Development of an Instrumented Climbing Hold with an Embedded Six-Axis Force Sensor for Speed Climbing.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Understanding climber-hold interaction forces is crucial for analyzing motion and evaluating performance in sport climbing.
• Existing force measurement systems often require invasive modifications to climbing walls, limiting their use in standard facilities.
• Speed climbing demands precise measurement of explosive movements for athlete performance insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel wireless instrumented climbing hold for force measurement in speed climbing.
• To enable force and moment data acquisition without modifying existing climbing wall structures.
• To estimate the point of force application on the climbing hold surface.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a six-axis force sensor, microcomputer, wireless module, and battery within a standard climbing hold.
• Development of a self-contained system for wireless data transmission of force and moment.
• Utilizing 3D hold geometry with measured data to estimate the point of force application.
• Experimental validation through static and dynamic load tests and on-wall climbing measurements.

Main Results:

• The wireless instrumented hold successfully measured static and dynamic loads with high temporal responsiveness.
• The estimated point of force application closely matched the actual loading points in load tests.
• The system accurately captured interaction forces during actual speed climbing movements.
• The system demonstrated compatibility with standard speed climbing walls and competition environments.

Conclusions:

• The proposed wireless instrumented climbing hold is a feasible and practical solution for force-based motion analysis in speed climbing.
• This technology offers a non-invasive method for collecting valuable performance data in sport climbing.
• The system advances the capabilities for analyzing explosive movements and optimizing athlete performance in speed climbing.