{{Short description|Sports equipment design}} '''Sports engineering''' is a sub-discipline of engineering that applies math and science to develop technology, equipment, and other resources as they pertain to sport. thumb|Head tennis racquet Sports engineering was first introduced by Isaac Newton’s observation of a tennis ball.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An Overview Of Sports Engineering: History, Impact And Research |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159182392.pdf}}</ref> In the mid-twentieth century, Howard Head became one of the first engineers to apply engineering principles to improve sports equipment.<ref name=":62" /> Starting in 1999, the biannual international conference for sports engineering was established to commemorate achievements in the field.<ref name=":52" /> Presently, the journal “Sports Engineering” details the innovations and research projects that sports engineers are working on.<ref name=":52" />
The study of sports engineering requires an understanding of a variety of engineering topics, including physics, mechanical engineering, materials science, and biomechanics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-06-14 |title=What is Sports Engineering? |url=https://www.sportsengineering.org/about-us/what-is-sports-engineering/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=International Sports Engineering Association |language=en-US}}</ref> Many practitioners hold degrees in those topics rather than in sports engineering specifically. Specific study programs in sports engineering and technology are becoming more common at the graduate level, and also at the undergraduate level in Europe. Sports engineers also employ computational engineering tools like computer-aided design (CAD), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and finite element analysis (FEA) to design and produce sports equipment, sportswear, and more.<ref name=":0" />
== History == One of the earliest instances of the application of scientific principles in sports context occurred in 1671 when English mathematician Isaac Newton wrote a letter to German theologian and natural philosopher Henry Oldenburg regarding a tennis ball’s flight mechanics.<ref name=":0" /> In the following centuries, German scientist Heinrich Gustav Magnus further examined Newton’s analysis and applied Newtonian theories to the spinning properties of balls.<ref name=":0" /> Around 1760, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, sports engineering was further explored with the acceleration of the manufacturing of sports equipment.<ref name=":0" /> During this stage, the manufacturers recognized an increase in sales being directly related to better quality of equipment.<ref name=":0" /> As a result, experimentation started to explore new designs and materials for enhanced athletic performance.<ref name=":0" />
In modern times, sports engineers, such as Howard Head, applied engineering principles to sports equipment.<ref name=":62">{{Cite web |last=Center |first=Smithsonian Lemelson |date=2020-09-08 |title=Sports Innovator Howard Head |url=https://invention.si.edu/sports-innovator-howard-head |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation |language=en}}</ref> After finding traditional snow skis to be too heavy, Head developed a lighter, more flexible skis in 1947.<ref name=":62" /> He used his knowledge from the aircraft industry to create skis with a metal-sandwich construction.<ref name=":62" /> After 40 iterations and 3 years, he released his skis commercially, and they soon set the standard for skis.<ref name=":62" /> Today, his skis are widely known and recognized under the brand Head, with Head Sportswear International, and the Head Ski Company.<ref name=":62" /> Head also developed the Prince Classic tennis racquet.<ref name=":62" /> He created a much lighter design, with a bigger frame supporting off-center hits, and a grip that did not twist in players' hands.<ref name=":62" /> As with his skis, Head's oversized racquets were embraced by top athletes in the sport.<ref name=":62" />
In 1998, the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA) was established and the journal “Sports Engineering” was published.<ref name=":52">{{Cite book |last=Ujihashi |first=S. |editor-first1=Franz Konstantin |editor-first2=Aleksandar |editor-first3=Sadayuki |editor-last1=Fuss |editor-last2=Subic |editor-last3=Ujihashi |chapter=ACTIVATION AND LIABILITY OF SPORTS ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781439828427-5/activation-liability-sports-engineering-activities-around-world-ujihashi |title=The Impact of Technology on Sport II |year=2007 |access-date=2023-03-31 |doi=10.1201/9781439828427 |isbn=9780429094491 }}</ref> In 1999, the first international sports engineering conference was organized by Steve Haake called “The International Conference on the Engineering of Sports” in Sheffield, England.<ref name=":52" /> The conference brings world-leading researchers, sports professionals, and industry organizations together to celebrate the profession, showcasing innovations in both research and industry.
