Development of biomechanical algorithms for cyclists' assessment using the 4D full body dynamic scanner

2024-now

Abstract: Over the years, Belgium has experienced a significant surge in cycling, driven by active policies implemented across various levels of government, from local to federal, and spurred by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The proportion of bicycle users has risen from 8% in 2010 to 12% in recent years. Notably, Flanders leads in cycling popularity at 18%, followed by Brussels at 4%, and Wallonia at 2%, with the Brussels region experiencing a near doubling of cyclists since the onset of the pandemic. Additionally, the use of speed pedelecs, particularly prevalent in Flanders with around 12,000 registered in 2019, reflects a broader trend, as Belgium saw a total of 53,000 speed pedelecs registered nationally by the beginning of 2022. The Bicycles market in in Belgium is expected to grow by 2.99% (2024-2028) resulting in a market volume of US$1.62bn (1.49 billion euro) in 2028. In this perspective, Belgian professional cyclists occupy a prominent position worldwide and contribute significantly to the country's identity and cycling culture. In this context, this 4D4BIKE project is initiated, focused on the development of biomechanical algorithms for assessing cyclists by using the unique 4D full body scanner. This recently installed scanner provides a markerless 4D (3D over time) human full body shape consisting of a watertight mesh with a density of more than 50,000 points. It incorporates texture with sub-1mm accuracy at 178 3D images per second, obtaining dynamic biometric measurements (such as height and waist circumference) in one second. The 4D4BIKE project integrates advanced 4D scanning by developing algorithms to gain valuable new insights into various aspects of cycling biomechanics, including joint angles, muscle activation patterns and overall body kinetics. Parameters such as balance control and movement asymmetry can also be assessed as a function of metadata (e.g., shape, age and gender) benefiting cyclists, coaches and sports scientists. The integration of 4D scanning with advanced biomechanical algorithms represents an advanced approach to provide a comprehensive personalized assessment of the cyclist and bike to optimize bike fit, improve aerodynamics and ultimately improve overall performance and comfort on the bike.