276 research outputs found

    STUDY ON SKIING TURN USING PASSIVE SKIING ROBOT FOR IMPROVEMENT OF GAME PERFORMANCE

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    INTRODUCTION: Recent studies on skiing turns have been researched from various viewpoints. And the mechanism of the skiing turn using the skiing robot is clarified now. However, those results are not concretely reflected in alpine skiing. Therefore, to facilitate theoretical consideration, the passive type skiing robot was developed. The influence on the skiing turn such as the position of center-of-gravity and the shape of skiing are examined by using this robot. In this paper, it reports on their experimental results

    A ski robot system for qualitative modelling of the carved turn

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    金沢大学理工研究域機械工学系A robot that simulates a number of human leg joint motions during carved turns has been developed. Each leg had six degrees of freedom like those of human athletes. An on-board computer controlled the sequence of joint angles in an open-loop mode during skiing on an artificial grass slope. The relations among joint motions, reacting forces and turn trajectory were investigated by programming various motions of the robot. At first, the effect of basic joint motions, such as abduction-adduction and flexion-extension of the hip, knee and ankle joints were investigated. Then the sequence of a top athlete\u27s joint motions, measured in a separate study, was applied to investigate its effect on the ski turn. The human-inspired programme produced a more even force balance between the skis and also a higher-quality turn. The requirements for a successful physical model of a human skier are discussed. © 2009 International Sports Engineering Association

    Advanced Mobile Robotics: Volume 3

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    Mobile robotics is a challenging field with great potential. It covers disciplines including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, cognitive science, and social science. It is essential to the design of automated robots, in combination with artificial intelligence, vision, and sensor technologies. Mobile robots are widely used for surveillance, guidance, transportation and entertainment tasks, as well as medical applications. This Special Issue intends to concentrate on recent developments concerning mobile robots and the research surrounding them to enhance studies on the fundamental problems observed in the robots. Various multidisciplinary approaches and integrative contributions including navigation, learning and adaptation, networked system, biologically inspired robots and cognitive methods are welcome contributions to this Special Issue, both from a research and an application perspective

    Doctor of Philosophy

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    dissertationThis thesis analyzed biped stability through a qualitative likelihood of falling and quantitative Potential to Fall (PF) analysis. Both analyses were applied to walking and skiing to better understand behaviors across a wider spectrum of bipedal gaits. For both walking and skiing, two types of locomotion were analyzed. Walking studies compared normal locomotion (gait) to an unexpected slip. Skiing studies compared wedge style locomotion (more common to beginning and intermediate skiers) to parallel style locomotion (more common to advanced and expert skiers). Two mediums of data collection were used. A motion capture laboratory with stereographic cameras and force plates were used for walking studies, and instrumented insoles, capable of force and inertial measurement, were used for skiing studies. Both kinematics and kinetics were used to evaluate the likelihood of falling. The PF metric, based on root mean squared error, was used to quantify the likelihood of falling for multiple subjects both in walking and skiing. PF was based on foot kinematics for walking and skiing studies. PF also included center of pressure for skiing studies. The PF was lower for normal gaits in walking studies and wedge style locomotion for skiing studies

    Sports Performance and Health

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    Sports performance is primarily associated with elite sport, however, recreational athletes are increasingly attempting to emulate elite athletes. Performance optimization is distinctly multidisciplinary. Optimized training concepts and the use of state-of-the-art technologies are crucial for improving performance. However, sports performance enhancement is in constant conflict with the protection of athletes’ health. Notwithstanding the known positive effects of physical activity on health, the prevention and management of sports injuries remain major challenges to be addressed. Accordingly, this Special Issue on "Sports Performance and Health" consists of 17 original research papers, one review paper, and one commentary, and covers a wide range of topics related to fatigue, movement asymmetries, optimization of sports performance by training, technique, and/or tactics enhancements, prevention and management of sports injuries, optimization of sports equipment to increase performance and/or decrease the risk of injury, and innovations for sports performance, health, and load monitoring. As this Special Issue offers several new insights and multidisciplinary perspectives on sports performance and health, readers from around the world who work in these areas are expected to benefit from this Special Issue collection

