Athlete Tracker – Case Study
How do you build spectator excitement in endurance athletics?
Athlete Tracker
When a provider of consulting, program and training development, information technology, and business management services to the National Guard and US Army began seeking options to diversify beyond the government sector, they looked to endurance athletics. Recognizing the need for increased spectator visibility and post-event data analysis in triathlons and Iron Man contests they envisioned using emerging cellular and GPS technologies to meet the need. A core expertise in information technology and server based applications armed them with the capability to develop a first class back-end system for tracking athletes and gathering data, however, they had no experience in the development of small, body worn, cellular, ANT and GPS capable devices.
Device Solutions ( www.device-solutions.com ) conducted a feasibility study to identify promising solutions for an athlete tracking device. After meeting with the client to understand all the requirements, Device Solutions completed a four week feasibility study and delivered a detailed requirements specification, a proposed schematic, estimated bill of material, over-the-air protocol specification, power consumption estimates, development schedules with estimated NRE, risk assessment with mitigation strategies, and list of recommended vendors for industrial design, mechanical engineering, antenna design, and manufacturing. Device Solutions provided a blueprint for development of a device to deliver heart rate, bicycle performance, and GPS location information to a back-end server application.
Upon client’s approval, Device Solutions developed hardware and embedded software, and project managed the selected vendors through two prototype development stages and a commercial development stage. Requirements for small size, long battery life, waterproof enclosure, and three radio technologies (GSM, GPS, ANT) combined to create a high risk development. Device Solutions iteratively tested critical RF parametrics throughout the development phases and added necessary safeguards to ensure a successful launch. Device Solutions was present during major factory builds to test first units off the line, avoiding costly rework associated with initial factory builds.
A year later, the client created an event organizing firm to change the way athletes, family members, and spectators view and participate in triathlons. The immediate goal was to make triathlons a more interactive, enjoyable experience for spectators and the athlete tracker device was a key enabler. For the first time in the racing world, spectators could benefit from the delivery of location technology in real-time. Designed specifically for the endurance athlete, the athlete tracker transmits racing performance data directly to the organizer’s website where family and friends can cheer as the race unfolds. Upon race completion, the athlete’s data is stored for personal post-race analysis and use in focused training.