An integrated data acquisition system for on-water measurement of performance in rowing

The present paper reports on an experimental activity carried out to develop a new on-water data acquisition system suitable for measuring performance in sculling/sweep rowing (i.e. to gather the most significant forces applied by the rowers to the shell as well as the relative displacement of the seat and the rotation of the oars). A preliminary study was carried out to single out the effective components of those forces resulting in the displacement of rowing shells, locating also the positions of the corresponding application points. According to the outcomes of this preliminary investigation different sensors were designed to gather, from any rowing station, the following pieces of information: effective magnitude of the propulsive forces parallel to the shell axis, oar rotation angle, vertical force applied to the seat by the rower, the relative position of the seat and, finally, the forces applied by the rower's legs to the footstretcher. Further, two accelerometers were used to measure acceleration and pitch of the shell. The accuracy and repeatability of the developed system and sensors were checked by carrying out several on-water acquisitions not only on standard shells (considering different crews), but also through an on-purpose built dry-land rowing station. To clearly show features and potentialities of such a data-acquisition system, the present paper reports on a series of tests carried out considering two different coxless pair crews, i.e. professional athletes and amateurs. The obtained results are definitely encouraging, proving that the pieces of information which can be gathered through our data acquisition system could be really helpful not only in evaluating rowers' characteristics in terms of athletic performance and technique, but also in designing innovative rowing shells meeting the specific requirements of a crew. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.