Joint research with Prof. Nozaki Daichi, The University of Tokyo
Technical Information
We conducted joint research with Prof. Nozaki Daichi from The University of Tokyo (Division of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education) as part of the UTokyo Sports Science Initiative (UTSSI) Project. We set up a new measurement system in their laboratory to study how to improve the performance of rowers, with the key phrase of “A fusion of Sports and Science”.
UTSSI Rowing Science Laboratory - Rowing Ergometer System
The seat of an athletic rowing boat slides back and forth, which is a feature that differs from a general rowing boat seen in a park. It is important to combine the forces of the arms, body trunk and legs in a perfect balance to generate force to pull the handle. This measurement system can provide real-time feedback of the force applied to the handle, the position of the handle, the position of the seat and the force applied to the plates where the feet are placed. These data are detected by multiple sensors mounted on a commercial rowing ergometer (Concept 2).
The plates under the athlete’s feet are our Force Plates that can measure the force output and tread force of the feet. The Force Plates can measure the forces generated along 6-axis (Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz). When they are set under the feet, they can obtain COP (Center of Pressure) as well as the magnitude and directions of forces. The performance of athletes can be calculated based on these data of force transfer or force loss, which will help with instructing athletes and evaluating athletic performance.
Human wire frame using the Motion Capture System.
The measurement software can acquire the movements of the handle and the seat, the forces applied to the handle and the foot plates in real-time.