improvements in technology can give skaters a significant advantage. The fulcrum skate incorporates a new hinge mechanism for use in long-track speed skating. Klapskates, used by virtually all skaters today, provide only rotational motion at the hinge, but the fulcrum skate's hinge mechanism introduces both translational and rotational motion.
An evolution from natural to highly engineered materials has drastically changed the way in which... more An evolution from natural to highly engineered materials has drastically changed the way in which athletes train and compete. Thanks to challenging technological problems and unconventional commercialization pathways, universities can make a direct impact on the development of sporting goods.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the Coefficient Of Restitution (COR) betwe... more The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the Coefficient Of Restitution (COR) between a baseball and wood plate depends on the measurable wood property, hardness. Should a performance difference exist, a more optimal type of wood could be found for baseball bats. Even small performance increases in baseball bats can have a large benefit for the batter. Seven wood plates were tested and the resulting performance was compared with the wood properties of the plates.
Competitive and recreational athletes are continually increasing the demands on the performance o... more Competitive and recreational athletes are continually increasing the demands on the performance of their equipment. The days of athletes tweaking their equipment for the extra few percentage points of improvement, if not completely in the past, is nearly so. Sports engineers, applying the latest and most powerful modelling and analysis tools to each and every piece of sports equipment, are replacing the age-old tinkering process.
Duffing's equation with a negative linear stiffness is investigated. A harmonic balance technique... more Duffing's equation with a negative linear stiffness is investigated. A harmonic balance technique coupled with a continuation scheme is utilized to trace the system response to changes in the magnitude of the applied harmonic forcing. With the aid of Floquet theory, the stability of the resulting solutions is ascertained. The use of the analysis technique described herein allows for the identification of previously undetected strange attractors that coexist with the stable period one solutions.
ABSTRACT: Accident reports and previous research show that ice screws often fail to remain anchor... more ABSTRACT: Accident reports and previous research show that ice screws often fail to remain anchored in ice when subjected to the typical loads produced by climbing falls. This research characterized the failure of ice screws placed in ice and pulled to failure in a tensile tester. The test matrix is comprised of two ice types (water ice and aerated ice), two loading rates (125 N/s and 12,500 N/s), and three placement angles (–30º, 0º, 30º). High-speed video provided a qualitative record of the failure. Four results were worthy of note.
Page 1. Measuring the Effect of Transmitted Road Vibration on Cycling Performance AZ Hastings, KB... more Page 1. Measuring the Effect of Transmitted Road Vibration on Cycling Performance AZ Hastings, KB Blair, and KF Culligan Center for Sports Innovation Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA DM Pober Department of Exercise Science University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Page 2.
Abstract In order to determine the response of aluminum karabiners to cyclic loading, a single ty... more Abstract In order to determine the response of aluminum karabiners to cyclic loading, a single type of karabiner (cold forged, D shape, weight 50 g, 7075 aluminum) was cycled to failure under a range of conditions. Deformations were recorded continuously by the testing machine and verified by manual measurement of the karabiner and an uncalibrated strain gauge affixed to the karabiner spine.
Finite element analysis is used by companies throughout the world as a substitution for manually ... more Finite element analysis is used by companies throughout the world as a substitution for manually testing prototypes. With the assistance of finite element analysis many companies and industries have decreased the time and cost of product production. Currently, the athletic shoe industry does not use finite element analysis in the shoe development process. The goal of this project was to implement finite element analysis into the athletic shoe design process with the intent of decreasing time to market and cost. This effort determined finite element analysis is not recommended to design and test an entire athletic shoe. The human factors and variability make simulation weartests on an entire shoe nearly impossible to accurately replicate via finite element analysis. Though human factors affect the entire shoe the most critical component, the heel cushion, is affected only slightly. Since a person's heel is in the shape of a ball, the variation of external forces caused by human factors is not significant. Thus, finite element analysis can be used to design and test the cushion of athletic shoes.
At the request of K2 Sports, in Seattle, Washington, a machine was constructed to measure the bas... more At the request of K2 Sports, in Seattle, Washington, a machine was constructed to measure the base profile of skis and snowboards. The measurements to be taken included overall length, running surface length, locations of the contact points, tip and tail height, and maximum camber height, each of these values having a strong effect on the performance of the ski or snowboard.
