An Electronic Ski Binding Design with Biofeedback

Abstract

A ski release binding releases the ski boot from the ski for loading environments potentially injurious to the lower extremity. The concept of using a model reference adaptive control system to control ski binding release is explored. Model reference oscillators simulate torsion about the longitudinal leg axis and anterior-posterior bending of the lower extremity. The model oscillator coefficients are adjusted depending upon processed EMG signal levels from lower extremity muscle groups, which serve as state estimators. Background on release binding design, binding circuit diagrams and the results of preliminary tests on a binding are presented in this paper.