Training aid

We recently told you about the T-Apex, a mobile tennis-ball-serving robot that tracks and assesses players' returns. Well, the Acemate bot goes a step further, by actually rallying back and forth with players to really hone their skills.

If you want to run faster, it definitely helps if you know what it feels like to run faster. The Airshield was designed with that fact in mind, as it allows runners to train without experiencing any air resistance.

A new training device is claimed to make you a better soccer player, even if you're practicing by yourself. It's called Voon Soccer, and it electronically assesses your performance in tens of different skill-building drills.

Sadly, this is not a rollercoaster for horses. And despite its dystopian hover-chariot looks, it's actually designed to be a kinder and safer way to prepare young horses for the often-damaging shock of beginning a race training program.

While punching bags do help boxers hone their craft, the things don't replicate one key aspect of real boxing – they don't punch back. The Boxing Buddy, which is currently on Indiegogo, is designed to address that shortcoming.

It goes without saying that surgeons require a very delicate, precise touch. A new set of surgical training gloves were designed with that fact in mind, as they monitor their wearer's hand movements, and provide feedback on their technique.

Monitoring your performance can help you improve in pretty much any sport, and that includes table tennis. The German-designed Janova paddle was created with this fact in mind, as it tracks your strokes while you play.

In order to train their students, medical schools often get actors to present symptoms of certain conditions. Offering what is claimed to be a more consistent alternative, the HAL S5301 robot is designed to simulate a brain-injured patient.

A new augmented reality-based system is made to train athletes and help rehab patients, by providing real-time motion feedback.

​We've already seen "smart" soccer balls with integrated sensors that track parameters such as the ball's spin and trajectory. Well, the DribbleUp takes a different approach to smart training. It has markings that allow it to be tracked by a free iOS/Android app.

Most cycling power meters take the form of a device that's either added to or built into one crank arm, and they can cost anywhere from around US$1,000 to over $2,000. The Limits power meter, however, simply goes between the pedal and crank of any bike, and is planned to cost less than $400.

Shot statistics and analysis can reveal a treasure trove of useful information about a basketballer's game. The ShotTracker is a system that relies on wearable technology to track your shooting success, providing insights into your strengths and the areas in need of improvement.