Research Description
We work with Team Canada Olympic and Paralympic athletes to enhance their sport performance and equipment design. Our predictive biomechanical models and optimal controllers were recently used to optimize the standing start biomechanics for Team Canada track cyclists. For Canada’s wheelchair curling team, we have designed and prototyped a 3D-printed curling end-effector that provides better movement control of the curling stone. Our predictive biomechanical models and optimal controllers of Team Canada wheelchair basketball players were used to analytically determine optimal seat positions that maximized forward propulsion.
Student Researchers
• Keaton Inkol
• Brock Laschowski (Alumnus)
• Colin Brown (Alumnus)
• Conor Jansen (Alumnus)
Keywords and Themes
• Sports Biomechanics
• Sports Engineering
• Wheelchair Design Optimization
• Forward Dynamic Simulations
Related Publications
• Laschowski B, Mehrabi N, and McPhee J. (2018). Optimization-Based Motor Control of a Paralympic Wheelchair Athlete. Sports Engineering. 21(3), pp. 207-215. DOI. 10.1007/s12283-018-0265-2.
• Laschowski B, Mehrabi N, and McPhee J. (2017). Inverse Dynamics Modelling of Paralympic Wheelchair Curling. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 33(4), pp. 294-299. DOI. 10.1123/jab.2016-0143.
• Laschowski B and McPhee J. (2016). Quantifying Body Segment Parameters Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry: A Paralympic Wheelchair Curler Case Report. Procedia Engineering. 147, pp. 163-167. DOI. 10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.207.
• Laschowski B and McPhee J. (2016). Body Segment Parameters of Paralympic Athletes from Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. Sports Engineering. 19(3), pp. 155-162. DOI. 10.1007/s12283-016-0200-3.