Boat Dynamics and Force Rendering Models for the SPRINT System

The skills professional rowing indoor training (SPRINT) system is designed to support rowing training. The system includes a configurable instrumented rowing apparatus that supports sculling and sweep rowing and that is coupled with a virtual reality display and haptic feedback. Herein, the system has been updated with models that aim at improving force rendering and at simulating the rowing dynamics. These new models support the rendering of vertical and horizontal forces on the hands and they estimate the effects that actions performed on SPRINT would produce on an actual rowing shell. A proof of concept evaluation with one expert and one intermediate rower included a comparison of data gathered on an actual boat and with SPRINT. Outputs of the boat dynamics model showed to be consistent when compared both with the literature and on-boat data. Moreover, these preliminary data suggest boat dynamics output to be useful to discriminate expertise. In addition, subjective ratings of kinematic features and force rendering by expert and intermediate rowers indicated that they find SPRINT suitable for training.