From Martial Arts to Workplace Ergonomics: Students Presented Innovative Projects

As part of the “Human Factors and Sports Engineering Group Project” course, students in the Bachelor’s program in Sports Engineering and Ergonomics work independently on current and practical issues. The topics are either suggested by instructors or proposed by the students themselves. The goal is to carry out scientifically sound and application-oriented projects.

Sports technology and ergonomics

This semester, the teams dealt with a wide range of topics from the field of sports technology and ergonomics. For example, ergonomics was examined at a collaborative workstation – a topic of high relevance for the design of modern industrial workplaces. Another project analyzed the effect of vibrations in snowboarding using specially dampened bindings with the aim of reducing stress on athletes.

Martial arts as a field of engineering research

In addition to classic technical applications, less common sports also found their way into the project work: In collaboration with the kendo club Kenshikan Vienna, deformations caused by strikes with a kendo sword were systematically investigated. Using suitable sensors and analyses, new insights into the biomechanical properties of this Far Eastern martial art were gained.

The course concluded with an internal conference at which the students presented their results to their colleagues from the Bachelor’s program in Sports Engineering and Ergonomics and the Master’s program in Sports Technology. The event not only provided a platform for presenting the projects, but also space for scientific discussion and critical reflection.

Shown on the cover: In collaboration with the Kenshikan Vienna kendo club, deformations caused by blows with a kendo sword were systematically investigated.

Further Links:

Bachelor’s program in Sports Engineering and Ergonomics

Master’s program in Sports Technology

Faculty of Life Science Engineering

Kendo club Kenshikan Vienna