Measurements of wheels propulsion torque to improve propelling form of wheelchair athletes

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25350807
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Sports science
• Research Institution: The Hyogo Institute of Assistive Technology (2014-2016); Hyogo Assistive Technology Research and Design Institute (2013)
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Toshiba 兵庫県立福祉のまちづくり研究所, その他部局等, 技師 (20426547)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAKAGAWA Akio 神戸学院大学, 総合リハビリテーション学部, 教授 (50411872) ; HARA Yoshiaki 兵庫県立福祉のまちづくり研究所, その他部局等, 研究員 (00426545)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 車椅子 / 障害者スポーツ / 車椅子マラソン / 駆動力 / 角速度 / トルク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to construct a wheelchair propelling form evaluation / suggestion system to support the improvement of the competition skills of wheelchair marathon athletes. In this study, the frontal projected area that affects air resistance and the work of the athlete stroke are adopted as the evaluation index of propelling form. A computer program is developed to estimate the frontal projected area from the depth image taken by the depth sensor. We developed measuring wheels by which we can estimate the stroke work done by an athlete. It is considered that the estimated work might be effective to evaluate competitive performances.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション工学