    The development of ergonomics design criteria for powered human movement systems

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    This research developed from a concept for a powered exoskeletal system for manipulating a person's posture to provide them with physical sensations as though taking part in an activity in which they otherwise would not be able to participate. The aim for this research was to develop a set of criteria relating to this physical manipulation, which could be used, in conjunction with visual and audio stimuli, to govern the design of a commercial personal entertainment simulator for use by members of the public. Investigations revealed that there is currently no existing system comparable to this proposed simulator. Therefore, various fields were researched, including robotics, physiotherapy, virtual reality, haptics and existing simulators; with a view to combining elements of these fields for the development of a manipulation system appropriate to public entertainment use. A survey was conducted on members of the public to investigate their experiences of sports, theme park rides and virtual reality; their personalities; and their opinions of the proposed simulator. This survey indicated that the likely users of such a system would be sensation-seeking, physically active people. The activities which generated the most interest were those which were hazardous, difficult, or required long distance travel. To be consistent with these findings, practical trials were undertaken using the sport of skiing as the context for conducting practical investigations into postural manipulation. Existing and original studies of the movements involved in skiing revealed the complexity of this activity, and the variety of techniques employed by different skiers. These findings, combined with the survey data and earlier investigations, led to the development of a versatile prototype system which could accommodate this variability and impose customised skiing movements on volunteers. Volunteer trials using this prototype demonstrated that members of the public were willing to have their postures controlled by external forces, and although some participants were apprehensive at first, they all reported the experience to be enjoyable. Tests with different applied movements showed that users were comfortable with manipulations at speeds and accelerations up to and exceeding those employed in skiing for real. The principal criteria concluded from these trials were that it is possible to safely and comfortably manipulate human postures through external technology, and that this external control can be used to provide an enjoyable and exhilarating entertainment experience.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

    Characteristics of participants in high risk recreation| A study of pain response and selected personality traits

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    Wearable Sensors Applied in Movement Analysis

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    Recent advances in electronics have led to sensors whose sizes and weights are such that they can be placed on living systems without impairing their natural motion and habits. They may be worn on the body as accessories or as part of the clothing and enable personalized mobile information processing. Wearable sensors open the way for a nonintrusive and continuous monitoring of body orientation, movements, and various physiological parameters during motor activities in real-life settings. Thus, they may become crucial tools not only for researchers, but also for clinicians, as they have the potential to improve diagnosis, better monitor disease development and thereby individualize treatment. Wearable sensors should obviously go unnoticed for the people wearing them and be intuitive in their installation. They should come with wireless connectivity and low-power consumption. Moreover, the electronics system should be self-calibrating and deliver correct information that is easy to interpret. Cross-platform interfaces that provide secure data storage and easy data analysis and visualization are needed.This book contains a selection of research papers presenting new results addressing the above challenges

    Fear of crime and victimization among the elderly participating in the self-defence course

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    Purpose. Self-defence training could enhance seniors´ defensive skills and fitness. There is lack of evidence about fear and concerns of seniors participating in the self-defence course. Methods. 18 elderly persons (16 female, 1 male; age 66.2, SD=5.86) participated in the self-defence course lasting 8 training units (each unit 60 minutes). Standardized tool for fear of crime and victimization analysis previously used in Euro-Justis project in the Czech Republic (2011) was used in pretest and posttest. Results. We explored the highest fear of crime by participants in their residence area after dark (mean=2,77; median=3; SD=0,80), lower fear at the night in their homes (mean=2,29; median=2; SD=0,75) and in their residence area at the daytime (mean=2,00; median=2; SD=0,77) at the beginning of the course. We noticed certain decrease of fear of crime after the intervention. Participant were less afraid of crime in their residence area after dark (mean=2,38; median=2; SD=0,77), they felt lower fear of crime at the night in their homes (mean=2,00; median=2; SD=0,48) and in their residence area at the daytime (mean=1,82; median=2; SD=0,63). Conclusions. The approach to self-defence teaching for elderly should be focused not just on the motor development, but also on their emotional state, fear of crime, perception of dangerousness of diverse situations and total wellbeing. Fear of crime analysis can contribute to create tailor made structure of the self-defence course for specific groups of citizens
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