Tumbling is a dynamic movement requiring control of the linear and angular momenta generated during the approach and takeoff phases. Both of these phases are subject to some variability even when the gymnast is trying to perform a given movement repeatedly. This paper used a simulation model of tumbling takeoff to establish how well gymnasts can cope with perturbations of the approach and takeo...

To characterize the electromyographic (EMG) activity, ground reaction forces, and kinematics were used in the running jump with different takeoff angles. Two male long jumpers volunteered to perform running jumps at different approach speeds by varying the number of steps (from 3 to 9) in the run-up. Subject TM achieved a greater vertical velocity of the center of gravity (CG) at takeoff for al...

The bouncing mechanism of human running is characterized by a shorter duration of the brake after 'landing' compared with a longer duration of the push before 'takeoff'. This landing-takeoff asymmetry has been thought to be a consequence of the force-velocity relation of the muscle, resulting in a greater force exerted during stretching after landing and a lower force developed during shortenin...

We briefly summarized how to design and fabricate an insect-mimicking flapping-wing system and demonstrate how to implement inherent pitching stability for stable vertical takeoff. The effect of relative locations of the Center of Gravity (CG) and the mean Aerodynamic Center (AC) on vertical flight was theoretically examined through static force balance consideration. We conducted a series of v...

The aim of the research was to develop an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) hardware and software which can control a small size UAV (with 1–10 kg takeoff weight) from takeoff to landing. The research was based on AERObot V5 autopilot, developed and tested previously by us. AERObot can control a chosen aerial vehicle on a predefined route and altitude reliably but requires manual takeoff and landin...

In team sports, such as basketball and volleyball, the players use different takeoff styles to make the vertical jump. The two-foot vertical jump styles have been classified according to the landing style and identified as Hop style, when both feet touch the ground at the same time and Step-close style, when there is a slight delay between the first and second foot making contact with the groun...

Human running at low and intermediate speeds is characterized by a greater average force exerted after 'landing', when muscle-tendon units are stretched ('hard landing'), and a lower average force exerted before 'takeoff', when muscle-tendon units shorten ('soft takeoff'). This landing-takeoff asymmetry is consistent with the force-velocity relation of the 'motor' (i.e. with the basic property ...

Jumping performance at 20 degrees C was assessed in five species of hylid frogs using high-speed cine film. Mean takeoff velocities (Vt) varied from 1.5 to 2.4 ms-1 among the species. Peak Vt varied from 1.9 to 2.9 ms-1. Body-mass-specific power output averaged over the entire takeoff period varied from 29 to 91 W kg-1 during the jumps with the highest takeoff velocities. These values are simil...

The ability to takeoff quickly and accelerate away from predators is crucial to bird survival. Crude oil can disrupt the fine structure and function of feathers, and here we tested for the first time how small amounts of oil on the trailing edges of the wings and tail of Western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) affected takeoff flight performance. In oiled birds, the distance travelled during the fi...

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of a microelectromechanicals (MEMs) based system (Keimove™) in measuring flight time and takeoff velocity during a counter-movement jump (CMJ). As criterion reference, data of a high- speed camera (HSC) and a force-platform (FP) synchronized with a linear position transducer (LPT) was used. Thirty professional soccer...