Removable Footwear Sensor Unit Attachment for IMU-Based Ball-Touch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting football performance statistics, such as video tagging and GPS-based systems, are costly, limited in availability, and lack the ability to provide comprehensive data on player and team performance, especially during training sessions.
Innovation Solution
A wearable smart-device footwear sensor unit equipped with an IMU, storage, and communication module that automatically senses and classifies performance data, including gait tracking and ball-touch events, providing a complete suite of performance statistics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If video tagging is used to extract performance statistics, then comprehensive performance data including ball-touch events can be obtained, but the process is long, expensive and only accessible to well-funded clubs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual video tagging mechanical process with an automated sensor-based system. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) in footwear sensors detect movements and ball-touch events automatically, eliminating the need for manual video analysis while providing comparable or superior measurement precision for performance statistics
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-service by automatically detecting and recording performance metrics without human intervention. The IMUs continuously monitor footwear movements, automatically identify ball-touch events, and store data, enabling the system to generate comprehensive performance statistics autonomously during training and matches
2Productivity
If GPS based systems are used, then position-driven data such as distance and speed can be supplied, but the system lacks the ability to provide comprehensive performance statistics including ball-touch events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges GPS position-driven data collection with IMU-based movement detection and classification. By combining these systems, the solution achieves both the productivity of automated data collection and the measurement precision of comprehensive performance metrics including ball-touch events, gait analysis, and mechanical power estimation
Solution Approach 2:
The footwear sensor unit serves multiple functions: it collects position data like GPS, detects ball-touch events, analyzes gait patterns, estimates mechanical power, and provides comprehensive performance statistics. This multi-functional device replaces the need for separate GPS systems and manual video tagging, delivering complete performance analysis in one integrated solution
3Loss of information
If manual video tagging is performed, then detailed ball-touch events can be recorded, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring and pre-processing performance data during training and matches. The IMUs capture all movements and ball-touch events in real-time, so when data extraction is needed, the information is already collected and organized, eliminating the time-consuming post-match video tagging process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system offers accurate, automated data extraction accessible to all football clubs, enabling comprehensive performance analysis of individual players and teams with minimal manual tagging, enhancing technical and tactical performance.
Implementation Method 1
an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) including a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope, the IMU adapted to gather sensor data of detected movements of the footwear
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, method and footwear sensor unit a footwear sensor unit removably attachable to footwear, the footwear sensor unit including: an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) including a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope, the IMU adapted to gather sensor data of detected movements of the footwear; and a storage device in electronic communication with the IMU, the storage device for storing the sensor data; and a communications module in electronic communication with the storage device, the communication module configured to transmit data to an external computing device.