BAE sign deal to help next generation of athletes
SCIENTISTS and engineers based at BAE System's high tech research department in Bristol will be helping the next generation of athletes to bring home gold and silver medals.
The aviation and aerospace firm has signed a four year deal which will see it invest £800,000 in the technology which goes to support our top sportsmen and women in their quest for glory.
The company has already worked closely in the past with athletes including Amy Williams - who went on to win gold at the Winter Olympics with her sled.
The latest deal is an extension of a technology partnership which has seen the team work with athletes from 20 different disciplines including bob-skeleton and wheelchair racing over the last four years.
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The new four-year deal is due to start in a month's time with BAE providing engineering time, equipment and materials. The project will be overseen from the firm's research headquarters in Filton.
The centre, which employs around 400 staff, is leading the way when it comes to developing the latest defence and military technology.
The new deal will cover the Winter and Summer Olympics as well as the Paralympics but no individual projects have been identified as yet.
BAE's previous work with UK Sport was aimed at bringing home medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Projects in the past have included a laser tracking timing system installed at the Manchester Velodrome for British Cycling to use in training, and a portable device which gave pentathletes complete confidence that their new laser-powered pistols were working.
Medal winning wheelchair racing athletes including David Weir and Shelly Woods were put through their paces at BAE Systems' wind tunnel with the aim of helping them find their best racing position.
The tests involved simulating racing speeds of more than 30mph and allowed the athletes to improve their seating positions and posture for racing in different track situations.
Before the 2010 Winter Olympics, skeleton bobsleds were redesigned and manufactured for the British team. BAE experts analysed athletes' body dimensions and produced sleds which built individually to suit each athlete.
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