MECH ENG 2102 - Sports Engineering I

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

The course information on this page is being finalised for 2016. Please check again before classes commence.

Instrumentation of sports equipment, athletes and sports facilities is an invaluable tool for quantifying sports performance and optimising training. The development of smart equipment is an emerging area, which enables advanced training including biofeedback methods. Recent developments in sensor and wireless technologies for example: cost reduction, miniaturisation, and improvement in reliability and accuracy open new avenues for instrumentation in sport. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of instrumentation including principles of sensors and data processing, and specifically the instrumentation of sports equipment, athletes and sports facilities. This course addresses the design of the instrumented equipment in conjunction with equipment rules and size constraints, the effective instrumentation of athletes in conjunction with worn markers and sensors, and the potential of non-contact instrumentation embedded in sports facilities. This course also includes Workshop Practice.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MECH ENG 2102
    Course Sports Engineering I
    Coordinating Unit School of Mechanical Engineering
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week, plus 40 hour workshop practice in mid-year break
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge ELEC ENG 1009, MATHS 1012
    Restrictions BE (Mechanical & Sports)
    Course Description Instrumentation of sports equipment, athletes and sports facilities is an invaluable tool for quantifying sports performance and optimising training. The development of smart equipment is an emerging area, which enables advanced training including biofeedback methods. Recent developments in sensor and wireless technologies for example: cost reduction, miniaturisation, and improvement in reliability and accuracy open new avenues for instrumentation in sport. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of instrumentation including principles of sensors and data processing, and specifically the instrumentation of sports equipment, athletes and sports facilities. This course addresses the design of the instrumented equipment in conjunction with equipment rules and size constraints, the effective instrumentation of athletes in conjunction with worn markers and sensors, and the potential of non-contact instrumentation embedded in sports facilities. This course also includes Workshop Practice.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Paul Grimshaw

    NameRoleBuilding/RoomEmail
    A/Prof
    Paul Grimshaw 
    Course Coordinator/Lecturer Engineering South Building, S235 paul.grimshaw@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On completion of the course, students should:

    1 Have a good understanding of the principles of instrumentation;
    2 Understand the concepts of instrumenting sports equipment, athletes and sports facilities;
    3 Understand the principles of sensor systems, measurement chains and signal processing;
    4 Be capable of designing instrumented equipment based on the rules of governing sporting bodies;
    5 Be capable of designing instrumented equipment without changing the physical and mechanical properties of equipment;
    6 Be able to calculate and graphically represent vector diagrams and instantaneous centres of pressure;
    7 Understand principles of quantification of performance and optimisation of training;
    8 Understand the principles of biofeedback systems;
    9 Be capable of instrumenting an athlete with various instrumentation systems and skin markers;
    10 Understand the principles of video analysis systems and software;
    11 Have had experience with designing instrumentation systems;
    University Graduate Attributes

    No information currently available.

  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    No required texts.

    Recommended Resources

    The following texts are recommended:

    • Grimshaw P N, Lees A, Fowler, N, and Burden A. (2007) Instant notes in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics. Taylor and Francis, London. ISBN – 1 8599 6284 X. 
      Section F – Measurement Techniques (pp 295–352)
    • Hong Y, editor (2002) International Research in Sports Biomechanics. Routledge Publishers, New York. ISBN – 0415262302.
      Parts 5, 7, and 8 (pp 137–168, 203–242 and 243–286)
    • Subic A J and Haake S J, editors (2000) The Engineering of Sport: research, development and innovation. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, UK. ISBN – 0-632-055634.
      Parts 1 & 2 (pages 1–158)

    Please see the MyUni learning area for this course which is located at the following: MyUni and type in the course name or code (Sports Engineering I – MECH ENG 2102)

    Online Learning
    Please see the MyUni learning area for this course.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    As per university recommendations, it is expected that students spend 48hrs/week during teaching periods, and that a 3 unit course has a minimum workload of 156 hours regardless of the length of the course. Additional time may need to be spent acquiring assumed knowledge, working on assessment during non-teaching periods, and preparing for and attending examinations

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    45 hours lectures and tutorials and 6 hours laboratory classes.

    Learning Activities Summary

    The following curriculum is subject to change.