== Education == Sports engineering in the United States is often part of universities' undergraduate mechanical engineering programs, rather than as stand-alone bachelor's degree programs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Sports Engineering |url=https://mme.wsu.edu/sports-engineering/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=WSU School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering |language=en-US}}</ref> On the graduate level, research labs often use an interdisciplinary approach to sports engineering such as in the MIT Sports Lab<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} MIT Sports Lab |url=https://sportslab.mit.edu/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=sportslab.mit.edu}}</ref> and the Biosports Lab at UC Davis.<ref name=":82">{{Cite web |title=Biosport – Sports Biomechanics Lab |url=https://research.engineering.ucdavis.edu/biosport/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=research.engineering.ucdavis.edu}}</ref> Some graduate opportunities like the program offered through Purdue include concentrations in sports engineering within the mechanical engineering or materials engineering department.<ref name="engineering.purdue.edu">{{Cite web |title=Professional Master's Concentration in Sports Engineering |url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/sports-engineering |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=College of Engineering - Purdue University |language=en}}</ref>
Most sports engineering students pursue Bachelor’s degrees in other areas within engineering including mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering; there is no uniform educational path for becoming a sports engineer.
Although universities in the United States offer sports engineering courses or concentrations, more extensive degree programs in the subject are more common in the United Kingdom. Sports engineering in academics is more developed in the United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-06-14 |title=How to be a Sports Engineer |url=https://www.sportsengineering.org/careers/how-to-be-a-sports-engineer/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=International Sports Engineering Association |language=en-US}}</ref> with programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Sports Engineering Research Group at [https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-physical-activity/msc-sports-engineering/full-time Sheffield Hallam University] <ref>{{Cite web |title=MSc Sports Engineering Full-time 2024 {{!}} Sheffield Hallam University |url=https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-physical-activity/msc-sports-engineering/full-time |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=www.shu.ac.uk}}</ref> - the 'home' of the Sports Engineering as a discipline, and Loughborough University offer a 1 year, full-time sports engineering postgraduate program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports Engineering Degree {{!}} Postgraduate study {{!}} Loughborough University |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/masters-degrees/a-z/sports-engineering/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk}}</ref> Nottingham Trent University offers a 3 year, full-time undergraduate program that is based on industry-oriented seminars and activities as well as on-campus research experiences like the Sports Engineering lab.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sport Engineering |url=https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/ug/beng-hons-sport-engineering |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www.ntu.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> A full list of courses is available from the [https://www.sportsengineering.org/students/university-courses/ ISEA].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-06-14 |title=University Courses |url=https://www.sportsengineering.org/students/university-courses/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=International Sports Engineering Association |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Curriculum === Course offerings in sports engineering synthesize content from both engineering and sports science.<ref name=":0" /> Programs in sports engineering encompass engineering-oriented classes such as physics, aerodynamics, and materials science, as well as more sports science-based courses such as biomechanics and anatomy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Allen |first1=Tom |last2=Goff |first2=John Eric |date=2018-12-01 |title=Resources for sports engineering education |journal=Sports Engineering |language=en |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=245–253 |doi=10.1007/s12283-017-0250-1 |s2cid=255577534 |issn=1460-2687|doi-access=free }}</ref>
==== Computational modeling ==== Computational modeling is commonly employed across many engineering disciplines and is often applied to sports. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used in sports engineering education to model flow in both air and water systems. Sports engineers can use computational modeling systems to analyze the behavior of an object without having to physically produce them. For example, CFD has been used to predict fluid patterns around a skier jumping through the air or a swimmer moving through the water, to reduce the drag acting on the athlete.<ref>{{Cite book |author-link= Alfio Quarteroni |last=Quarteroni |first=Alfio |title=Computational Fluid Dynamics for Sport Simulation |publisher=Springer |year=2009 |pages=63–82}}</ref>
FEA or finite element analysis is another engineering modeling tool that applies to the field of sports engineering to simulate the physics of applied forces acting in a system. For example, FEA analysis can be used to analyze the impact of a ball against a tennis racket or different the deformation resulting from the impact of a football.<ref name=":0" />
=== Study programs in sports engineering === Undergraduate and graduate level programs in sports engineering are more common in Europe as opposed to the United States. The list below highlights offerings currently available in the field of sports engineering.
