Continuous Athlete Monitoring in Challenging Cycling Environments Using IoT Technologies

Abstract

IoT-based solutions for sport analytics aim to improve performance, coaching and strategic insights. These factors are especially relevant in cycling, where real-time data should be available anytime, anywhere, even in remote areas where there are no infrastructure-based communication technologies (e.g. LTE, Wi-Fi). In this paper, we present an experience report on the use of state-of-the-art IoT technologies in cycling, where a group of cyclists can form a reliable and energy efficient mesh network to collect and process sensor data in real-time, such as heart rate, speed and location. This data is analyzed in real-time to estimate the performance of each rider and derive instantaneous feedback. Our solution is the first to combine a local body area network to gather the sensor data from the cyclist and a 6TiSCH network to form a multi-hop long-range wireless sensor network in order to provide each bicycle with connectivity to the sink (e.g. a moving car following the cyclists). In this work we present a detailed technical description of this solution, describing its requirements, options and technical challenges. In order to assess such a deployment, we present a large publicly available data-set from different real-world cycling scenarios (mountain road cycle racing and cyclo-cross) which characterizes the performance of the approach, demonstrating its feasibility and evidencing its relevance and promising possibilities in a cycling context for providing low-power communication with reliable performance.

A Novel mHealth Monitoring System during Cycling in Elite Athletes

“…A number of smart e-platforms have been proposed to monitor a lot of events in cycling [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The feedback provided by these platforms is however not sufficient in real-time efforts.…”

“…The feedback provided by these platforms is however not sufficient in real-time efforts. Recently, the CONAMO project (CONtinuous Athlete MOnitoring), which combined the Wireless Personal-Area Network (WPAN) technology, widely used in cycling and the 6TiSCH network, has provided a dynamic, real-time, and reliable novel sensing system that can be used for covering cycling events, in amateur or professional cycling [ 25 ]. Gaidos and dos Sandos [ 26 ] designed and developed a system of mobile-Health monitoring and training for cyclists.…”

Sensors and Systems for Physical Rehabilitation and Health Monitoring—A Review

“…From these, it is possible to extract some characteristics that allow for standard setting that aids in diagnostics. Furthermore, the remote monitoring provides increased data volume and for this reason, can promote a better diagnosis for diseases [3], improve athlete performance [4,5], and/or accelerate patient rehabilitation processes [6,7].…”

Basketball Player On-Body Biophysical and Environmental Parameter Monitoring Based on Wireless Sensor Network Integration

“…This opens a new paradigm that can be called the Internet of Sports Things (IoST), which will aid professional athletes to reach their goals using smart wireless sensors networks, applicable on an individual level as well as in the development of team sport activities. Table I presents an overview of different approaches in the application of WSN and technological integration within the scope of sport related activities [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In general, these published research studies help the effectiveness of movements or training performance in different kind of sports.…”

“…[11] IoT for Next-Generation Racket Sports Training A wearable sensing device based on MEMS which detects badminton strokes helping players in their training. [12] Continuous Athlete Monitoring in Challenging Cycling Environments Using IoT Technologies An IoT-based platform using bicycles as nodes in a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) for real-time cycling monitoring of multiple riders.…”