The basis of any analytics is the benchmark – literally. To interpret a set of data, the analyst has to establish what he or she is analyzing against – an ideal, a goal, a prior state, a benchmark. LiDAR makes analyzing to a benchmark easier and more accurate than pre-existing technologies like video or RFID can. That’s why it’s currently helping many Premier League teams get a leg up on the competition.
How does it do this? By not intruding on a player’s comfort or concentration, by not being limited by physical location and by giving more – and more accurate – real-time feedback.
LiDAR does its work without influencing the player’s comfort or concentration. The laser-based technology captures data autonomously – players don’t need to wear sensors or perform in conditions or spaces that are unusual or uncomfortable. Bad angles are no excuse for LiDAR. And because of the quantity of data it generates, the tech doesn’t require players to modify positioning to generate necessary data. All of these factors promote the apples-to-apples consistency in data parameters that is crucial in benchmarking.
Additionally, LiDAR delivers all these benefits regardless of the venue itself. A pitch is widely regarded as being relatively consistent in dimension, firmness and texture underfoot. But the broader venues – the stadium and arena structures – can vary in ways that impede GPS and video accuracy, adding challenges to comparing one performance to another, or to a benchmark. Positioning and installation logistics are critical for most optical systems, but Spotlight’s dynamic LiDAR tech works in virtually any setting.
It’s said that the best coaches and performance analysts have the sharpest eyes. Benchmarks are indelibly imprinted in their minds and they can quickly detect slight deviations from a player’s ideal movements. This promotes better, more timely decisions and prevents injury. Sportlight’s LiDAR is similar – but far more objective in the accuracy of its findings and the speed at which it makes them available to the analyst. The system is even able to notify when it detects pre-set deviations from a benchmark.