The Winning edge
Ex-England rugby coach, Sir Clive Woodward, once said of rugby’s World Cup that winning was never a matter of miles, but of inches. It’s true of all sports where competitors at the top of their field are looking for a minute advantage in technique or training that translates into the slim difference between victory and defeat.  It’s why a new sophisticated sensor that collects training data and allows immediate feedback from coaches could really provide an edge for athletes.

Developed at Imperial College London, the project, guided by Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, is looking to be rolled out in the next 12-18 months.  Professor Yang is director of the University’s Centre for Pervasive Sensing, which brings together disciplines and technological advances ‘in wireless communication, sensor design, and energy storage technologies.’ Professor Yang’s team draws on the talents and knowledge from departments, such as computer science, electronics, engineering and biomechanics.  

Credible data
Unlike more conventional sensor technology, which can be physically obtrusive and affect the performance of the athlete, this one is the size of cufflinks and fits easily behind the ear. This means that the data collected is more credible and reflective of real performance. It is also claimed that the range of data that can be pulled in and analyzed is extraordinarily varied, from length of stride to the impact of shockwaves on the body.

But what all sports people know, whether it’s an amateur tennis player or a thoroughbred athlete preparing for a major games, getting feedback on your technique and being able to address problems immediately is a huge bonus. As Professor Yang points out, ‘Having biomechanical data available there and then, during a training session, can make the whole process of improving sporting technique much quicker and easier.’

Wider legacy
Professor Yang believes that this technology has wider applications. It could be used to monitor arthritis patients or those who have undergone orthopaedic surgery.  ‘I believe it’s really important to ensure that sports-related research like ours will have a genuine legacy in wider fields,’ says Professor Yang, ‘and a positive impact on society at large.’

It is initially being aimed at sprinters with a view to being rolled out for rowers and other sportsmen and women. And though it won’t be available for Beijing 2008, expect to see athletes’ coaches exploring it for London 2012.