At TrampolineSafety.com, we test trampolines and trampoline related products so that we can offer rankings and reviews based on scientific data and analysis. We began testing products to learn what we could from them, and to better understand what they offer. We purchase and evaluate the products of all the major trampoline manufacturers, and are continuously testing new trampoline models.

We do many tests with human jumpers who are outfitted with a variety of accelerometers. We interface these accelerometers with a portable computer. We call this our “jump computer”. This is a battery powered, data logging system that can interface with several external accelerometers. The unit also has an internal accelerometer. We have made several observations about the energy absorption of the human body. By mounting accelerometers on a jumper feet, waist and head, we have had the opportunity to measure the effect of rapid acceleration on a human body and we have been amazed at the bodies ability to absorb energy. We have also performed tests that have accelerometers on the jumper, mat and frame measuring simultaneously.

We gained a wealth of knowledge with our data acquisition system. One of the discoveries that we made is that it is difficult for jumpers to jump the same way every time. We had a need to test in a way that we could ensure a very consistent “jumper” to accurately test the differences between trampolines. To do this, we built a custom trampoline test machine, perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. It stands 24 feet tall and can test any trampoline up to 15 feet wide. Our test methodology includes drop testing 5 different weights onto a trampoline mat from a height of 6 feet. After releasing the weight, the accelerometers output the acceleration profile until the weight comes to rest. The duration of this test is typically about 15 seconds. This device has allowed us to compare different products by impacting different trampolines in exactly the same way. A mat displacement measurement is also taken with the weight at rest. This allows us to directly measure the static spring rate of the trampoline system, which we also used to compare the relative bed stiffness.

In addition to these attributes that we directly measure, we are able to calculate how high the weights rebound off of the mat, the dynamic spring constant, the natural frequency, the damping ratio and peak jerk (this is the rate of change of acceleration over time). Compiling all of this data allows us to graphically compare different systems and to see the effect of a range of weights on different trampolines. Understanding these different parameters has helped us at TrampolineSafety.com to understand both the desirable and undesirable characteristics of trampolines. This is how we are able to offer the most comprehensive reviews and rankings of trampolines available, and just a part of what makes us your source for information on trampolines and trampoline safety.