K

Kathleen Martin

Guest
Technological advances are changing the face of every industry, and the world of sports is no different, with digital tools bringing novel ways of watching and playing games. IoT devices have been included in the National Football League since 2019, and their influence and applications are growing each year.
From helmet sensors to protect players from concussions to augmented reality (AR) filters to give viewers a more immersive experience, here are some of the IoT technologies set to take center stage in this year’s NFL season.
Sensor Technology
When it comes to athletics, advances in data tracking and sensor technology have proven groundbreaking in providing in-depth insight into player performance and contested plays. One example is placing a tiny sensor on the football in play, capable of tracking distance, velocity and acceleration to build a holistic set of metrics, which can then be used by game managers and fans alike to build a player profile. This year’s preseason games used footballs embedded with microchips to monitor and analyze placement and handling of the ball and build a data set to inform future games.
The same concept can be applied to tagging the players themselves, capturing data on their movements, speed and game participation, though it can also go as detailed as player aggression, capacity to throw under pressure, time taken to throw, and much more. This data can then be provided to broadcasters to display or to managers to help build game plays. 
Robotic Football
Robotic assistants are becoming increasingly prevalent on and off the field. This year the Green Bay Packers became the first NFL team to use the football-launching robot, dubbed Seeker, during practice. 
The robotic quarterback has a six-ball magazine that can fire out footballs in various directions in nine seconds and can be programmed to imitate the job of several different players, such as a quarterback, punter or kicker. Initially developed to provide a contactless means of practicing football during the pandemic, the motorized robot is capable of “kicking” at a speed of up to 75 mph and can push out 500 throws per hour. 
Continue reading: https://www.iotworldtoday.com/2022/09/07/6-ways-iot-is-transforming-the-nfl/