The fitness industry has not seen a commercially successful revolution since the elliptical train... more The fitness industry has not seen a commercially successful revolution since the elliptical trainer in the mid 1990s. Newer products such as the Cybex Arc Trainer are vying to replicate this success, but are only slowly gaining acceptance. Most companies that have tried to succeed with unique products or heavy telemarketing, have failed in leaving any lasting or notable mark. In an attempt to do what others have failed in doing, the goal of this project was to develop the next revolutionary product in the industry. In the footsteps of the elliptical trainer and Bowflex, the aim is to design a brand new fitness product to create industry buzz and become a household name. The work done has gone through the usual design process, beginning with extensive research and continuing to problem selection, solution brainstorming, quantity conceptualization, quality narrowing, and concept development. After understanding the general biological happenings behind fitness, recognizing the intended consumer, analyzing needs and trends within the indlltrv, qnd rPPqarrhing nthpr recrntlv ljrrccqffil tPrhnnlncFie• in nthpr indlistrip., ~olid concepts were developed that were narrowed down to the final concept of sensor gloves capable of intelligently recognizing exercises, sets, and repetitions during a weightlifting exercise session, and compiling the information into an organized and user friendly software presentation.
A wingsuit is a special suit that is worn to allow the user to fly after jumping off of a high cl... more A wingsuit is a special suit that is worn to allow the user to fly after jumping off of a high cliff. The wingsuit creates an airfoil shape by adding wings of material between the arms and the sides as well as a tail consisting of material between the legs. The wingsuit allows for the creation of lift and thus human flying. A new and novel wingsuit design is proposed based on the design of a delta wing aircraft. This new wingsuit has material leading from the side of the head and connecting to the top of the arms, extending the area of the forward wing. Using a mannequin in a wind tunnel, the aerodynamic performance of the new wingsuit will be measured and compared to that of the current wingsuit design. The results show that the redesigned wingsuit had a lower lift-to-drag ratio in most testing scenarios. The decrease in lift-to-drag ratio was due to the combination of an increased lift and a higher increased drag.
In this experiment we attempted to define and implement a series of repeatable tests to quantify ... more In this experiment we attempted to define and implement a series of repeatable tests to quantify the effects of impacts on various types of baseball catcher's equipment. After investigating several procedures, the bulk of the testing done was to determine the coefficient of restitution on different areas of the testing specimens. Four types of fully assembled catcher's gear were tested for this set of experiments along with individual padding samples from the gear. Typically catcher's gear is composed of variable thickness ...
Analysis of the dynamic response of a shallow arch is investigated using a two rigid-link, single... more Analysis of the dynamic response of a shallow arch is investigated using a two rigid-link, single-degree-of-freedom model. The technique of harmonic balance, coupled with a continuation scheme, is employed to find the solutions for an entire range of externally applied loading. Floquet analysis provides the necessary stability information, as well as information about the bifurcation points encountered in the solution. The dynamic response of the arch to harmonic forcing is shown to exhibit both symmetric and asymmetric ...
The aerodynamic performance of equipment is critical for cycling's “race of truth”, ... more The aerodynamic performance of equipment is critical for cycling's “race of truth”, the time trial, where time differences of seconds can separate the top finishers. Recently several manufacturers have developed aerodynamic helmets specifically for use during time trials. To date, a comprehensive study of the aerodynamic performance of these time-trial helmets has not been performed. In this study, the aerodynamic helmets were tested on a mannequin in the time trial positions over a range of yaw angles, from 0° to 15°, in ...
The investigation of the dynamic response of a shallow arch to harmonic forcing is undertaken. Th... more The investigation of the dynamic response of a shallow arch to harmonic forcing is undertaken. The method of harmonic balance, coupled with a continuation scheme, is used to determine the solutions for an entire range of externally applied loading. Floquet analysis provides the requisite stability information, as well as information about the bifurcation points encountered in the solution. Results are presented for a range of loading at three excitation frequencies. In addition, the effect of the excitation frequency on the response for three fixed values of the magnitude of the loading is investigated. The dynamic response of the arch to harmonic forcing is shown to exhibit both symmetric and asymmetric solutions. Additionally, stable solutions are found that have a fundamental period of an integer multiple of the excitation period. Finally, regions of chaotic motion are observed.
Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for monitoring one or more athletic perfor... more Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for monitoring one or more athletic performance characteristic of a user.
