Areas of Expertise

What other types of work are engineers involved in across the sporting goods and equipment spectrum?

Materials and Textile Engineering
These engineers study and test materials - or combinations of materials. Engineers working on athletic shoes have to consider materials for each piece of the shoe. Materials must not only provide shock absorption and flexibility, but must be suitable and effective for wearers with different gaits and types of movement, of various heights and weights, and on different surfaces. They develop sole patterns that enhance traction and cushioning systems intended to distribute impact. One of the latest shoes from Adidas – the Adidas-1 - incorporates technological advances in cushioning that enable shoes to adapt to the individual runner, depending on running style, surface, pace, and body structure.

Engineers also study how fabrics and dyes used in recreational swimsuits stand up to water and weather conditions. They test different fibers and fabric processing methods to see how they stand up over time and how they hold their shape. Other textile engineers are working on the next generation of UV-protective garments for participants in sports of all kinds. They are designing new weaves and fabric blends, as well as testing which chemical finishes will afford the wearer the most protection while still allowing the fabrics to breathe.

Biomedical and Biomechanical Engineering
Biomedical and biomechanical engineers will find themselves in demand across the sporting goods sector. These engineers analyze the body's motion during athletic movement to better understand the equipment and training needs of the athlete, finding ways to increase performance and prevent injury. They also study how environmental factors like temperature, wind, rain, and terrain act on the body. They measure and assess how our limbs move and how different surfaces act on our muscles. For example, an analytical device called a force platform is used to assess the way athletes move and how the shoe can enhance that movement. This device measures variations in forces under the foot during running. Pressure points across the surface of the foot can be examined at different speeds and on a variety of surfaces.

Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Mechanical and electrical engineers design instrumentation and testing processes that measure, calculate, and assess a product's attributes and specifications. For example, using finite element analysis, mechanical engineers can predict the levels and location of stress and make recommendations for changes in material or assembly of a product. This is applied, for example, in bicycles, where stress can cause the performance and the lifespan of individual bike components to degrade.

As another example, in many sports where vibration can negatively impact performance, piezoelectric sensors have been developed and included in equipment like tennis rackets, skis and snowboards. These sensors convert vibration waves into heat or electricity. That heat helps keep more ski or board on the snow surface, creating more stability, and minimizes the sting of impact in rackets, giving the player more accuracy and control over the trajectory of the ball.

Aerodynamics
Engineers specializing in aerodynamics play a role in the development of various sports balls – soccer balls, tennis balls, even badminton birdies – all of which must be examined in light of issues like differences in drag, distance, and loft.

Aerodynamics is also important for cyclists and the companies that make the equipment they use. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, aerodynamics engineers examine the airflow around the bike and rider. Using CFD saves time and money by using 'virtual' testing, allowing minor changes to components such as handlebars and front forks to be made without actually having to build physical prototypes.