In an increasingly digitalized world, sport is no exception. Digital transformation has reached all areas of our lives, including the sports field. In this context, the Spanish Triathlon Federation (FETRI) has presented together with Wiemspro the latest technological advance, the EMS biosuit.
This innovative garment, developed in collaboration with Wiemspro and Austral, is an outstanding example of the digital transformation promoted by the Higher Sports Council (CSD+i). In this article, we will explore in detail the FETRI biosuit, its features, and how it is revolutionizing the way you train in triathlon.
How Artificial Intelligence impacts and transforms the sports world
The presentation of the FETRI biosuit took place within the framework of the event “How Artificial Intelligence impacts and transforms the world of sport”, organized by the CSD+i and the deputy deputy director of High Competition of the Higher Sports Council, Conchi Bellorín. This event brought together more than 100 attendees, including federations, technology companies and startups, with the aim of exploring advances in Artificial Intelligence applied to sport. During the event, the achievements obtained by the athletics, hockey and triathlon federations, as well as large companies such as IBM and Mediapro, were highlighted. These collaborative meetings are a fundamental part of the CSD+i initiative, launched by the Higher Sports Council a few months ago.
Presentation of the FETRI Biosuit by Wiemspro
The president of the Spanish Triathlon Federation, José Hidalgo, was in charge of presenting the FETRI biosuit during the event. Hidalgo highlighted that with this presentation, the FETRI once again becomes a reference in Spanish sport.
“FETRI+ie seeks to link triathlon with research, innovation and the use of Artificial Intelligence.”
The biosuit aims to provide better tools for training athletes, allowing greater optimization and generating multi-data that can be analyzed in real time by technicians. The integration of Artificial Intelligence in the biosuit allows the loads to be adapted in a personalized way, using the information of each athlete. With this, the FETRI+i project is launched, which seeks to link triathlon with research, innovation and the use of Artificial Intelligence.
It is a source of pride for FETRI that the CSD has presented the biosuit as an example of good practice in its CSD+i project, as this means that top-level athletes will begin to use it, and it is subsequently expected to be scaled up to the Autonomous Federations and clubs. The triathlon, once again, becomes a benchmark for innovation, artificial intelligence and research.
The Biosuit, Wiemspro and Austral: A Technological Alliance
For the development of the biosuit, the Spanish Triathlon Federation has partnered with two leading technology companies in the sector: Wiemspro and Austral. This collaboration has allowed the creation of a prototype that is already being used with elite athletes and that will continue to evolve with new improvements in the future. The main objective is to provide athletes with the best tools for competition, training and rest. Below we will present the key features of the FETRI biosuit.
Features of the FETRI Biosuit by Wiemspro
Currently, measuring and making decisions based on the present is not enough. To improve the performance and health of athletes, it is necessary to optimize decision-making and actions based on personalized predictive models for each athlete. The FETRI biosuit integrates a wide range of sensors that scan key variables of sports performance. Using machine learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques, multiple data are analyzed and integrated, allowing for more complete and useful evaluations for both coaches and athletes themselves. Connectivity aimed at the comprehensive care of the athlete is the future of technology applied to sports.
Revolutionary Sensors for Training
The FETRI biosuit features a series of sensors that are transforming the way you train. These sensors capture and measure precise data in real time, providing objective information about the movement and physiological variables of the athlete. Below are some of the sensors included in the biosuit:
- External load sensors: These sensors use accelerometers and gyroscopes to provide quantitative and qualitative information about the athlete’s movement. In addition, a global positioning system (GPS) is integrated to record the location and route during training or competition.
- Internal exercise load sensors: These sensors measure key biomarkers of the athlete in various situations, whether during exercise or in everyday life. These sensors include heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), electrocardiogram (ECG), body temperature, electromyography (sEMG), lactate levels, muscle oxygen (SMO2) and glucose levels.
- Body composition sensors: These sensors allow measuring and controlling the evolution of the athlete’s body composition, both at an acute level (during the exercise test) and at a chronic level (history of muscle mass, fat mass and their relationship with sports performance). Bioimpedance is used to obtain this data.
