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| Sprint shoes being tested in the lab. |
EPSRC research in the news
EPSRC funded researchers at Loughborough have developed a way to harness an athlete’s power by making customised sprint shoes that are unique to the individual. Using technology that has previously only been used in Formula 1 cars and aircrafts, researchers are now able to help athletes optimise their performance and compete at the top level of sprinting.
The sole of the shoe is the most important part of the design and how stiff it needs to be is determined using selective laser sintering which allows the researchers to custom build the shoe based on the individual athlete’s biomechanics - the way the their legs and feet move when they run.
It is hoped the technology will help Great British athletes winning prospects at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. In the longer term it could be possible for this technology to extend beyond the realm of elite athletics and also be available to buy on the high street.
The research has been funded by the Innovative Manufacturing and Construction Research Centre at Loughborough University. The Centre was developed by EPSRC and is the largest of its kind in the UK having funded over 100 engineering based research projects.
EPSRC’s Innovation Manufacturing Research Centres (IMRCs) provide world-leading knowledge and support to the UK manufacturing sector. They provide the UK’s leading manufacturing researchers with a base of stable yet flexible funding, allowing them to be responsive to the needs of UK industry and tackle strategic research themes.
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