PolyU Two Projects Awarded Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme to Support Athletes
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been awarded two grants with a total amount of HKD 13.7 million under the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme in its first-round announcement, to collaborate with the Hong Kong Sports Institute on conducting two sports science research projects, committed to supporting the development of Hong Kong elite athletes with advanced technologies and enhancing their competitiveness at the upcoming major games. One of the awarded projects aims to develop a vision-based analysis system using Artificial Intelligence to provide comprehensive scientific data support for track cycling coaching in a timely manner. The other project aims to provide various customized assistive aids to enhance and maximize the physical performances of Paralympic athletes from different sports fields, including fencing, boccia, badminton, table tennis, etc.
Cycling Track Video Intelligence
Led by Prof Heng Li, Chair Professor of Construction Informatics
This project aims to develop a solution for vision-based analysis of cycling matches. The proposed solution includes five components: video shooting, data transmission, video AI processing, data analysis application and hardware. By leveraging IR Sensor and SRM power meter, the pre-trained deep learning models are employed to analyse the competition videos to obtain players’ ranks, speeds, and power. This developed system can analyse the athletes’ statistics and technical characteristics in competitions in a timely manner to assist the coaching team in identifying the tactical limitations of players, and also able to analyse how competition court and environment affect an athlete’s performance, fast grasp opponents’ technical characteristics and accurately evaluate their performance and condition.
Compared to the current practice of relying on manually collecting technical statistics, this proposed system will not only reduce manual efforts but also build a platform to accumulate athletes' historical data in a time-saving manner, supporting elite athletes' training by providing comprehensive analysis. The captured and combined data, including heart rate, power, speed, time, position, and level, can be used to assess the athlete's tactical proficiency and training intensity. The first edition of this vision-based algorithm model will be finished soon, which is promising to be tested and thus offer the coaching team data for reference in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou.
Customized services of assistive devices for paralympic athletes
Led by Ir Prof Ming Zhang, Head of Department, Chair Professor of Biomechanics and Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology
The customization of assistive devices can support Paralympic athletes in reducing the weight load while increasing training rigidity and strength. This project will provide various customization services of assistive devices, including prostheses, orthoses, wheelchairs, and associated devices, based on the Paralympic athletes’ individual needs to enhance their confidence and performances. Advanced prosthetic elements such as carbon-fiber blades prosthesis will be introduced. Paralympic athletes may try different advanced components to find their preferred combinations. For wheelchairs, the customized seat cushion is significant for comfort and stability. This project will fabricate a wheelchair using lighter and stronger materials to achieve agility, which is dominant for badminton and table tennis, and improve grasp and body balance through the custom handles.
This project will also provide portable equipment, such as portable wheelchair cradles using foldable aluminum frames for wheelchair fencing training. In addition, the research team will modify the boccia ramp based on the optimization of shape and length and develop a portable force plate to determine the center of gravity of the rolling ball so as to avoid deflection. The latest international development in assistive devices and technologies will be introduced to coaches and athletes. Deliverables will be optimized based on the research and the feedback of athletes and coaches.