The winning and losing times in long-track speed skating competitions can differ by only a few hu... more The winning and losing times in long-track speed skating competitions can differ by only a few hundredths of a second, so even marginal improvements in technology can give skaters a significant advantage. The fulcrum skate incorporates a new hinge mechanism for use in long-track speed skating. Klapskates, used by virtually all skaters today, provide only rotational motion at the hinge, but the fulcrum skate's hinge mechanism introduces both translational and rotational motion.
An evolution from natural to highly engineered materials has drastically changed the way in which... more An evolution from natural to highly engineered materials has drastically changed the way in which athletes train and compete. Thanks to challenging technological problems and unconventional commercialization pathways, universities can make a direct impact on the development of sporting goods.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the Coefficient Of Restitution (COR) betwe... more The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the Coefficient Of Restitution (COR) between a baseball and wood plate depends on the measurable wood property, hardness. Should a performance difference exist, a more optimal type of wood could be found for baseball bats. Even small performance increases in baseball bats can have a large benefit for the batter. Seven wood plates were tested and the resulting performance was compared with the wood properties of the plates.
Competitive and recreational athletes are continually increasing the demands on the performance o... more Competitive and recreational athletes are continually increasing the demands on the performance of their equipment. The days of athletes tweaking their equipment for the extra few percentage points of improvement, if not completely in the past, is nearly so. Sports engineers, applying the latest and most powerful modelling and analysis tools to each and every piece of sports equipment, are replacing the age-old tinkering process.
Duffing's equation with a negative linear stiffness is investigated. A harmonic balance technique... more Duffing's equation with a negative linear stiffness is investigated. A harmonic balance technique coupled with a continuation scheme is utilized to trace the system response to changes in the magnitude of the applied harmonic forcing. With the aid of Floquet theory, the stability of the resulting solutions is ascertained. The use of the analysis technique described herein allows for the identification of previously undetected strange attractors that coexist with the stable period one solutions.
ABSTRACT: Accident reports and previous research show that ice screws often fail to remain anchor... more ABSTRACT: Accident reports and previous research show that ice screws often fail to remain anchored in ice when subjected to the typical loads produced by climbing falls. This research characterized the failure of ice screws placed in ice and pulled to failure in a tensile tester. The test matrix is comprised of two ice types (water ice and aerated ice), two loading rates (125 N/s and 12,500 N/s), and three placement angles (–30º, 0º, 30º). High-speed video provided a qualitative record of the failure. Four results were worthy of note.
Page 1. Measuring the Effect of Transmitted Road Vibration on Cycling Performance AZ Hastings, KB... more Page 1. Measuring the Effect of Transmitted Road Vibration on Cycling Performance AZ Hastings, KB Blair, and KF Culligan Center for Sports Innovation Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA DM Pober Department of Exercise Science University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Page 2.
Abstract In order to determine the response of aluminum karabiners to cyclic loading, a single ty... more Abstract In order to determine the response of aluminum karabiners to cyclic loading, a single type of karabiner (cold forged, D shape, weight 50 g, 7075 aluminum) was cycled to failure under a range of conditions. Deformations were recorded continuously by the testing machine and verified by manual measurement of the karabiner and an uncalibrated strain gauge affixed to the karabiner spine.
Finite element analysis is used by companies throughout the world as a substitution for manually ... more Finite element analysis is used by companies throughout the world as a substitution for manually testing prototypes. With the assistance of finite element analysis many companies and industries have decreased the time and cost of product production. Currently, the athletic shoe industry does not use finite element analysis in the shoe development process. The goal of this project was to implement finite element analysis into the athletic shoe design process with the intent of decreasing time to market and cost. This effort determined finite element analysis is not recommended to design and test an entire athletic shoe. The human factors and variability make simulation weartests on an entire shoe nearly impossible to accurately replicate via finite element analysis. Though human factors affect the entire shoe the most critical component, the heel cushion, is affected only slightly. Since a person's heel is in the shape of a ball, the variation of external forces caused by human factors is not significant. Thus, finite element analysis can be used to design and test the cushion of athletic shoes.
At the request of K2 Sports, in Seattle, Washington, a machine was constructed to measure the bas... more At the request of K2 Sports, in Seattle, Washington, a machine was constructed to measure the base profile of skis and snowboards. The measurements to be taken included overall length, running surface length, locations of the contact points, tip and tail height, and maximum camber height, each of these values having a strong effect on the performance of the ski or snowboard.
