Sports Technology Institute Research Group

The Sports Technology Research Group within the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering co-ordinates much of Loughborough's research in this field.  The group has been active since 1986 and has developed an international reputation in computer-aided design, simulation and manufacture of sports equipment.

More inofrmation about this group can be found at;

http://sti.lboro.ac.uk/

Current research

• Professor Mike Caine: General interest: Design and evaluation of sports equipment for the enhancement/measurement of human performance, including equipment for training, protection and acquisition of skill.  Focus upon human factors, in particular functional anatomy and applied physiology.  Specific interests: the innovation process in relation to the development of athletic footwear, technical apparel and fitness equipment.

• Dr Steph Forrester: General research interests are focused on experimental and computational biomechanics relevant to the design, development and testing of sports equipment.  Specific interests are in applying these methods to sports surfaces, footwear, apparel and golf.

• Dr Ben Halkon: Research, analysis, design and testing of sports equipment and integrated training systems in particular with respect to structural statics and dynamics, optical measurement techniques & intelligent system instrumentation.  Advanced manufacturing technologies and materials, including computer modelling techniques thereof.  Particular sport interests in high-performance cycling and sailing.

• Dr Andy Harland: Computer aided engineering in sport.  Optical Metrology of surface shape, motion and deformation.  Design of protective equipment.  Design and manufacture of balls and projectiles, analysis of flight and impact.  Design and analysis of sports footwear, hardware and apparel across a broad range of sports.

• Dr Paul Leaney:  Use of modelling (CAD, FEA)  and experimental methods (stress, strain, aerodynamics)  in product development of sports equipment.  Design for manufacture and assembly.  Robotics, automation and control including robot emulation of sporting actions (motion and forces).  Application areas include ball/racket interactions, foot and hoof/ground interactions.

• Dr Sean Mitchell: In general: Sports Engineering.  Specifically: Computer aided design, analysis and manufacture of equipment.  Human performance implications for equipment design.  Governing body standards & testing.  Novel materials & processes.

• Dr Jon Roberts: Measurement and analysis of players’ perceptions of sports equipment.  Sound quality evaluation of impulsive sounds.  Mechanical design and analysis of sports equipment.  Instrumentation for measurement of 3D motion, force, vibration, strain and sound Robotic simulation of sporting motion.

• Professor Steve Rothberg:  is the Pro Vice Chancellor (Enterprise).  His interests are: Noise and vibration measurement and analysis applied to the design of impact sports equipment including application of modal analysis.  Dynamic force and pressure measurements in sport.  Human response to noise and vibration.  Non-contact vibration measurement using laser vibrometry especially for impact analysis.

• Professor Andy West: Design and evaluation of novel machine systems for enhanced human and product performance.  Development of wireless sensors networks and system/sensor integration platforms for human performance monitoring for indoor and outdoor (i.e. integrated GPS) in particularly harsh environments. Including derivation of skill based features and knowledge from real time data acquisition. Specific interests: Swimming, cycling, strength and conditioning.

  
  

The work of the Group is further supported by

• Kim Blair, Visiting Professor.