7 Olympic technologies to help the athlete in you go higher, faster, better, stronger

Sarah Buhr and Mark Lelinwalla of Techcrunch examines the cutting-edge technology like motion tracking systems, wearable jump monitors, and Doppler radar that the American Olympic athletes are using to help them jump higher and go farther before the start of the August 5, 2016 Rio Olympics summer games. 

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1.1. Vert: The road to the Rio Olympics for the U.S. women’s volleyball team has included grueling six-hour practice sessions, sparking the need for players to train smart — not just hard. After all, one critical injury could derail the team’s chances of a successful showing on the world stage. That’s where a tiny wearable by VERT comes into play.

While training for the Olympics, the squad used the VERT jump monitor, which fits around players’ waists and calculates their jump heights and counts. It then sends real-time data to an accompanying app. The team has also been using it as an injury-prevention tool. “It gave the coaches something to monitor our workload,” USA Volleyball outside hitter Kelsey Robinson told us. “Now we can track how many times a certain position is jumping and if they’re jumping more, they will shut us down and we’ll do other things like pass or serve, so we don’t physically exhaust ourselves. It has really helped our older girls who do have knee injuries and back problems.”

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      : For the past six years, BMW has been the official mobility partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee. As part of the role, the automaker has created a customized motion tracking system for USA Swimming, treating American swimmers like they’re autonomous cars in chlorine. On the road to Rio for the 2016 Olympics, BMW is using what it calls its new “taillight” solution. That has the company implementing LEDs, just as they would on their cars, but as illuminated markers on swimmers’

BMW
bodies. The lights illuminate their paths underwater, allowing coaches to measure all of their movements more efficiently. LEDS are mounted onto swimmers’ wrists, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles and toes. The mounting system was 3D printed, by the way. An underwater camera then interfaces with the motion tracking technology, and BMW’s software enables coaches to analyze swimmers’ dolphin kick.Their technique can be scrutinized movement by movement, pinpointing limb and joint angles, with quantitative feedback. Prior to this point, BMW had fit adhesive markers on the same joint locations on swimmers, sans the LEDs. Obviously, this tool with the LEDs takes a deeper dive into analyzing swimmers. Peter Falt, Director of BMW Group Designworks, reveals that the system was customized to “hold up to the intense forces of Olympic swimmers,” but also “disappear, meaning that they are not noticeable by the swimmer or impede their motion in any way.” Falt explains that was important to “ensure the training didn’t create a different feeling or result than would be experienced in real competition.” At the heart of the BMW’s motion tracking system for USA Swimming is two algorithms designed to detect and adaptively track a swimmer’s motion. One of them, computer vision, is used in the automaker’s cars to identify humans, park distance, lane deviation and active cruise control. The combination of computer vision and software algorithms is a core aspect of BMW’s automated driving systems as well. BMW’s original motion tracking system helped USA Swimming stroke its way to 16 of America’s 46 gold medals in the 2012 Olympics. Now improved with LEDs, the squad has high hopes for the technology in Rio and beyond. “The goal is that by comparing measurements to performance over time, we can use BMW’s motion tracking tool to hone in on technique adjustments that work best for each individual swimmer,” said Russell Mark, USA Swimming’s National Team performance consultant. “The tool is an exploratory project that we’ll continue evaluating over time, but our hope is that the potential of its outcome can make a significant impact on the future generation of swimmers.” The motion tracking system is one of four technology projects that BMW has produced under its sponsorship as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s official mobility partner. The other three include: a velocity measurement system for long jumpers, a two-man bobsled, and a carbon fiber racing wheelchair for the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field Team.

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        IBM WATSON: When the Women’s pursuit team os USA Cycling approached IBM last October, it was looking to spped up its training analysis and convert it into a mobile-enabled real-time system. IBM gave thw team a wheel up by packing an Android phone in cyclists pockets and gathering all data points from multiple sources – including power meters, a wearable BSX muscle oxygenation sensor and heart reate monitor. “We collect that information while they are training and send it up to the cloud to the Watson IoT platform,” IBM fellow and VP of emerging Internet technologies Rod Smith said. “It’s then analysed and sent back down from the cloud to the coache’s iPad to a ashboard so they could see how the team and each individual is doing.”

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          TRACKMAN: When it comes to shot put or hammer throw events in track and field, athletes want to know every bit of analysis anout their technique, USA Track and Field achieved this by deploying the Trackman device, which uses Doppler radar to track the flight of a shot put or hammer throw in real time. It’s often used for golf swings, but Trackman also works with the shot put and ammer throw by scanning such things as release velocity, release angle, release height and exactly where the throw lands. That information pops up on the Trackman’s user interface and also a tablet sync via Bluetooth. The device also has built-in WiFi and an internal camera with the ability to connect up to six external cameras for more angles and also records shot put attempts and hammer throws. Videos immediately upload to the cloud to help coaches tweak athletes’ techniques quickly and throughout practices.

5.       Dr. Ralph Mann’s Biomechanics Model: In sprinting and hurdles, a fraction of a percent in improved performance could spell the difference between winning a gold medal ad failing to make the final round. That could explain why USA Track and Field relies on Dr, Ralph Mann’s Biomechanics Model for sprinters and hurdlers …but with a twist. The team takes Dr. Ralph’s stick figure with perfect sprinting and hurdling form and overlays it right over its sprinters’ and hurdlers’ bodies via real-time video technology. “It gives the coach and athlete the feedback visual on where their body positions are to what they should be in this model,” USA Track and Field’s associate director of sports science amd medicine Robert Chapman explained.

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      BRAIN.FM: In working with the wrestling team, USA Wrestling coach Matt Lindland recognized that some of his athletes were struggling with their sleep and relaxation, while others faced anxiety and perhaps even depression issues. So, on the recommendation of a friend he had the team try Brain.fm, AI neuroscience software which composes calming music specifically made for the brain to focus, relaxation and sleep. Essentially, it is audio brainwave training to help wrestlers zone out after grueling practice sessions. The renowned wrestling coach even credits the technology for getting wrestler Robby Smith off melatonin.

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     WHOOP: Olympic swimmer Conner Jaeger uses an app called WHOOP to keep him updated on his vitals. He says the tech told him to arrive a few days early to recover from travelling stress in order to

perform at his best during the Omaha Olympic trials. The app seemed to be spot on. Conner will be competiting in Rion. Other athletes swimming on team USA at the 2016 Olympics – including Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt – have also reportedly been using the app to help perform at their best.

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