| In the sport of luge, time to travel from top to bottom of the track is the key metric. There are many, many variables that contribute to a winning performance, including aerodynamic drag, sliding friction, the length and slope of the course, the geometry of the curves, the weight of the athlete and sled, and the athlete's initial velocity. Of these, initial velocity, generated by a specific event called the start, is critically important. The higher the initial velocity, the greater an athlete's chances of finishing in less time than the other competitors.; The goals of this thesis project are to (1) identify variables in the luge start that contribute to the generation of velocity, (2) design and implement a start measurement system that will accurately and precisely measure those key variables and return results to coaches and athletes in a timely, user-friendly fashion. It will build on work that was conducted by other researchers between 1980 and 1993.; This project will investigate the biomechanics and dynamics of a luge start using acquisition equipment and analysis techniques that are suitable for experimental, training, and competition environments. Video cameras, force transducers, and timing lights will be used to collect data; custom software and spreadsheets will be used to analyze data. This project will also include the development and evaluation of a mathematical model of the start. The model will be used to predict and optimize starts under varying conditions. |
