New technology may replace GPS to track athlete performance

Researchers have developed a new "game-changing" technology that may be an alternative to GPS to record accurate performance data for elite athletes.
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology can't keep up when it comes to recording accurate performance data for elite athletes, researchers say.
Griffith University's SABEL Labs has developed SABEL Sense, an alternative to GPS for tracking running speeds and distances, which they believe could be a game changer in the sports performance and wearable technology industries.
SABEL Labs project manager and research fellow Dr Jono Neville developed a model which presents accelerometers as a viable alternative to GPS.
Neville said while GPS devices are important for workload management, they have limitations when it comes to changes in speed and direction and when they are used indoors, due to their reliance on external satellites.

He compared inertial sensor data with GPS data, collected simultaneously from Brisbane Lions Australian Football League (AFL) players during 2009, to create a model which was highly accurate for running speeds.

"When it comes to frequent and rapid changes in speed and distance, GPS just doesn't cut it, although it's still the most widely used technology," Neville said.
"We have found a data processing technique which allows us to extract data from an athlete and create an individualised model," he said.
Neville said the technology will be key in monitoring training and game workloads.
"This will assist in preventing things such as over-training, which is a major concern for elite athletes, to reduce risk of injury," he said.

Neville said individualised models are created automatically using SABEL Sense technology which can then be used to track speeds and distances.