LEOMO is a developer of sports-based IoT devices, and the company has recently unveiled its TYPE-R, the first in a new category of wearable technologies specifically designed to help competitive athletes and their coaches unlock the power of motion analysis. The TYPE-R is a wearable motion measurement tool for athletes, and it is scheduled for a public launch in the U.S. later this summer and in other markets later in the year.
The device is designed to offer insights into how to optimize an athlete’s form, technique and performance, and may also assist in injury avoidance and recovery. Until now, athlete motion analysis has been limited to occasional sessions at labs or studios that do not reflect real-world training or race conditions, and often require elaborate and expensive systems.
Bringing Motion Analysis to Cycling
The TYPE-R comprises a sleek handlebar or wrist-mounted touch screen head unit, and includes GPS tracking and ANT+ connectivity for additional measurement of power, power balance, cadence, and heart rate. It has five discreet rechargeable Bluetooth sensors, each with its own three-axis gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer to accurately measure motion and form. Worn on each shoe, above each knee, and above the sacrum, the sensors measure important aspects of a rider’s movement, including: Dead Spot Scores, Foot Angular Range, Leg Angular Range, and Pelvic Tilt.
After a workout, and when synced to a Wi-Fi network, ride data can be uploaded to the cloud and analyzed on a Web-based dashboard. LEOMO is still conducting battery endurance testing, but battery life is expected to be ~6.5 hours with use of an L battery and dock charger.
“Competitive athletes want to use their bodies better – and we want to help them,” said Kunihiko Kaji, CEO and co-founder, LEOMO. “For the first time, the TYPE-R will bring the power of motion analysis out of the lab and into their world, filling a void that's currently missing in their arsenal.”
Assessing an athlete’s motion with the naked eye is rarely accurate. By using the TYPE-R, coaches are able to validate with data whether their assessment is accurate, regardless of whether he/she is with the athlete or coaching them remotely. Also, any prescribed form or motion changes that an athlete consciously applies are reflected in data, helping a coach validate his/her instructions, and thereby reducing any misinterpretation of what they intended to tell their athlete.
Cyclists are rarely able to monitor their motion in real time, especially when out on the road. Any change in form or motion, which may otherwise be invisible to them, is shown on the screen of the TYPE-R head unit as quantifiable, actionable data.
“As a coach, the TYPE-R now allows me to rapidly identify asymmetries and patterns of movement in a real-world setting that I couldn't previously see in an athlete,” said Hunter Allen, founder, Peaks Coaching Group, home of the beta testing program for the TYPE-R. “With this kind of data, I can make informed decisions on how to adjust a rider's form to see what impact that might have on metrics such as power and cadence.”