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Related papers: On the brachistochrone problem for cycling ascents

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The velocit\`a ascensionale media (VAM) is measurement that quantifies a cyclist's climbing ability. It depends on both the ground speed of a bicycle-cyclist system and the slope of an incline. To maximize the ascent speed, the solution to…

Popular Physics · Physics 2021-03-24 Len Bos , Michael A. Slawinski , Theodore Stanoev

We prove that, given an average power, the ascent time is minimized if a cyclist maintains a constant ground speed regardless of the slope. Herein, minimizing the time is equivalent to maximizing -- for a given uphill -- the corresponding…

Classical Physics · Physics 2025-03-12 Len Bos , Michael A. Slawinski , Raphaël A. Slawinski , Theodore Stanoev

The Brachistochrone problem, which describes the curve that carries a particle under gravity in a vertical plane from one height to another in the shortest time, is one of the most famous studies in classical physics. There is a similar…

Fluid Dynamics · Physics 2021-03-17 GP Benham , C Cohen , E Brunet , C Clanet

We formulate an optimization of a bicycle ascent time under the constraints of the average, maximum, and minimum powers. In contrast to the first part of this study, we do not restrict the departure to flying starts with an initial speed…

Classical Physics · Physics 2025-07-28 Len Bos , Michael A. Slawinski , Raphaël A. Slawinski , Theodore Stanoev

We formulate a phenomenological model to study the power applied by a cyclist on a velodrome\, -- \,for individual timetrials\, -- \,taking into account the straights, circular arcs, connecting transition curves and banking. The dissipative…

Classical Physics · Physics 2023-09-21 Len Bos , Michael A. Slawinski , Raphaël A. Slawinski , Theodore Stanoev

This paper formulates optimal pacing of a cyclist on hilly terrain time-trials as a minimum-time optimal control problem. Maximal power of a cyclist serves as a time-varying constraint and depends on fatigue and recovery which are captured…

Systems and Control · Electrical Eng. & Systems 2021-10-29 Faraz Ashtiani , Vijay Sarthy M Sreedhara , Ardalan Vahidi , Randolph Hutchison , Gregory Mocko

We combine power-meter measurements with GPS measurements to study the model that accounts for the use of power by a cyclist. The model takes into account the change in elevation and speed along with adverse effects of air, rolling and…

Popular Physics · Physics 2021-03-18 Tomasz Danek , Michael A. Slawinski , Theodore Stanoev

The brachistochrone, the curve of fastest descent under gravity, is a cycloid when friction is absent. Underwater, however, buoyancy, viscous drag, and the added mass of entrained fluid fundamentally alter the problem. We formulate and…

Fluid Dynamics · Physics 2026-02-18 Mohammad-Reza Alam

Improving a cyclist performance during a time-trial effort has been a challenge for sport scientists for several decades. There has been a lot of work on understanding the physiological concepts behind it. The concepts of Critical Power…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2020-07-13 Faraz Ashtiani , Vijay Sarthy M Sreedhara , Ardalan Vahidi , Randolph Hutchison , Gregory Mocko

A novel efficient downstairs trajectory is proposed for a 9 link biped robot model with toe-foot. Brachistochrone is the fastest descent trajectory for a particle moving only under the influence of gravity. In most situations, while…

Robotics · Computer Science 2020-12-07 Gaurav Bhardwaj , Utkarsh A. Mishra , N. Sukavanam , R. Balasubramanian

Traffic-related pollution is becoming a major societal problem globally. Cyclists are particularly exposed to this form of pollution due to their proximity to vehicles' tailpipes. In a number of recent studies, it is been shown that…

Systems and Control · Computer Science 2018-04-24 Yingqi Gu , Mingming Liu , Matheus Souza , Robert Shorten

For a moving bicycle, the power can be modelled as a response to the propulsion of the centre of mass of the bicycle-cyclist system. On a velodrome, an accurate modelling of power requires a distinction between the trajectory of the wheels…

Popular Physics · Physics 2020-09-04 Michael A. Slawinski , Raphaël A. Slawinski , Theodore Stanoev

We present a mathematical model for optimizing breakaway strategies in competitive cycling, balancing power expenditure, aerodynamic drag, and crashing. Our framework incorporates probabilistic crash dynamics, allowing a cyclist's risk…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2025-07-08 J. Chico-Vázquez , I. M. Griffiths

This paper presents for the first time an approach to minimize direct operational costs (DOC) for all-electric aircraft during the climb phase, introducing a time-varying cost index (CI). The CI is modeled as a dynamic parameter commanded…

Systems and Control · Electrical Eng. & Systems 2024-11-14 Lucas Souza e Silva , Luis Rodrigues

Bicycle Power Meters have become ubiquitous in professional and amateur cycling. These devices claim high levels of accuracy, and this accuracy is indeed essential if they are to serve their purpose as reliable training aids and indicators…

Popular Physics · Physics 2024-06-17 Jack Renshaw

The problem of determining total distance ascended during a mountain bike trip is addressed. Altitude measurements are obtained from GPS receivers utilizing both GPS-based and barometric altitude data, with data averaging used to reduce…

Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability · Physics 2011-04-20 D. C. Rapaport

We consider the problem of finding paths of shortest transit time between two points (popularly known as Brachistochrone) for cylinders with off-centered center of mass, rolling down without slip, subject solely to the force of gravity.…

Classical Physics · Physics 2023-12-27 Krishnaraj Sambath , Vidhya Nagarajan

Trajectory optimization for autonomous vehicles usually relies on the kinematic bicycle model because of its computational simplicity. However, when the planned trajectory is executed under the true vehicle dynamics, which include lateral…

Robotics · Computer Science 2026-05-12 Lingxue Lyu , Zihui Liu

The classical problem of the brachistochrone asks for the curve down which a body sliding from rest and accelerated by gravity will slip (without friction) from one point to another in least time. In undergraduate courses on classical…

Classical Physics · Physics 2008-10-06 Stephan Mertens , Sebastian Mingramm

If A and B are two points in the plane, with B lower and to the right of A, then we may consider the trajectory of an object travelling from A to B under the influence of gravity. The search for the trajectory minimising the time taken by…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2012-11-14 Rodney Coleman
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