Wireless instrumented klapskates for long-track speed skating

Abstract

In the current project, we aim to provide speed skaters with real-time feedback on how to improve their skating performance within an individual stroke. The elite skaters and their coaches wish for a system that determines the mechanical power per stroke. The push-off force of the skater is a crucial variable in this power determination. In this study, we present the construction and calibration of a pair of wireless instrumented klapskates that can continuously and synchronously measure this push-off force in both the lateral direction and normal direction of the skate and the centre of pressure of these forces. The skate consists of a newly designed rigid bridge (0.6 kg), embedding two three-dimensional force sensors (Kistler 9602, Kistler Group, Winterthur, Switzerland), which fits between most individual skate shoes and Maple skate blades. The instrumented klapskates were calibrated on a tensile testing machine, where they proved to be unaffected to temperature conditions and accurate up to an RMS of 42 N (SEM = 1 N) in normal and up to an RMS of 27 N (SEM = 1 N) in lateral direction. Furthermore, the centre of pressure of these forces on the blade was determined up to a mean error of 10.1 mm (SD = 6.9 mm). On-ice measurements showed the possibility of recording with both skates simultaneously and synchronously, straights as well as curves. The option to send data wirelessly and realtime to other devices makes it possible to eventually provide skaters and coaches with visual real-time feedback during practice.

Sport Biomechanics Applications Using Inertial, Force, and EMG Sensors: A Literature Overview

“…As regards the evaluation of the CoP, Buckeridge et al (2015) used insoles (Pedar X, Novel, Munich, Germany) to determine the CoP and foot pressure in elite and recreational ice hockey players in acceleration and steady-state forward skating. Although the plantar forces measured by the insoles were not different between elite and recreational athletes, a finding consistent with speed skating studies [58,59], the CoP was different between the level of athletes. Elite players had their CoP more to the forefoot compared to recreational players during steady-state skating [50].…”

“…Although skates had been instrumented prior to 2010 using strain gauges [ 63 – 66 ], van der Kruk et al built the first wireless instrumented speed skates for short-track (fixed blade) [ 60 ] and long-track (klapskates) [ 58 ] speed skating. The instrumentation is located in the bridge (klapskates) and cups (fixed blade) of the skates, each consisting of a sandwich construction that clasps piezoelectric three-component force sensors (Kistler 9602, Kistler Group, Winterthur, Switzerland).…”

New method to evaluate three-dimensional push-off angle during short-track speed skating using wearable inertial measurement unit sensors

“…11,12 Briefly, the whole body model consisted of 16 segments (head-cervical, thorax, lumbar, pelvis, upper arms, forearms, hands thighs, shanks, and feet) connected by 15 joints with each having three degrees of freedom as a spherical joint. 10,11 The joint angles were calculated using conventional inverse dynamic analysis based on the measured motion data. 11,12 For each subject, the 3D kinematic data were quantified in both the straight and cornering intervals of the rink.…”

“…Recently, wearable motion analysis systems based on inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors are increasingly used to analyze motions outside the laboratory environment. 9,10 In this study, we provided a new method to evaluate the 3D push-off angle in short-track speed skating using a wearable motion analysis system with IMU sensors to avoid using a special skate or specific equipment insert into the skate for measurement of push-off force. Measurement results of push-off angle based on motion analysis were compared with the push-off angle from the push-off force obtained using pressure sensors in order to investigate the accuracy and feasibility of motion-based push-off angle measurement.…”

Instrumen Kecepatan Tendangan Pencak Silat Berbasis Teknologi

“…Salah satu elemen penting dalam pencak silat adalah kecepatan tendangan. Kecepatan sangat diperlukan dan dapat memengaruhi penampilan seseorang baik pada saat menyerang maupun dalam bertahan (E. van der Kruk, 2016). Dalam pertandingan pencak silat, teknik tendangan memiliki persentase yang cukup besar dalam posisi menyerang yaitu mencapai 47% (Haryono dkk., 2017).…”