Honda Motor Company has introduced groundbreaking technology that could redefine the performance standards in wheelchair marathons. Known as the world’s first “push power measurement system” for racing wheelchairs, this innovation gives athletes and coaches a precise power output analysis.
The push power measurement system, developed by Honda, is directly mounted onto the wheel of a racing wheelchair, allowing it to capture critical data on the athlete’s force, acceleration, and peak speed timing. This system promises to deliver unprecedented insight into the power generated by athletes as they propel themselves forward, offering valuable metrics for training and performance analysis. As Honda explains, this technology allows for “objective data-based analysis,” visualizing and quantifying the force and speed athletes achieve with each push, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
Honda will unveil this system on November 17th at the 43rd Oita International Wheelchair Marathon in Japan’s Oita Prefecture. By assessing the differential power applied to each wheel, as well as acceleration, deceleration, and timing, this technology equips wheelchair athletes and their coaches with a robust tool for analyzing performance. With this data, they can refine training techniques, tailoring them to target specific weaknesses and build upon existing strengths.
The system leverages Honda’s advanced robotics expertise, including its work on the renowned ASIMO humanoid robot and the Walking Assist Device. This expertise has been vital in creating a six-axis force sensor within the system that accurately measures the athlete’s power output in real-time. Honda also facilitates comparisons across various racing wheelchair models, helping athletes monitor progress and adjust training methods effectively.
Initial testing, conducted in collaboration with wheelchair athletics programs at the University of Illinois, the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS), and other Japanese athletic organizations, has shown encouraging results. Over 30 athletes have used the system in preliminary tests, and Honda reports that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The company intends to refine the technology further, eventually making it accessible to a wide range of athletes, organizations, and schools around the globe.
In the words of Honda’s press release, “Based on its vision to increase the number of people who take on challenges through sports activities and make the lives of all people more enjoyable, Honda will continue to root for athletes who take on challenges toward the realization of their dreams.”
By offering this technology, Honda aims to inspire future generations of wheelchair racers and contribute to the ongoing evolution of wheelchair sports.