B-4 Improvement in launching performance of two rollers type badminton machine

Abstract

Badminton shuttlecock is light in mass (approximately 5.2g), with a highly specific air resistance. For professional badminton players, the highest initial speed of the shuttlecock by a smash shot exceeds over 80m/s, which is the fastest speed in all ball sports. Generally, it is extremely difficult to get the shuttlecock to speeds of over 30m/s with a launching machine without breaking the waterfowl feathers. In this study, a shuttlecock launching machine using two turn rollers for badminton exercises has been developed with a new launcher mechanism. In addition, a continuous launcher system which is able to discharge the 12 (maximum 96) shuttlecocks continuously at intervals of 1.5 seconds was designed. The two rollers type badminton machine can launch the shuttlecock at initial speeds of up to 81.8m/s, with a maximum flight distance of over 11m. The standard deviation of the shot and lateral directions are approximately 0.34m and 0.12m, respectively. The launching performance of the developed badminton machine has a performance far exceeding almost any commercial one. The badminton machine can be used for various kinds of difficult exercises by professional badminton players.