With Digital Innovation on the Ideal Line: Rupert Staudinger Research Steering Behaviour in Luge

Berchtesgaden (FIL/30 Sept 2024) Luge Olympian and Junior Researcher at the Salzburg University Rupert Staudinger has been researching and writing his master's thesis in sports science.

Six pressure sensors have recently been hidden in Rupert Staudinger's Olympic sled. The two-time Olympic luge athlete from Team GB is a researcher at Salzburg Research. With the help of smart sensor technology, he has developed a digital feedback system that is intended to digitalize the sport of luge and bring the luge trial course professionals ever closer to the ideal line on the track.

The racing sled with which Rupert Staudinger took part in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing is now used as a high-tech analysis device. The wafer-thin pressure sensors are attached to the sled: two in the shoulder area, two on the handles and two on the horns. With the help of this prototype, the two-time Olympic athlete is working on the digitalization of his sport.

Making steering movements digitally visible

Steering maneuvers and forces that are barely visible to the naked eye are made visible by the digital system. Every run in the ice track can be transmitted to coaches via radio. They analyze the data and videos and evaluate them. Split times show where time was lost or gained. "The important steering impulses could not be measured directly until now," reported the professional luge athlete and sports scientist Rupert Staudinger.

Luge athletes steer the sled by finely shifting the weight of their upper body, pulling and pushing on the handles and pressing on the horns. "Steering is a whole-body movement with fine and well-timed movements that are usually barely recognizable to the naked eye. With my research work, I want to make these movements measurable and thus further develop the sport of luge with digital help," said Salzburg Research scientist and two-time Olympic participant Rupert Staudinger.

Detailed work on the sensor setup

Rupert Staudinger's research work is at the forefront of bringing digitalization to the sport of luge: There is as yet no method of measuring steering impulses - and whether this works at all is now being researched and tested. The application-orientated research institute Salzburg Research offers the necessary expertise in sensor technology and measurement with new technologies.

"At the beginning, we had to find a suitable setup for the sensor technology: which sensors are suitable, how many sensors are needed and where and how are they best placed in order to obtain meaningful data on the athlete's interactions," said Staudinger. So far, testing and tinkering has taken place in the laboratory. In a final step, the system will be tested in a real environment, i.e. directly in the ice channel, next winter.

First steps towards digitalization: free testing before investing

This research work is being funded as part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) "Crowd in Motion". The EDIH "Crowd in Motion" supports companies and organizations in their digital transformation in the tourism, sports and leisure industry with tailored advice and services - usually completely free of charge for small and medium-sized enterprises, organizations and public institutions.

The EDIH is an ideal instrument for taking the first steps towards digitalization: with the know-how of experts, the right infrastructure and a scientific basis. This advice in the "Test before Invest" category gives the bobsleigh and sled association the opportunity to experiment professionally before investing a lot of money in a sensor system that may not work properly.