TELEMETRY DESIGN FOR A BOBSLED ANALYSER

Abstract

This paper was prepared as part of the team design competition for a graduate level course given at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand. It presents a high level design of a bobsled data acquisition system which is intended to aid athletes and coaches in achieving the maximum benefit from their time at the bobsled track. The system will measure every applicable aspect of the bobsled’s performance down the track, and provide real time and near real time feedback for the athletes and the coach. This system implements an inertial navigation and position system, monitors wind speed, measures the drivers steering input and effort, measures individual pushing effort in the critical start stage of the run, and provides cue signals to the runners when to mount the sled. A robust packet format and error correction in conjunction with a E2ROM backup system ensure data integrity. The data is transmitted utilising a GMSK signalling scheme, operating at a frequency of 400MHz. A space conserving patch antenna is mounted on the bobsled and a leaky wave antenna placed alongside the track for the transmission system. A link budget and the error performance of the transmission system are analysed. A graphical front end at the coach’s base station provides real time data display and analysis.