An Integrated Data Acquisition System for on‐Water Measurement of Performance in Rowing

:  The present paper reports on an experimental activity carried out to develop a new on-water data acquisition system suitable for measuring performance in sculling/sweep rowing (i.e. to gather the most significant forces applied by the rowers to the shell as well as the relative displacement of the seat and the rotation of the oars). A preliminary study was carried out to single out the effective components of those forces resulting in the displacement of rowing shells, locating also the positions of the corresponding application points. According to the outcomes of this preliminary investigation different sensors were designed to gather, from any rowing station, the following pieces of information: effective magnitude of the propulsive forces parallel to the shell axis, oar rotation angle, vertical force applied to the seat by the rower, the relative position of the seat and, finally, the forces applied by the rower’s legs to the footstretcher. Further, two accelerometers were used to measure acceleration and pitch of the shell. The accuracy and repeatability of the developed system and sensors were checked by carrying out several on-water acquisitions not only on standard shells (considering different crews), but also through an on-purpose built dry-land rowing station. To clearly show features and potentialities of such a data-acquisition system, the present paper reports on a series of tests carried out considering two different coxless pair crews, i.e. professional athletes and amateurs. The obtained results are definitely encouraging, proving that the pieces of information which can be gathered through our data acquisition system could be really helpful not only in evaluating rowers’ characteristics in terms of athletic performance and technique, but also in designing innovative rowing shells meeting the specific requirements of a crew.

[1]  T. Fukunaga,et al.  Mechanical efficiency of rowing a single scull , 1993 .

[2]  Kyle C. Pilgeram,et al.  Device for on-the-water measurement of rowing output , 2006 .

[3]  S. Williams,et al.  Effects of drag factor on physiological aspects of rowing. , 2008, International journal of sports medicine.

[4]  D J Macfarlane,et al.  Instrumentation of an ergometer to monitor the reliability of rowing performance. , 1997, Journal of sports sciences.

[5]  R Torres-Moreno,et al.  Joint excursion, handle velocity, and applied force: a biomechanical analysis of ergonometric rowing. , 2000, International journal of sports medicine.

[6]  A M J Bull,et al.  A comparison of rowing technique at different stroke rates: a description of sequencing, force production and kinematics. , 2004, International journal of sports medicine.

[7]  M. Bourdin,et al.  Rowing performance and estimated training load. , 2005, International journal of sports medicine.

[8]  N. Secher Physiological and Biomechanical Aspects of Rowing , 1993, Sports medicine.

[9]  H. K. Smith Ergometer sprint performance and recovery with variations in training load in elite rowers. , 2000, International Journal of Sports Medicine.

[10]  A Ruina,et al.  A simple 1+ dimensional model of rowing mimics observed forces and motions. , 2006, Human movement science.

[11]  K Affeld,et al.  Assessment of rowing efficiency. , 1993, International journal of sports medicine.

[12]  S Boyas,et al.  Power responses of a rowing ergometer: mechanical sensors vs. Concept2 measurement system. , 2006, International journal of sports medicine.

[13]  W. Kindermann,et al.  Sport specific performance diagnosis in rowing: an incremental graded exercise test in coxless pairs. , 2003, International journal of sports medicine.

[14]  D Hawkins,et al.  A new instrumentation system for training rowers. , 2000, Journal of biomechanics.

[15]  F C Hagerman,et al.  Applied Physiology of Rowing , 1984, Sports medicine.

[16]  Anthony M J Bull,et al.  A comparison of kinematics and performance measures of two rowing ergometers. , 2006, Journal of sports science & medicine.

[17]  David Hawkins,et al.  Investigation of biomechanical factors affecting rowing performance. , 2004, Journal of biomechanics.

[18]  Chien-Feng Li,et al.  STRENGTH CURVE CHARACTERISTICS OF ROWING PERFORMANCE FROM THE WATER AND THE LAND , 2007 .

[19]  A Millward A study of the forces exerted by an oarsman and the effect on boat speed. , 1987, Journal of sports sciences.

[20]  G. Cazorla,et al.  The Biological and Metabolic Adaptations to 12 Months Training in Elite Rowers , 2003, International journal of sports medicine.

[21]  Anthony M J Bull,et al.  Modelling multivariate biomechanical measurements of the spine during a rowing exercise. , 2003, Clinical biomechanics.

[22]  L. Mcnaughton,et al.  Inspiratory muscle training improves rowing performance. , 2001, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[23]  Yasuo Kawakami,et al.  Critical Power Determination with Ergometry Rowing: Relation to Rowing Performance , 2005 .

[24]  B. Sanderson,et al.  Towards optimizing rowing technique. , 1986, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.