SweepTech presentation

SweepTech is an innovative rowing simulator designed and built by a multidisciplinary team of 8 engineering students from the Université de Sherbrooke. Our goal is to bridge the gap between indoor training and on-water performance by creating a simulator that replicates the complex physics and physical sensations of real rowing. The completed prototype will be presented at Expo MégaGéniale, Canada’s premier student engineering exhibition, to an audience of over 12,000 visitors. 

Key Challenges

Challenge 1: Replicating Fluid Dynamics and Haptic Feedback

Standard rowing machines use static air or water impellers, which provide a linear resistance that fails to replicate the complex feel of real water drag. In a real boat, resistance changes dynamically based on boat speed, blade depth, and the phase of the rowing stroke.

Challenge 2: Capturing Natural Multi-Axis Biomechanics

Traditional gym rowers restrict the user's movement to a single linear dimension. Real on-water rowing requires the athlete to manage height, blade feathering, and lateral balance, which are crucial for proper technique and training stabilizing muscles.

Challenge 3: Real-Time Sensor Fusion and Low-Latency Processing

To make the simulator feel immersive and natural, there cannot be any perceptible delay between the rower's physical action and the system's reaction. Processing inputs from multiple forces and angles simultaneously while driving variable resistance requires high-speed computing and reliable hardware.

Project Impact

Through these solutions, SweepTech provides a training platform that:

• Enables precise, year-round indoor training regardless of weather conditions.
• Provides real-time biomechanical analysis to help athletes optimize their technique and avoid injury.
• Lowers the barrier of entry to the sport, making high-fidelity rowing training accessible to everyone