University Libraries project helps athletes 'train and play smarter'
University Libraries at Virginia Tech is helping athletes train smarter through immersive 3D simulations of game day mistakes and successes.
With the help of a LAUNCH: Center for New Ventures Proof of Concept grant, the Applied Research in Immersive Experiences and Simulations (ARIES) team is developing first-person simulations that bring game day football plays back to the practice field, allowing players and coaches to observe the action from multiple perspectives through an immersive virtual environment.
A decade in the making
The team uses the video of the plays to create the 3D versions.
Todd Ogle, ARIES' executive director, has been exploring immersive simulation research for athletic performance for over a decade, beginning with early work funded by the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology in 2016. “Seeing this move forward, specifically with the technology we've created, is very exciting,” said Ogle. ”I also think it’s really cool that University Libraries is working with Virginia Tech Athletics to create better ways to train.”
Ogle asked the athletics department staff what would be helpful in a simulation training environment. He used the feedback to hone the virtual training.
“In the sports science department, we are always looking for any way to give our team an edge against their opponents. Having access to this on campus is an invaluable resource,” said Kelsey Vinson, director of sport science for football for Virginia Tech Athletics.
"I am always trying to get our athletes to train and play smarter,” said Vinson. “By giving them access to innovation that other teams might not be using, gives us an advantage."
The development team consisted of student researchers from the Graduate School; the creative technologies program in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design; and the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering.
Student immersive media developers Connor Cosimano, Matt Finn, Michael Davis-King, and Sophia Pomatto built the 3D environments and virtual reality simulations. Student artificial ingelligence and data experts Logan Lane, Clara McDaniel, Matthew Gallagher, Michael Kricheldorf, and Ben Tatum created the digital twins of football plays.
Big impact, big gains
This project is a demonstration of what ARIES can do, and Ogle said the football project is a blueprint for future collaborations. “Others can partner with us to drive their own innovation around simulations,” said Ogle.
“For Virginia Tech, we hope it will improve player training, leading to success on the field,” said Ogle. “And for the community, we hope that the spin-out student company will create jobs right here in Blacksburg.”
Ogle sees the project as a model for others.
“This is a great example of how libraries can be drivers of research, entrepreneurship, and community impact,” said Ogle. “Creating something new and seeing it grow is one of the most exciting parts of what we do.”
Creating the future
Using the intellectual property generated by this research, a group of students plans to establish a company next spring. The initial goal is to focus on football simulations, but they may expand to include the development of other types of simulations.
The LAUNCH Proof of Concept program, directed by Mark Mondry, helps move research closer to commercialization. “The award itself is special in that it is a one-of-a-kind for University Libraries and a furtherance of research I began years ago,” said Ogle. “It is a big deal to not only support entrepreneurship, but engage in it as well.”
For Ogle, the project is about more than football. It’s about showing what’s possible. “I want people to know that innovation is something they can be a part of,” said Ogle.
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