Sports

Adidas miCoach Smart Ball tracks your striking power and finesse

Adidas miCoach Smart Ball tracks your striking power and finesse
Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms its Smart Ball uses, but says it can track speed, bend, impact location and trajectory
Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms its Smart Ball uses, but says it can track speed, bend, impact location and trajectory
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The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
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The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick
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Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick
The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug
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The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug
Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms its Smart Ball uses, but says it can track speed, bend, impact location and trajectory
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Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms its Smart Ball uses, but says it can track speed, bend, impact location and trajectory
The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
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The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick
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Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick
The Smart Ball is designed specifically to be used as a training tool in dead-ball situations where the ball is lofted such as free kicks, penalties, corners shots, goal kicks and long passes
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The Smart Ball is designed specifically to be used as a training tool in dead-ball situations where the ball is lofted such as free kicks, penalties, corners shots, goal kicks and long passes
The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
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The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
Within the app, users can gain draw on statistics such as how quickly the balls is traveling and how many revolutions it is spinning per minute to refine their technique
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Within the app, users can gain draw on statistics such as how quickly the balls is traveling and how many revolutions it is spinning per minute to refine their technique
Within the app, users can gain draw on statistics such as how quickly the balls is traveling and how many revolutions it is spinning per minute to refine their technique
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Within the app, users can gain draw on statistics such as how quickly the balls is traveling and how many revolutions it is spinning per minute to refine their technique
The Smart Ball is designed specifically to be used as a training tool in dead-ball situations where the ball is lofted such as free kicks, penalties, corners shots, goal kicks and long passes
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The Smart Ball is designed specifically to be used as a training tool in dead-ball situations where the ball is lofted such as free kicks, penalties, corners shots, goal kicks and long passes
Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick
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Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick
The sensors are rendered useless if the ball is traveling along the ground
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The sensors are rendered useless if the ball is traveling along the ground
The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug
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The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug
The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
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The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, size five regulation weight soccer ball fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module
The app also includes challenges where users can try to bend their free kick around a virtual wall or perfect the "knuckle ball", where the ball is struck dead in its center to create an unpredictable flight path
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The app also includes challenges where users can try to bend their free kick around a virtual wall or perfect the "knuckle ball", where the ball is struck dead in its center to create an unpredictable flight path
The sensors are rendered useless if the ball is traveling along the ground
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The sensors are rendered useless if the ball is traveling along the ground
The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug
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The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug
View gallery - 18 images

It was back in 2007 that Adidas first explored the potential of an intelligent football. In the time since, it has continued to smarten up sports performance with heart-monitoring phones, fitness tracking watches and intelligent football boots. Now, just as the globe turns its focus to next month's World Cup in Brazil, it has unveiled the miCoach Smart Ball, a soccer ball with built-in sensors to track everything from the power of your strike to the finesse of your free kick.

The Smart Ball is a 32-panel, regulation size and weight soccer ball (or football, depending on where you hail from) fitted with a Bluetooth 4.0 module. Adidas is tight-lipped on the sensors and algorithms the ball uses, but says it is capable of calculating speed, bend, the location of impact and the trajectory of the kick. It then transmits this data to the companion smartphone app where users can track their development.

Within the app, users can draw on these statistics to refine their technique. It also includes challenges where users can try to bend their free kick around a virtual wall or perfect the "knuckle ball," where the ball is struck dead in its center to create an unpredictable flight path.

The Smart Ball is designed specifically to be used as a training tool in dead-ball situations, such as free kicks, penalties, corners, shots, goal kicks and long passes. The sensors only track the ball's movement through the air and are rendered useless if the ball is kicked along the ground.

Within the app, users can gain draw on statistics such as how quickly the balls is traveling and how many revolutions it is spinning per minute to refine their technique
Within the app, users can gain draw on statistics such as how quickly the balls is traveling and how many revolutions it is spinning per minute to refine their technique

Building technology into a round ball appears an emerging trend, suggesting there is something to be gained from tracking its orientation and trajectory through the air. Wilson last month revealed its Smart Basketball, which also pairs with an smartphone app to provide feedback on performance. When it comes to soccer, this technology could prove particularly useful where the way the ball is struck can be the difference between bending it like Beckham and sending it into the stands.

The Smart Ball is compatible with Bluetooth LE-capable iOS devices and comes with a charging base and wall plug. It is available through the Adidas website for US$299.

Source: Adidas

View gallery - 18 images
1 comment
1 comment
nutcase
How long before we are steering the football?