SATSKI - Sensor-based GPS as a tool to analyse the performance of professional ski racers

The objective is an analysis tool that provides the Austrian Ski Federation with the possibility to increase the performance of its racers, but also to study the physical robustness of the human body, and take counteractive measures if necessary.

Short Description

During the last few years alpine ski racing has evolved into a high performance sport with extremely small time differences between the racers, where sometimes just one hundredth of a second decides over winning or losing. Before the contest it is extremely important to analyse the test runs of the athletes under consideration of the slope and the material in order to optimise the results in the race. A major analyse method therefore is the determination of the line of a ski racer, and also of velocities and accelerations along the trajectory.

Currently, the Austrian Ski Federation uses simple time measurements and videotapes to analyse the trajectory. With these methods only parts of the wanted parameters can be detected with just low accuracy. Adequate measurement instruments for determining those parameters with satisfying accuracy are missing. In the future modern technologies based on satellite positioning and navigation can change this.

Therefore the objective is an analysis tool that provides the Austrian Ski Federation with the possibility to increase the performance of its racers, but also to study the physical robustness of the human body, and take counteractive measures if necessary.

The first phase of the project will elaborate detailed user requirements for an analysis tool. The second phase will mainly deal with the determination of the parameters defined in the previous phase. The measurement system will be based on GPS and autonomous sensors.

The adequate choice of the hardware concerning weight and dimension, and also the mounting of the mobile equipment onto the skier will play an important role. Finally, it will be possible to analyse the extracted measurement data in terms of fastest times, highest velocities and accelerations, etc. TeleConsult Austria will be responsible both for the choice of the hardware and the development of the software.

Project Partners

Coordinator

TeleConsult Austria GmbH - Bernhard Hofmann-Wellenhof

Partners

Institut für Sportwissenschaften, Universität Innsbruck
Österreichischer Skiverband, Austria

Contact Address

TeleConsult Austria GmbH
Bernhard Hofmann-Wellenhof
Schwarzbauerweg 3
A-8043 Graz
E-mail: info@teleconsult-austria.at
Web: www.teleconsult-austria.at