Sport Engineering focuses on both optimising human health and performance and improving the function of sporting equipment and apparel, in addition to the interaction between both the user and the equipment.
This may be achieved by developing new or better materials, processes, equipment and/or devices that help to optimise human function/performance, improve comfort and/or reduce the risk of injury. Project work includes helping athletes maximise their sporting performance, developing sport equipment and wearable technology.
As part of the department of engineering, our students have access to a range of engineering facilities and equipment including:
- 3D printers
- Laser cutters
- Fabrication suites
- Electronics suites
- High performance computer suite
Sport Engineering students also have access to specialised resources in our Engineering Building including:
- Climatic chamber able to simulate conditions from -20 oC to +50 oC up to 95% relative humidity and up to 8000m in altitude. This helps our students better understand the interactions between humans, their equipment and the environment.
- Vicon motion capture system allowing us to capture and analyse movement in sport. Students use the data from this system to advance human performance through improvements to equipment and devices, in both health and sporting applications.
- Wind tunnel to allow testing of prototypes for drag and fluid dynamics to produce the most aerodynamically optimised sporting equipment.
- Sport Engineering Lab housing equipment for our students to record accurate anatomical, physiological and biomechanical measurements. This includes an extensive range of exercise equipment including cycle ergometers, arm crank ergometers and a treadmill for testing human performance.