Generating novel tennis racket shape concepts using a theoretical morphospace.

ABSTRACT: Statistical shape analysis, or morphometrics, is a technique commonly used in evolutionary biology to summarise a population of samples. Theoretical morphometrics extends the current population of samples into a theoretical space. Using the lawn tennis racket as an example, this paper showcases the potential of morphometrics as a tool for inspiring design concepts for novel sporting goods. It showcases how morphometrics can be applied to summarise the shape of a sample of rackets and applies theoretical morphometrics to systematically present new candidate designs that fall outside of the inputted existing, racket population. The input population was 514 tennis rackets dating back to the origins of the game. The shape analysis was performed on "front-on" silhouette images of the rackets us

SUBMITTER: Grant RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11392236 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature