the-BA : Engineering Gold

By Louise Sutton

Leading UK academics hope groundbreaking technology will improve our Olympic medal tally.

SESAME (Sensing for Sport and Mediated Exercise) is a multi-million pound consortium project that encompasses computing, engineering and sports science.

It is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The project, modelled on Britain's track and field elite, has developed a leading-edge data recording and analysis system that could revolutionise coaching and the honing of athletic performance.

"Many sports depend on correct technique to optimise athlete performance and reduce injury risk,” said Dr Robert Harle of the University of Cambridge, who delivered a presentation at the BA Festival of Science on Thursday.

Sportsmen and women are always looking for the competitive edge. SESAME aims to hone technique with technology by focussing on the modern athlete's "day job" - the mundane training sessions – and maximise their potential.

"There's significant value in developing technologies which can assist the coaching process by providing near-instantaneous feedback on an athlete's technique during a training session itself," Harle said.

Traditionally, the coach has had to rely on the naked eye, or perhaps the odd fixed camera to produce pictures of limited value.

The SESAME prototype uses a range of sensors and wireless connectivity to enhance coaching.

SESAME technology will produce simultaneous images from multiple video cameras in different positions that can track the moving athlete and transmit near-instant pictures in slow motion replay.

This is a complex challenge, explained Harle. On-body sensors will use small, low power electronics that exploit wireless communication technology to collect the data, which is then synchronised with the video.

"This technology represents a 'natural' option to performance enhancement by optimising the training process," Harle said.

"We see the technology being used to spot the potential for injury, allowing the coach to modify training to avoid the negative impacts of the athletes' dreaded curse," he said.

Harle was keen to emphasis that this technology would not replace the role of the coach. "Our aim is to use technology to help coaches, not replace them," he said.

"A key aspect of SESAME is to listen to coaches and understand their needs. Their input could help ensure that we develop technology tools which make a real impact on achievement by UK athletes in the future."

SESAME is a 4-year project due to run until 2010. It is part of the EPSRC's strategic push to develop sports engineering.

Read more news coverage at New Scientist and Sky News.