    Introduction and Overview (1hr)

    • General principles and purpose of instrumentation in sports
    • Workflow of instrumentation and business aspects

    Sensors, data transfer and signal processing (10 hrs)

    • Sensors and transducers
    • Mechanics and design of sensors
    • Properties of sensors (including force transducers, accelerometers, IMUs, pressure sensors, ONT, optical sensors, MEMS transducers, GPS)
    • Wireless technology, A/D boards and software systems
    • Signal processing, fractal geometry
    • Design and problems of measurement chains

    Instrumentation of Equipment (10 hrs)

    • Workflow of instrumentation, constraints, and sporting rules
    • Product overview
    • Definition and identification of performance parameters
    • Optimisation of training and biofeedback
    • Calculation and graphical representation of vector diagrams and instantaneous centres of pressure using software
    • Design of instrumented equipment, sensor locations and balancing
    • Application of instrumented equipment and case reports
    • Instrumentation for testing of equipment

    Instrumentation of the athlete (10 hrs)

    • Overview of instrumentation systems
    • Worn instrumentation and constraints
    • Kinematic systems with skin markers (EGM, video, infrared, ultrasound, electromagnetic)
    • Application of kinematic systems and case reports
    • Performance analysis
    • Golf swing analysers

    Instrumentation of the environment and sports facilities (10 hrs)

    • Video systems and software (Dartfish, SiliconCoach, Simi)
    • Hawk Eye
    • Infrared contact measurement (Hotspot)
    • Application of video systems and case reports
    • Performance analysis

    Holistic instrumentation (2 hrs)

    • Combination of different instrumentation systems
    • Examples of measurement chains
    • DIY instrumentation
    Specific Course Requirements
    None
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assignments 15%

    Laboratories 15%

    Group Project 5%

    Final Exam 65%

    Assessment Related Requirements

    None

    Assessment Detail

    Assignments and Tutorials (15%)

    Throughout the course Sports Engineering 1 (MECH ENG 2102) you will be given assignments that relate to specific components/areas of the lectures. These assignments will be given throughout the course. In addition, you will be required to attend tutorials which will be related to particular problems given throughout the course.

    Extensive use of Matlab will be used to aid your learning of the course material and to develop analytical skills used throughout your Sports Engineering degree.

    Some assignments will be Matlab-based and may be submitted in groups of two.

    Laboratory 1: Force Platform
    The first laboratory is on the analysis of a vertical jump using the Kistler Force Platform. Students will be introduced to the capabilities and software used to perform measurements with the force platform, then individually execute a variety of vertical jumping maneuvers. Material is presented for the theoretical analysis for the same using basic projectile motion. In the follow-up session, the data recorded for each student will be analysed using Matlab. Each student is required to write an individual report to formally present their recorded data.

    Laboratory 2: Sensors
    The second lab is an introduction to basic sensor use to familiarise the students with taking a sensor and using it for generic instrumentation as appropriate for the situation. This includes measurement practicalities relating to the raw electrical signal such as dynamic range, discretisation, signal-to-noise ratio, and saturation. After this lab the students should be comfortable with choosing a basic sensor for a certain task, reading the raw signal into Matlab and generating meaningful results from it.

    Laboratory 3: EMG
    The third lab is an introduction to the use of electromyography to measure muscle activation using voltage measurements on the surface of the skin of a subject. As with the first lab, individual measurements will be taken for each student; a variety of tasks involving muscular contraction will be performed. Again, in the follow-up session the measured data will be analysed using Matlab and students are required to write individual reports to formally present their results.

    Students should wear loose-fitting clothes to participate in this lab.

    Group Project
    The group project will be a self-directed task to be conducted using the Optitrack Motion Capture System in the Sports Engineering lab (S225). Assessment will be a peer-assessed oral presentation. Students will be responsible for choosing and area of investigation, and allocating time to perform experiments and analysis.
    Submission

    Hard-copies of all assessments (assignments and lab reports) must be made in the Mechanical Engineering submission boxes on the second floor. Tutorials will be electronically assessed. Unless otherwise indicated, all work will be due before 9am Monday morning. Late submissions will not be tolerated without previous communication with me. However, I am happy to grant extensions liberally given more than, say, a couple day’s notice.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.