3D Scanner Improves Aerodynamics of Italian Olympics Cycling Team
In the world of professional cycling speed is everything. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of aerodynamics and the influence it has on the athlete’s performance.
Two well-known brands in the world of cycling, Pinarello and Hardskin, together are responsible for supplying the Italian national team with all the necessary equipment. Pinarello is an official supplier of bicycles and Hardskin produces sportswear. As the Tokyo Olympics 2021 approached, Pinarello and Hardskin collaborated to find a way to enhance the aerodynamic efficiency of athletes.
Thor3D partner, 3DiTALY, was asked by Hardskin to digitize the athletes and Pinarello bicycles. The project was carried out at the Velodrome of Montichiari, in the province of Brescia and is the first and only indoor facility in Italy dedicated to track cycling.
3D scanning an athlete was the first step in a long process chain necessary for the study of aerodynamics. A high precision and reliability of the device were required, so that’s why Calibry 3D scanner was selected.
The body scanning involved warm-up of the athlete and the preparation of the mechanical medium, limitation of the race in order to find the most aerodynamic position possible, and maintaining the race position. The athlete wore a bodysuit and a helmet to fully simulate the race experience.
Due to Calibry’s quick performance, the scanning was executed in just two minutes. The data was post-processed in Calibry Nest and passed to Pinarello’s engineers for subsequent aerodynamic studies.
3D scanning is a quick and convenient way to capture data, since a 3D model file contains all the necessary information to analyze the athlete’s position and design of a tailor-made handlebar which allowed the part to be manufactured by Pinarello as a unique piece that perfectly fits the athlete’s arms in order to obtain a perfect symbiosis with the bicycle.
For more information: www.thor3dscanner.com
