During the 2012 Olympics in London, did you perhaps notice the camera installed on the track following the runners? Well, what if there was such a system for training and coaching US Olympic track and field athletes? In fact, I contend that this is now completely doable and that the robotic system could even give advice on rhythm, time divisions, form, and other important issues. Okay, let’s talk.
You see, there has been a great deal of technology that has come up in the last decade regarding human gait and mobility. In addition, the army has also worked to help wounded soldiers, we have learned a lot, it is really amazing. Why not take some of that technology into the ergonomic science of “gait recognition” and apply it to a wheeled or tracked robotic track and field training system?
Before my main business career, I competed on track and field, and most athletes at that level had far exceeded the skills of our coaches; past, present or future. They had no chance in hell of keeping up with us so they stood in the center of the track with a stopwatch, that’s basically how they did it, some of the coaches had binoculars, but let me spare you the futility of that strategy. .
Well, on track and field I ran the 800m, the 1500m, the mile, the mile relay, the two miles, and I can’t tell you how many 5K and 10K I’ve run in my life, I don’t know. I even want to think about it. Yes, I have also done several marathons. I can remember my track coach yelling at me during the last hundred meters of 1500 and 800 telling me to drive with my arms, lean forward, and fight the pain. Anyone who has ever run those races notices that their feet are on fire and that the front of the legs between the knee and where the leg joins looks like they are going to explode.
Being in proper shape even when you are fatigued, tired and exhausted is the key to moving forward and reaching your personal best. If you had a robot by your side guiding you as your running gait drifted slightly, you would eventually have the perfect stride and therefore the talent to overcome some of these difficulties. No, your career wouldn’t be without pain or sacrifice, that’s what it takes to win. However, you could become a better runner very quickly if you had a robotic trainer running down the track on his own track with you. In fact, I hope you will please consider all of this and think about it.
