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Launceston
If you are into the sport of cycling you will like this project.
The Human Performance Laboratory conducts teaching and research in the area
of exercise performance. In order to assess physical function accurate measurement
or control of work and power output is required. This is usually achieved using
ergometers such as treadmills, rowing machines and exercise bikes.
A commonly used device is a ‘front-access bike’. Pedalling this
bike turns a wheel with vanes that provide air-resistance. The faster the wheel
turns the more resistance the cyclist must overcome or conversely the more power
is being produced by the cyclist. However, the actual resistance encountered
will be affected by environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and
barometric pressure. To date the measurement of power from this bike in our
laboratory has used a small data box with no capacity to change computational
algorithms or adjust for environmental conditions. We need to be able to connect
this bike to a personal computer running software designed to accept environmental
conditions and able to calculate and report a variety of variables in a user
friendly format. The input data from the bike is from a simple photometer providing
an on-off signal indicating revolutions of the wheel.
This software would enable more valid and reliable data collection for teaching
and research purposes. In the long term this may help contribute to better performance
outcomes for elite Tasmanian cyclists.
Needs to be in a reasonably common language someone else can help with if problems arise after the project is complete.
Client Name (person who will be student contact): Dr James Fell
Phone Number (business hours): 63245485
Mobile Number (if have one): 0417613509
Email Address:jwfell@utas.edu.au
Website (if have one):
Address (where students will visit, not PO Box): Room C107 (Human Life Science
Building)
The estimated software difficulty rating is 4