Experimental Validation of Real-Time Ski Jumping Tracking System Based on Wearable Sensors.

Johannes Link,Sébastien Guillaume,Bjoern M Eskofier

doi:10.3390/s21237780

Johannes Link, Sébastien Guillaume + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s21237780

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Abstract

For sports scientists and coaches, its crucial to have reliable tracking systems to improve athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the validity of a wearable real-time tracking system (WRRTS) for the quantification of ski jumping. The tracking system consists of wearable trackers attached to the ski bindings of the athletes and fixed antennas next to the jumping hill. To determine the accuracy and precision of the WRRTS, four athletes of the German A or B National Team performed 35 measured ski jumps. The WRRTS was used to measure the 3D positions and ski angles during the jump. The measurements are compared with camera measurements for the in-flight parameters and the official video distance for the jumping distance to assess their accuracy. We statistically evaluated the different methods using Bland–Altman plots. We thereby find a mean absolute error of for the jumping distance, for the in-flight positions, and °, and ° for the camera projected pitch and V-style opening angle, respectively. We show the validity of the presented WRRTS to measure the investigated parameters. Thus, the system can be used as a tracking system during training and competitions for coaches and sports scientists. The real-time feature of the tracking system enables usage during live TV broadcasting.

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
We investigate the accuracy of a wearable tracking system measuring several ski jumping parameters
The jumping distance determined with the wearable real-time tracking system (WRRTS) was compared to the official video distance

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. From the very beginning of ski jumping in the 19th century until now, the ski jumping technique has undergone various developments. This includes, amongst others, the Kongsberger Technique, in which the upper body is bent and the arms are extended over the head. The arms were brought back next to the upper body. During all these changes, the skis remained parallel. The last major change was the introduction of the V-style in

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