* Aalborg University (Denmark)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports Technology |url=http://www.en.aau.dk/education/master/sports-technology |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.en.aau.dk}}</ref> * Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER) - Sheffield Hallam University (UK)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Centre for Sports Engineering Research {{!}} Sheffield Hallam University |url=https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/specialisms/centre-for-sports-engineering-research |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.shu.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref name="shu-msc">{{cite web |title=MSc Sports Engineering Full-time |url=https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-physical-activity/msc-sports-engineering/full-time/2021 |access-date=15 September 2020 |website=www.shu.ac.uk |publisher=Sheffield Hallam University}}</ref> * Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln (Germany)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Köln |first=Deutsche Sporthochschule |title=M.Sc. Human Technology in Sports and Medicine: Studienaufbau und -inhalte - Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln |url=https://www.dshs-koeln.de/studium/studienangebot/master/msc-human-technology-in-sports-and-medicine/study-program/ |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.dshs-koeln.de |language=de}}</ref> * Griffith University (Australia)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sport and Biomedical Program |url=https://www.griffith.edu.au/engineering-information-technology/centre-wireless-monitoring-applications/research/sport-and-biomedical-program |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.griffith.edu.au |language=en}}</ref> * Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch (Iran) (undergraduate & postgraduate student) * Loughborough University (UK)<ref>{{Cite web |title=School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences {{!}} Loughborough University |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/ |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> * Massachusetts Institute of Technology<ref name=":72"/> * Mittuniversitetet (Sweden)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sportteknologi – maskiningenjör inom innovativ produktutveckling |url=https://www.miun.se/utbildning/Program/teknik/sportteknologi--maskiningenjor-inom-innovativ-produktutveckling/om-programmet/?term=ht2017-vt2018 |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.miun.se |language=sv}}</ref> * Nottingham Trent University<ref>https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/ug/beng-hons-sport-engineering</ref> * Purdue University<ref name="engineering.purdue.edu"/> * TU Chemnitz (Germany) (undergraduate)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=IUZ |first=Admin |title=Bachelor degree program in Sports Engineering {{!}} Degree Programs {{!}} Incoming {{!}} International Office {{!}} TU Chemnitz |url=https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/international/incoming/studiengaenge/ba_sports_engi.html.en |access-date=2017-04-28 |website=www.tu-chemnitz.de |language=en}}</ref> * TU Chemnitz (Germany) (graduate)<ref name=":2" /> * TU Delft (Netherlands)<ref name=":2" /> * University of Adelaide (Australia)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Mechanical and Sports) |url=https://www.adelaide.edu.au/degree-finder/beng_besportsen.html |access-date=2018-04-06 |website=www.adelaide.edu.au |language=en}}</ref> * University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien (Austria)(undergraduate)<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Fachhochschule Technikum Wien |url=https://www.technikum-wien.at/en/study_programs/bachelor_s/sports_equipment_technology/ |access-date=2017-05-29 |website=www.technikum-wien.at |language=en}}</ref> * University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien (Austria)(graduate)<ref name=":9" /> * University of California Davis<ref name=":82"/> * University of Debrecen, Faculty of Engineering (Hungary)<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Debrecen |url=https://hirek.unideb.hu/hu/hir/20211103_sportmernok-kepzest-indit-mk/ |access-date=2021-11-03 |website=www.unideb.hu |language=hu}}</ref> * University of Otago (New Zealand)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/subjects/spte.html|title=Study Sports Technology|website=www.otago.ac.nz|language=en-nz|access-date=2017-04-28}}</ref>
== Applications and research == Sports engineering has a variety of applications across the sports industry. Some examples of these applications and related technologies are listed below.
=== Sports equipment === Computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA) can be used to design and test sports equipment. Engineers can use FEA to apply different stresses to an object and determine its strengths and weaknesses. For example, FEA can be used to model a tennis racket hitting the ball, including how the racket and ball might deform or vibrate as a result of the strike.<ref name=":0" /> Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be applied to sports such as cycling to examine the aerodynamics of cycles and riders' body positions.<ref name=":0" /> This information is useful in understanding how to increase cycling speeds and decrease exertion for riders.
=== Sportswear === One notable example of how engineering intersects with sportswear is Speedo’s LZR Racer, a swimsuit made in collaboration with NASA researchers and engineers.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=yvette |title=NASA - Rocketing Through Water |url=https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/2008-0630-swimsuit.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref> Sports engineers tested different materials and coatings in a wind tunnel to determine how to reduce drag.<ref name=":3" /> Engineers also optimized stability and mobility by using layering and welding techniques specific to particular body parts.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Technology Behind Speedo's High-Tech Swimsuits That Challenged the Olympics |url=https://www.engineering.com/story/the-technology-behind-speedos-high-tech-swimsuits-that-challenged-the-olympics |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Engineering.com|date=2 December 2020 }}</ref> For instance, the abdomen and lower back areas of the suit were made tighter to improve core stability.<ref name=":4" /> The LZR Racer was able to reduce skin friction drag by 24% compared to Speedo’s previously most advanced suit.<ref name=":4" /> These engineering applications helped swimmers who wore Speedo’s LZR Racer to set 93 world records.<ref name=":4" />
== Related disciplines == Materials science, mechanical engineering, sports science, sports medicine, biomechanics, and physics are some fields that overlap with sports engineering.
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Engineering disciplines Category:Sports equipment