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Rationale
A
human-powered vehicle (HPV) should not be thought of as a stand alone device
but as part of a system - - the machine and the rider. The performance of
the rider as a power source is an essential constituent of the engineering design
of the HPV and influences decisions about weight, structural materials,
tire or hull design, and aerodynamics. In this project, human performance
will be determined in a number of ways using devices, ergometers, that measure
the power output for different activity modes. Two of these modes will directly
relate to the bicycle. An bicycle ergometer in the MAE 199 laboratory
will permit work done by a cyclist in an upright position to be measured under
different load conditions, and a prone bicycle ergometer in the Dillon Strength
and Conditioning Center will enable the merits of this cycling position
to be evaluated. Other modes for work transfer should also be explored and
a rowing ergometer in Dillon will permit an evaluation of leg plus arm and
back work output that can be compared to the cycling mode work. The use of
legs in a non-cycling mode can also be explored using one of the Dillon Steppers
or by timing your rate of climbing stairs of a known height. Results from
these measurements should be compared to the cycling mode. In order to
have a parameter that can be measured in the same way for each of these work
testing devices, a heart rate monitor can be employed to measure heart-rate
under steady state power output conditions for each system. In this steady state,
the human machine is running under aerobic conditions and the blood supply
to the muscles will be determined by the heart-rate. Heat loss to the surroundings
is also dependent on the heart-rate and this is an important factor
in maintaining constant body temperature during exercise. In the MAE laboratory
it is possible to alter the heat transfer to the room air by using a large
fan to cause increased convective heat loss from the cyclist.
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