HBM load cells help Huub take the drag out of performance

The new M16 Drag Measurement System will be used to develop high-performance triathlon and FINA-approved swimwear, and is the latest advanced underwater application which can be used to measure the swimmer's propelling force on a push-off pad.

As swimming performance is measured to the nearest 0.01 second, with swimmers in the top 15 separated by only 0.10 seconds, athletes continue to look at factors or legal aids which could improve performance in water, such as individually tested swimsuits that reduce drag; this is where Huub dives in!

Building on the success of its existing predecessor Measure Active Drag (MAD) system, the latest system provides the swimmer with a series of fixed push-off points which are attached to an adjustable rod and mounted 0.8m below the water's surface, so that front crawl action can be made whereby the swimmer uses the system as a ladder pushing off from each instrumented push-off pad. Mounted behind each individual push-off plate in the system is a PW15iA waterproof load cell from HBM which enables direct measurement of push-off forces for each stroke.

When it comes to cell technology, it is a well-known fact that too much mass between applied force and point of measurement can have a mass-spring system with low "Eigen' frequency, but if you apply the load sensor at the point where forces are applied, the captured signal is of much better quality. With this in mind Huub needed a single-point load cell which only registered the applied force irrespective of the point of application.

Dean Jackson, Huub Ltd Founder and CEO explains: "As a company with an investment in testing, it was important that we choose the best equipment available for the MAD system and this is why we turned to HBM. In addition to delivering an exceptional product that met the demands of the task, HBM has also delivered the back up and support to match, working with us every step of the way to ensure we have the world's greatest piece of swim testing equipment".

Formed in 2011, Huub Ltd - a triathlon wetsuit design and manufacturing specialist - strives to create better products combining research, science and reality. With a wealth of experience gained in the field of endurance sports, spanning over four decades, Huub understand the specialist technical and scientific fields associated with triathlon, including hydrodynamics and swim stroke analysis.

Peak performance in swimming can often take years of training, both in competitive pool swimming and the swimming leg of the triathlon. A highly competitive sport, the difference between success and failure may only be seconds but the consequences can mean the difference between silver and gold for the athlete.

For further information about HBM's PW15iA load cells visit the website at www.hbm.com.