Research
We undertake a broad range of applied research within the field of sports engineering, and work closely with our sports and exercise science colleagues within the Centre for Sport and Exercise Science.
Research areas include
- experimental analysis
- computational modelling and simulation
- instrumentation and sensor applications
- biomechanics in sport and physical activity
Our research projects are often sponsored by sports equipment manufacturers and sports governing bodies, or funded through successful bids to research councils, and government agencies. We also have a busy postgraduate research programme with13 PhD students enrolled. Our current research includes
- developing a motion analysis system to acquire data from athlete/equipment motion in the field/tournament without using conventional markers - new algorithms being developed to automate image capture and accelerate image processing. Initially focusing on tennis. (Sponsored by ITF)
- modelling oblique impacts between a tennis racket and ball - design and validation of a laboratory based test, to measure racket control. Providing new data to develop the existing TennisGUT model, and include oblique, spinning, off-centre impacts between ball and a realistically supported tennis racket
- modelling technological performance in elite sport - collating result statistics and investigating mathematical models to quantify the effects of human physiological improvements and sports technology development on sporting performance throughout history
- automated tracking in elite sport
- traction performance of studded footwear
- age-related differences in reaching strategies when approaching the limits of stability - aiming to establish what age-related changes occur to the movement strategies that are employed to complete a manual fitting task, and the impact this can have to balance and fall risk in older adult
- the biomechanics/motor control interface. Investigating the implications of a non-linear, stochastic, neurobiological system approach to studying human movement, and how it relates to the measurement and experimentation, modelling and simulation
- projects related to the application of RGB-D cameras (such as those found in Microsoft's Kinect peripheral for the Xbox) to the analysis of sport and physical activity. Details of preliminary explorations can be found on our blog.
- Smartfloor - we have recently developed a large-area, force-sensing interactive floor which has many applications in biomechanics and serious gaming amongst other areas. We are currently developing applications looking at ways of measuring and improving balance and movement in sports and the general population.
- measurement of tennis racket performance in play test conditions - development of a realistic 3D model of a tennis racket that will be used to assist in obtaining information about swing motion, impact point and post impact ball characteristics to aid player 'tester' feedback and racket prototype selection. (Sponsored by Prince)
A full list of our research publications can be downloaded here (PDF 269KB)
Journal Special Edition
Dr Tom Allen and Dr Simon Choppin were personally invited to act as guest editors for a special edition of the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. After assessing different options, 'Predictive modelling in sport' was set as the theme.
For more details of the types of papers we are looking for, please view the abstract on our Engineering for Sport blog. Alternatively please contact Tom and/or Simon directly with any informal enquiries.
For research enquiries please contact Dr Jon Wheat.
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