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Sport Equipment and Materials
Sports engineering not only takes care of developing
those systems or improving their accuracy and usability. It
is also in charge to validate them against gold standards.
Regarding these issues, we are currently focusing on the
validation of some current state wearable devices, e.g.
multisport watches (GARMIN Forerunner® 920XT, Polar
V800) and fitness trackers (GARMIN vivosmart® HR,
TOMTOM Touch, Fitbit Charge 2, Withings Pulse Ox). The
aim of this extensive study is to determine the accuracy
of estimation of certain physiological parameters. These
parameters include heart rate, energy consumption, the
body fat percentage as well as the cardiorespiratory
fitness level. Based on the results, the estimation of phys-
iological parameters of future wearable devices shall be
improved. In addition to that, we are also working on the
development of new non-invasive measurement systems
monitoring hydration status and glucose concentration.
Fitness Tracker Withings Pulse Ox
More Safety with Improved Protection Gear
In alpine skiing, knee injuries remain a major safety issue.
Systematic analysis of injury situations and human anatomy suggest that mechatronic ski bindings may provide a
solution. The key aspect of mechatronic ski bindings is
the release algorithm. Two of the needed parameters of
that algorithm are the knee angle and the muscle activity
of the leg while skiing. Both parameters help to identify
critical situations, which might lead to an increased risk
of a knee injury. The algorithm would react by accordingly
adjusting the release settings of the ski binding. Besides
the research to establish the algorithm(s), we also have to
develop functional close-to-body measurement systems
being able to provide real time data on knee kinematics
and muscle state of the skier. In collaboration with Univer-
sity of Applied Sciences Reutlingen we have developed a
prototype of skiing underpants which are able to measure
the knee angle.
Ski underwear with textile integrated sensors to measure knee flexion angle
We also work on the integration of sensors to register the
level of the major leg muscles’ activity.