USC players wearing GPS devices during their game today

[Eurocat]

College football is known for all types of fancy equipment, and sometimes, the gear can even get a bit experimental.

Such is certainly the case for the USC Trojans, who will rock a tiny GPS device underneath their shoulder pads during their game on Saturday. The project, which was introduced by USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Athletics Department, is designed to "provide data that will be used to fine-tune their next training session

This new innovation is wireless, produces complex analysis and interprets approximately 1,000 data points per second.

"It measures maximum velocity, player load, how much you push out your left foot … everything," said Mark Jackson, an associate athletic director at USC. "You have real numbers at the end of every practice."

 

[Alaskawildkat]

This brings to mind the thread last week about the Stanford players using some type of sophisticated video game to game plan for Northwestern. Wonder if that contributed to the problems their quarterback had adjusting to reality on the actual field?

 

[Mr. Stupor]

I thought this thread was going to be about players in trouble with Johnny Law...

 

[FeliSilvestris]

the USC Trojans, who will rock a tiny GPS device underneath their shoulder pads during their game on Saturday. The project, which was introduced by USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Athletics Department, is designed to "provide data that will be used to fine-tune their next training session

This new innovation is wireless, produces complex analysis and interprets approximately 1,000 data points per second.

Maybe that's the intended purpose...OTOH, it seems that a similar system could give the players information about the play in progress which could be an advantage...for example, it could tell a QB where his receivers and backs are, and perhaps --based on the movement of his own blockers -- where pressure is coming, and similar stuff...a robo-QB of sorts.
May be OK, but the question is then, should it be considered an unfair advantage? Perhaps the NCAA could approve a single system that each team that so desires can use (to avoid giving certain teams an advantage over others)...
On the other side of the coin, device-to-device wireless communications may potentially be intercepted by the opponent (no pun intended) which then may get an advantage by analyzing such signals (to tell a defender where the O-backs and receivers are heading, for example).

 

[Deeringfish]

College football is known for all types of fancy equipment, and sometimes, the gear can even get a bit experimental.

Such is certainly the case for the USC Trojans, who will rock a tiny GPS device underneath their shoulder pads during their game on Saturday. The project, which was introduced by USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Athletics Department, is designed to "provide data that will be used to fine-tune their next training session

This new innovation is wireless, produces complex analysis and interprets approximately 1,000 data points per second.

"It measures maximum velocity, player load, how much you push out your left foot … everything," said Mark Jackson, an associate athletic director at USC. "You have real numbers at the end of every practice."

I didn't think GPS systems were allowed to be that accurate except for military purposes. Has that changed?

 

[FeliSilvestris]

I didn't think GPS systems were allowed to be that accurate except for military purposes. Has that changed?

It has changed. Currently, "Real-world data ... show that high-quality GPS receivers provide better than 3.5 meter (yards) horizontal accuracy" but with so-called "augmentation systems", one can achieve "real-time positioning to within a few centimeters".
Should be enough for FB purposes.

 

[SmellyCat]

I thought this thread was going to be about players in trouble with Johnny Law...

Me too. I mean, it IS USC.

 

[EvanstonCat]

It has changed. Currently, "Real-world data ... show that high-quality GPS receivers provide better than 3.5 meter (yards) horizontal accuracy" but with so-called "augmentation systems", one can achieve "real-time positioning to within a few centimeters".
Should be enough for FB purposes.

Horse crap. I know a little bit about this. GPS via 4G is good within 50m. Maybe. In a lab, Wi-Fi access points can get you to maybe 5m, but the reality is more like 10-15 in reality.

For a few centimeters, you need beacons or geomagnetic tech.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

College football is known for all types of fancy equipment, and sometimes, the gear can even get a bit experimental.

Such is certainly the case for the USC Trojans, who will rock a tiny GPS device underneath their shoulder pads during their game on Saturday. The project, which was introduced by USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Athletics Department, is designed to "provide data that will be used to fine-tune their next training session

This new innovation is wireless, produces complex analysis and interprets approximately 1,000 data points per second.

"It measures maximum velocity, player load, how much you push out your left foot … everything," said Mark Jackson, an associate athletic director at USC. "You have real numbers at the end of every practice."

here is one of the companies - lots of pro and college teams use these systems

actually former player Ben Peterson works for one of them

http://www.catapultsports.com/

 

[FeliSilvestris]

Horse crap. I know a little bit about this. GPS via 4G is good within 50m. Maybe. In a lab, Wi-Fi access points can get you to maybe 5m, but the reality is more like 10-15 in reality.

For a few centimeters, you need beacons or geomagnetic tech.

My statements come from the OFFICIAL US gov site on gps: http://www.gps.gov/
3.5 meter accuracy is realistic with a good receiver....for accuracy of centimeters (inches) "augmentation systems" are needed (as I wrote). Considering how much money there is in big-time college FB, if a college program is allowed to do it, they would throw tons of money into whichever "augmentation system" is practically realizable....NFL teams would of course do it as well.
GPS would be needed to play away from home...(roofed stadiums would likely kill it, though)....At its own stadium a team could build a highly accurate geo-location system based on its very own beacons.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

My statements come from the OFFICIAL US gov site on gps: http://www.gps.gov/
3.5 meter accuracy is realistic with a good receiver....for accuracy of centimeters (inches) "augmentation systems" are needed (as I wrote). Considering how much money there is in big-time college FB, if a college program is allowed to do it, they would throw tons of money into whichever "augmentation system" is practically realizable....NFL teams would of course do it as well.
GPS would be needed to play away from home...(roofed stadiums would likely kill it, though)....At its own stadium a team could build a highly accurate geo-location system based on its very own beacons.

feli poke around on the link i provided. team so have systems in place for domes or arenas (NBA teams)

 

[FeliSilvestris]

feli poke around on the link i provided. team so have systems in place for domes or arenas (NBA teams)

Yeah, but they may just be using them for training stuff, as opposed to gaining play-in-progress information...
My point was (see my original post in this thread) that such systems could potentially be used for such things as telling a QB where his receivers are, or warning him of pressure, etc, etc....just use your imagination.... if a team has it but others don't that could be a problem...

 

[GlideCat]

Horse crap. I know a little bit about this. GPS via 4G is good within 50m. Maybe. In a lab, Wi-Fi access points can get you to maybe 5m, but the reality is more like 10-15 in reality.

For a few centimeters, you need beacons or geomagnetic tech.

We use GPS-based land surveying in my business The surveyors do not give out precise tolerances but is is very close.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

Yeah, but they may just be using them for training stuff, as opposed to gaining play-in-progress information...
My point was (see my original post in this thread) that such systems could potentially be used for such things as telling a QB where his receivers are, or warning him of pressure, etc, etc....just use your imagination.... if a team has it but others don't that could be a problem...

ahh yes i misunderstood you