IBrain - neural interfaces for athletes
So, in Russia, a project is being developed that will improve sports results with the help of neural interfaces and special training software that includes elements of artificial intelligence. The hardware-software complex, equipped with a non-invasive neurointerface, processes signals coming from the brain in real time and, based on the data obtained, corrects the exercise that increases the athlete's effectiveness.
Initially, the complex was developed as a medical one. It was about the fact that the interface transmitted data of a paralyzed patient after a stroke that could use it to control prostheses, assistive devices, as well as special gaming applications. Subsequently, the project was refocused on sports rehabilitation after injuries, as well as on the development of new cognitive skills.
As the creators of the complex said in an interview with Forbes, neurotracers are useful in sports for the reason that with approximately equal physical capabilities of athletes, the cognitive factor becomes determining. It is especially significant in situations when it comes to fractions of seconds sharing the result. Training in the complex are algorithms for passing a particular distance and allow the athlete to understand in advance what his next step will be, where there is a high risk of making a mistake and what needs to be done in order to avoid it.
AI is capable of recognizing up to 4 simultaneous movements of an athlete connected to the complex using a neuro-interface. Sensors based on data on the electrical activity of the brain determine shock, limb movement or muscle tension. The program analyzes the data and adjusts the training plan in order to bring the completed exercise closer to the standard. Complex exercises allow not only to practice the same type of movement, but also to work on complex tasks that take into account the athlete’s tactics.
BD-Sport - recognition of sports movements
In Perm, an amateur football player created a service capable of recognizing sports movements. To solve the problem, the so-called computer vision. The essence of the idea is to solve 3 problems, namely: to analyze the quality of the exercises, passing the analytic data in an understandable form to the coach and the athlete, to reduce the risk of judicial errors in assessing the athlete’s technique, to involve the fan in the event.
The principle of operation is as follows - motion capture using an IP camera (i.e., which does not require hanging sensors on the athlete's body). The cameras transmit the athlete’s video from several angles, thanks to these data a dynamic three-dimensional model of the athlete is created during a sports performance. The capture algorithm forms a skeletal model, which is compared with the biomechanical model of an ideal element or exercise. Interestingly, the complex uses markerless motion capture. This feature is the main innovation of the complex. It took the developers about 6 months to develop a markerless capture algorithm at the prototype level.
The complex consists of four IP cameras and a web service that allows you to access analytics. A prerequisite for the health of the complex is high-speed Internet. BD-Sport is already in demand in a wide variety of forms, for example, in rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, in diving, etc. The uniqueness of the development is that before this startup, the trend in sports analytics was aimed at creating data processing tools, but not receiving them, as implemented in the BD-Sport complex.
AFR Sellout Sport System - CRM for working with fans
The Russian company Sellout Sport System has made a specialized CRM system for professional sports clubs and leagues. The product is specifically focused on working with fans. A distinctive feature of the product is that it was specially created for the goals and objectives of sports organizations, and did not adapt to them from any other.
Thanks to this, it was possible to think through in detail the model of interaction between the system and the user (and his sports business), which means reducing the time for implementation. Features include special tools for attracting fans (promo tickets and a loyalty program), gamification of a loyalty program that makes it easier to attract fans, an intuitive interface, a business model in which updates are included in the monthly fee.
Developers have an impressive background of cooperation with sports organizations. So, the Sellout Sport System collaborated with the Summer Universiade in 2013, the World Aquatics Championship in 2015, carried out full marketing support for the Zenit-Kazan and Dynamo-Kazan volleyball clubs, and also carried out video production of one of the best club TVs Of Russia. Perhaps for this reason, the sports CRM project has become widely sought after.
Endurance Racing as Big Data Source
This year, I often came across news about Aurus, the new Russian automobile brand under which luxury cars are produced. This is understandable, since the Russian president uses cars of this particular brand.
However, not everyone knows that there is a racing prototype released under the Aurus brand. This season, the Russian team G-Drive Racing is playing in the international endurance races on the Aurus01. The team shows impressive results, being four-time champions in its class.
The car has a 4.2-liter engine with a capacity of about 600 hp, the mass of the prototype is 900 kg, and the acceleration speed is up to 340 km / h. But the most important thing here is the data obtained by this unit. Yes, this is what is an important part of the G-Drive Racing mission. The team is supported by Gazprom Neft and regularly tests the G-Drive fuel of the same name in tests under extreme conditions. The engineers transmit the data to the companies that it uses in production. G-Drive Racing has been playing since 2013 and you can imagine how much information has already been collected in this way - you can safely call this motorsport bigdat project.
In conclusion
Once again, I want to note that contrary to the established stereotype, it is not at all difficult to find truly impressive projects among Russian innovations for sports that bring tangible benefits. This year, within the framework of the specialized BISPO Awards, the first ever continental competition of sports and technology startups - CSTSC (Continental Sport Tech Startup Challenge) has appeared, which will bring together all new technological projects from the sports industry. It is likely that some of the projects presented in this post in the near future will change the idea of the training process, the capabilities of athletes, interaction with fans, Russian motorsport and the technological development of Russia as a whole.
Photo content used:
sportinnovations.ru
www.bd-sport.com
i-brain.tech
www.kolesa.ru