Melbourne: Australia's World Cup-winning team may not be in need of it but a hi-tech smart cricket bat to help big hitters like Adam Gilchrist smash the ball even further could be in the market within 18 months.

The Australian-developed, Smart Cricket Bat, has been patented as the world's first bat with active vibration control, a system already in use in baseball bats and tennis racquets, reports The Australian.

Zinging effect

The Smart Cricket Bat's key to reducing the ``zinging effect'' felt by big-hitting batsmen is in its innovative handle. It can reduce vibration by up to 42 per cent.

Melbourne's RMIT University has developed the bat in conjunction with the Australian Research Council, bat manufacturer Kookaburra Sport and sensor company Davidson Measurement.

The $6,00,000 project uses electro-mechanical sensors and actuators, built into the bat's handle. The technology is used in collaboration with a vibration-absorbing polymeric-based synthetic material.

The materials convert shock waves into heat and dampen vibration by generating waves in the opposite direction.

Sweet spot

RMIT project leader Sabu John said the technology had increased the ``sweet spot'' of the cricket bat — the area in which the batsman experiences least impact when hitting the ball hard — providing greater control. It may also reduce the injuries experienced by top-level batsmen.

``The big push for this is going to be players who want a bit of technology in the bat and it would make them feel slightly better when the ball hits the bat away from the sweet spot,'' said associate professor John, who is based in RMIT's School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Associate professor John said an additional $6,00,000 was needed to prepare the Smart Cricket Bat, co-developed by Tom Molyneaux from RMIT's School of Civil and Chemical Engineering, for commercialisation.

Exploiting the rules

He said the bat exploited rules that dictate the blade must be wood, but do not mention the handle. ``As far as we know it (Smart Cricket Bat) is legal,'' professor John said.

The latest recommendation from the International Cricket Council was that bat handles could be made from any material.

The bat is expected to cost $100 more than the most expensive bats in the market today, which are priced at $500 to $600. — PTI

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