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In the world of high-performance cycling, speed is paramount. Even on an indoor track, in controlled conditions, riders must fight against air resistance and aerodynamic drag. A winning investment for Vorteq, from custom wind tunnel to 3D scanning.
Source: Press Release
A cyclist spends up to 90% of their energy fighting air resistance. A cyclist’s body is responsible for about 80% of the drag, and their bike for the remaining 20%. It is therefore more sensible to focus on the cyclist, their biomechanics in various riding positions, their training and, in particular, their clothing, rather than spending tens of thousands of euros on a bike.
Vorteq uses a wind tunnel specifically dedicated to sport and the latest 3D scanning technologies from Artec 3D to create custom skinsuits for cyclists. An aerodynamic skinsuit that reduces drag below the level the athlete would achieve when completely naked. It must also be comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and specially designed for the athlete wearing it. Given the considerable differences in body shape and size between cyclists, a personalized fit is impossible with a standard commercially available skinsuit.
For ten years, Vorteq has cooperated closely with professional cyclists, Olympic teams, Tour de France riders, and other great cyclists such as those from the Huub Wattbike team. This team, dressed in Vorteq skinsuits, won three gold, two silver, and three bronze medals at the British Cycling Championship in Manchester in January 2020.
These investments allow Vorteq to create what it believes to be the fastest skinsuits currently available. To develop its skinsuits, Vorteq has invested over $500,000 in R&D, and tested over 45,000 different material, tension, and speed combinations in its wind tunnel at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH). Each athlete thus receives their own skinsuit, created with custom patterns and fabrics, each designed for maximum performance.
Price: £3000
Simplified skinsuit customization in record time thanks to 3D scanning
When creating these custom skinsuits, the use of a 3D scanner is crucial to digitize the exact anatomy of the cyclist. Vorteq turned to Artec Leo, a portable 3D scanner with an integrated touchscreen and an acquisition speed of 80 fps, to replace its old, impractical articulated arm scanner. “The cyclist arrives in the wind tunnel with their bike, which they place on the platform and mount, and in just ten minutes, I’m done and the cyclist can go about their business, explains Sam Quilter from Vorteq. I have everything I need to design an anatomically precise and lightning-fast Vorteq skinsuit. No risk of having to rescan. So, for us, Leo’s ability to provide us with an athlete’s exact physical data is a game-changer.“
Quilter summarizes the process: “The scan, then post-processing the scans in Artec Studio, followed by 3D modeling work in Geomagic Wrap, and finally exporting the 3D model to manufacture the skinsuit, takes about two hours in total. The total production time for a race-ready skinsuit is currently two days, but we are in the process of reducing it and are aiming for a 24-hour turnaround, which we are sure to achieve soon.“
As Quilter explains, “unlike our previous scanners, we simply take the scanner with us anywhere in the world to perform the scan – no additional hardware is needed. Being able to enjoy such freedom is great when you go to places where conditions are far from ideal.“
More information on: https://www.artec3d.com/fr
About Artec 3D
An international group headquartered in Luxembourg, Artec 3D is a global leader in portable 3D scanners, at the forefront of innovative 3D technologies since 2007. Artec 3D develops and manufactures high-quality, easy-to-use 3D scanners, user-friendly 3D software, and an SDK that offers the best integration possibilities, whatever the application. With a global presence and a large number of customers worldwide, we provide 3D technologies for various sectors such as industry, healthcare, design, art, science, historical preservation, and manufacturing.
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