Application for Teaching Sports Technique

Project Background

Our client has a Ph.D in Biomechanics and is a former professional athlete, an Olympic silver prize winner. He developed an algorithm that constructs custom stick-figure models with precise body parameters to represent an athlete’s optimal performance.

Sibers was asked to transform the algorithm into a golf application, and in a second phase adapt it for a track and field and a football teaching application.

One year after development, the application was successfully used to win an Olympic gold medal and set a new world record.

Solution

The Sibers team developed a video analysis system that processes human motion data. Two 60fps synchronized cameras, one placed behind the athlete and one to the side, film the athlete’s movements and transmit the data for analysis.

While researching golf swing mechanics, hundreds of videos of top golfers were analyzed. Their swings were subsequently digitized, and each body part was tracked for its individual movement.

The application employs statistics to evaluate the maximum possible effort for each body part, resulting in a representation of how the user’s performance compares to that of an elite player. The user’s personalized model is then overlaid on an elite player’s video, showing all the posture errors the user makes during his swing.

The model is so sophisticated that it can consider factors such as club type (wood, iron, hybrid), preset swing speed and the athlete’s physique.

Every recording can be sent to a web repository, where it’s available for immediate review. A teacher can add his/her voice to the recording, providing feedback and suggestions.

Tech highlights

• ManageIt
• C#
• .NET Framework
• DirectShow
• Visual Studio
• VSS
• Turbine Video Engine SDK
• HyCam2
• C++
• Managed C++
• BayerConvert
• FrameDropper
• MP4Splitter
• TimeStampSaver
• wavdes
• Allied Vision Technologies Convert/DirectStream/Interop
• DirectShowLib + DirectShowLibUtils
• Microsoft.Office.Interop
• Payflow.NET
• Turbine.TVE

Cameras supported:

• AVT Marlin
• PTGrey Flea2
• AVT Stringray

Adapters used for camera connection:

• FireRepeater 800™
• Belkin FireWire 800 ExpressCard™

Results

The solution, based on biomechanical principles, data mining, and statistics, provides athletes with a uniquely effective training tool that is now used in more than 70 sports facilities worldwide.

And in more good news, the training application was featured in The Washington Post, which wondered if the technology could help win an Olympic gold. It not only did just that, but also helped set a new world record!