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Analysis of Racing Greyhound Path Following Dynamics Using a Tracking System.
David Eager1, Imam Hossain1, Karlos Ishac1
1Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|September 28, 2021
Summary
A new tracking system successfully monitored greyhound racing, revealing optimal paths for reduced energy expenditure and lower injury risks. This technology can enhance animal welfare in racing sports.
Area of Science:
- Sports Engineering
- Biomechanics
- Animal Welfare Science
Background:
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS) collaborated with the Australasian greyhound industry for over 5 years to mitigate race-related injuries.
- Multiple advanced techniques, including inertial measurement units, drones, and advanced track analysis, were developed and deployed.
- Significant reductions in injury rates were observed following the adoption of UTS recommendations, attributed to interventions reducing racing congestion and transient forces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a novel greyhound location tracing system for data acquisition in racing environments.
- To analyze greyhound racing paths to identify energy-efficient routes and understand biomechanical performance.
- To assess the system's capability to track high-speed, dynamic movements exceeding original design parameters.
Main Methods:
- Deployed a modified human athlete tracking system with lightweight signal emitters on racing greyhounds.
- Collected six months of clean race data from a standard 2-turn greyhound racing track.
- Analyzed race data to determine average racing paths, energy wastage, and peak kinematic parameters like velocity, acceleration, and jerk.
Main Results:
- Greyhounds naturally followed energy-efficient, smooth, non-linear paths resembling easement curves between straights and bends.
- Observed maximum jerk levels experienced by greyhounds were lower than those predicted by prior simulations.
- The tracking system successfully captured high-magnitude kinematic data, pushing beyond its initial design limits.
Conclusions:
- The developed greyhound location tracing system is effective for gathering kinematic data during races.
- Findings confirm greyhounds optimize racing lines for energy efficiency and reduced physical stress.
- The system holds potential for application in other racing disciplines, such as thoroughbred and harness horse racing, to study biomechanical performance.