The fitness industry has not seen a commercially successful revolution since the elliptical train... more The fitness industry has not seen a commercially successful revolution since the elliptical trainer in the mid 1990s. Newer products such as the Cybex Arc Trainer are vying to replicate this success, but are only slowly gaining acceptance. Most companies that have tried to succeed with unique products or heavy telemarketing, have failed in leaving any lasting or notable mark. In an attempt to do what others have failed in doing, the goal of this project was to develop the next revolutionary product in the industry. In the footsteps of the elliptical trainer and Bowflex, the aim is to design a brand new fitness product to create industry buzz and become a household name. The work done has gone through the usual design process, beginning with extensive research and continuing to problem selection, solution brainstorming, quantity conceptualization, quality narrowing, and concept development. After understanding the general biological happenings behind fitness, recognizing the intended consumer, analyzing needs and trends within the indlltrv, qnd rPPqarrhing nthpr recrntlv ljrrccqffil tPrhnnlncFie• in nthpr indlistrip., ~olid concepts were developed that were narrowed down to the final concept of sensor gloves capable of intelligently recognizing exercises, sets, and repetitions during a weightlifting exercise session, and compiling the information into an organized and user friendly software presentation.
A wingsuit is a special suit that is worn to allow the user to fly after jumping off of a high cl... more A wingsuit is a special suit that is worn to allow the user to fly after jumping off of a high cliff. The wingsuit creates an airfoil shape by adding wings of material between the arms and the sides as well as a tail consisting of material between the legs. The wingsuit allows for the creation of lift and thus human flying. A new and novel wingsuit design is proposed based on the design of a delta wing aircraft. This new wingsuit has material leading from the side of the head and connecting to the top of the arms, extending the area of the forward wing. Using a mannequin in a wind tunnel, the aerodynamic performance of the new wingsuit will be measured and compared to that of the current wingsuit design. The results show that the redesigned wingsuit had a lower lift-to-drag ratio in most testing scenarios. The decrease in lift-to-drag ratio was due to the combination of an increased lift and a higher increased drag.
In this experiment we attempted to define and implement a series of repeatable tests to quantify ... more In this experiment we attempted to define and implement a series of repeatable tests to quantify the effects of impacts on various types of baseball catcher's equipment. After investigating several procedures, the bulk of the testing done was to determine the coefficient of restitution on different areas of the testing specimens. Four types of fully assembled catcher's gear were tested for this set of experiments along with individual padding samples from the gear. Typically catcher's gear is composed of variable thickness ...
Analysis of the dynamic response of a shallow arch is investigated using a two rigid-link, single... more Analysis of the dynamic response of a shallow arch is investigated using a two rigid-link, single-degree-of-freedom model. The technique of harmonic balance, coupled with a continuation scheme, is employed to find the solutions for an entire range of externally applied loading. Floquet analysis provides the necessary stability information, as well as information about the bifurcation points encountered in the solution. The dynamic response of the arch to harmonic forcing is shown to exhibit both symmetric and asymmetric ...
The aerodynamic performance of equipment is critical for cycling's “race of truth”, ... more The aerodynamic performance of equipment is critical for cycling's “race of truth”, the time trial, where time differences of seconds can separate the top finishers. Recently several manufacturers have developed aerodynamic helmets specifically for use during time trials. To date, a comprehensive study of the aerodynamic performance of these time-trial helmets has not been performed. In this study, the aerodynamic helmets were tested on a mannequin in the time trial positions over a range of yaw angles, from 0° to 15°, in ...
The investigation of the dynamic response of a shallow arch to harmonic forcing is undertaken. Th... more The investigation of the dynamic response of a shallow arch to harmonic forcing is undertaken. The method of harmonic balance, coupled with a continuation scheme, is used to determine the solutions for an entire range of externally applied loading. Floquet analysis provides the requisite stability information, as well as information about the bifurcation points encountered in the solution. Results are presented for a range of loading at three excitation frequencies. In addition, the effect of the excitation frequency on the response for three fixed values of the magnitude of the loading is investigated. The dynamic response of the arch to harmonic forcing is shown to exhibit both symmetric and asymmetric solutions. Additionally, stable solutions are found that have a fundamental period of an integer multiple of the excitation period. Finally, regions of chaotic motion are observed.
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