Modelling Drag Forces on a Wheelchair Racing Simulator

Ateayeh Bayat, Ateayeh Bayat, Félix Chénier, Félix Chénier, Félix Chénier

2023

Abstract

A racing wheelchair simulator is a stationary device that allows para-athletes to train inside, in different simulated conditions (e.g., rolling resistance, wind). Apart from improving performance during training sessions, it also allows researchers to study the biomechanics of the propulsion in a laboratory, which is important because wheelchair racing can cause musculoskeletal disorders and pain in athletes. For these reasons, the realism of these simulators is paramount, and having a model that reproduces a non-linear relationship between drag force, wheeling speed and wind speed is one of the criteria for achieving this realism. In this work, we develop and characterize such a model through empirical data recorded on a racing track, and then implement it on a racing wheelchair simulator with a haptic controller. Propelling on this simulator proved to be somewhat less challenging than real-life conditions, with a measured resistance force approximately 5 N lower than during real propulsion conditions. However, the resistance expectedly increased as simulated face wind increased. These results show a promising avenue for racing wheelchair athletes, both for training and assessing/correcting their biomechanics.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Bayat A. and Chénier F. (2023). Modelling Drag Forces on a Wheelchair Racing Simulator. In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS; ISBN 978-989-758-673-6, SciTePress, pages 187-193. DOI: 10.5220/0012223300003587

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsports23,
author={Ateayeh Bayat and Félix Chénier},
title={Modelling Drag Forces on a Wheelchair Racing Simulator},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS},
year={2023},
pages={187-193},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0012223300003587},
isbn={978-989-758-673-6},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS
TI - Modelling Drag Forces on a Wheelchair Racing Simulator
SN - 978-989-758-673-6
AU - Bayat A.
AU - Chénier F.
PY - 2023
SP - 187
EP - 193
DO - 10.5220/0012223300003587
PB - SciTePress