- Training and physical activity enhancer: The biosuit incorporates electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), which is used to meet strength and cardiorespiratory capacity goals. This technology helps improve sports performance.
- Online communication: The biosuit has direct communication through a SIM card, allowing data transmission in real time and a constant connection with the coach or technical team.
This is how the biosuit helps improve athletes’ training
The use of the biosuit will bring with it a series of significant improvements in the training of athletes. Some of the expected benefits are:
- Control of movement in physical activity: The biosuit allows detecting and measuring the movement made during training, which facilitates the improvement of technique and the correction of possible postural errors.
- Objective analysis in mesocycles and macrocycles: Thanks to the data collected by the biosuit sensors, it is possible to perform an objective evolutionary analysis in different training periods, which helps to optimize training programs and evaluate their effectiveness.
- Detection of abnormal parameters and level of fatigue: The biosuit is capable of detecting abnormal parameters and high levels of fatigue, generating alerts to avoid possible injuries or overtraining.
- Use of EMS: The technology EMS Integrated into the biosuit allows you to meet specific strength or cardiorespiratory capacity objectives, contributing to sports performance.
- Analysis of changes in body composition: The biosuit allows monitoring the evolution of the athlete’s body composition, detect hydration levels and establish relationships between body composition and sports performance, which helps find the ideal body composition for each goal.
- Calculation of training loads and recovery level: The biosuit provides precise information on the athlete’s recovery level and allows training loads to be calculated both within a training session and in the long term, helping to avoid overtraining and maximizing performance.
- Prevention of dangerous events and emergency button: The biosuit also includes an emergency button for athletes in case of dangerous events or emergency situations. This provides an additional layer of security during training and competitions.
- All sensors will be included in the EMS suit and in a technical training garment for indoor and another outdoor and for use in water.
This is how the data we obtain from the biosuit will be used
Once all this data is collected through the biosuit, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in analysis and decision-making. AI examines historical data, athlete goals, and physiological data to help the coach make informed decisions. A multi-input data analysis platform is also created where AI can perform improvement models and offer precise recommendations to optimize the performance of athletes.
In summary, the biosuit represents a significant advance in the training of athletes by providing precise control of movement, objective analysis of performance and early detection of problems. Additionally, data collected through the biosuit, combined with artificial intelligence, offers a unique opportunity to improve sports performance and maximize athletes’ potential.
About CSD+i
CSD+i is an initiative promoted by the Higher Sports Council with the aim of leading the transformation of the sports sector through digitalization and innovation. This initiative encourages public-private collaboration between companies, startups, entrepreneurial talent and the public administration to improve the competitiveness of Spanish sport and its impact on various sectors of the economy and society.
The CSD+i approach is based on several axes of activity. First, a radar for analysis and anticipation of trends is established in areas such as nutrition, research, data sciences, performance and inclusion. This provides a space for science and dissemination in the field of sport, promoting innovation and the adoption of best practices.
In addition, CSD+i has created a specific transformation office for sports federations, high-level athletes and High Performance Centers. This office promotes collaboration between these actors and offers a roadmap for the digital transformation of each entity, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by technology in sport.
CSD+i also has an Innovation Factory that promotes pilot programs and projects to build innovation in the sports sector. The participation of talent and cutting-edge technologies is encouraged, allowing athletes to test pilot projects and innovative solutions, while High Performance Centers are valued as cutting-edge environments in research and development.
Finally, CSD+i is dedicated to training professionals in the sports sector. Through an ecosystem of knowledge and experience exchange, educational plans and training platforms are offered that allow the adoption of digital habits and the improvement of professional skills.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the biosuit presented by the Spanish Triathlon Federation in collaboration with Wiemspro and Austral represents a significant advance in the application of AI to sports training. Thanks to the integration of multiple sensors and machine learning techniques, this suit provides athletes with advanced tools to improve their performance and health. Furthermore, the FETRI+i project and the CSD+i initiative promote innovation and digital transformation in the sports field, positioning Spain as a benchmark in this area.
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