Panasonic PTZ Cameras Enable Professional Cyclists And Athletes To Improve Performance
By Jennifer P
Panasonic’s AW-UE150 and AW-UE100 PTZ cameras have emerged as the chosen solutions for a pioneering project undertaken by the research team at Ghent University-imec in Belgium. This innovative endeavor seeks to enhance the analysis and performance evaluation of athletes by leveraging cutting-edge video capture technology. The project’s successful implementation demonstrates the pivotal role that Panasonic’s advanced PTZ cameras play in automating and optimizing the capture of high-speed athletic performances.
The conventional process of recording and analyzing athletes’ performances often presents challenges for coaches and sports researchers. It typically involves a lack of access to robust camera equipment, along with the need for additional manpower and specialized tools to create high-quality videos for in-depth analysis and training. Panasonic’s PTZ cameras, however, have revolutionized this approach, offering an automated and efficient means of capturing high-speed performance footage.
The selection of Panasonic’s UE150 and UE100 PTZ cameras for this project was informed by their remarkable adaptability and precision. These cameras excel in providing fine control, both horizontally and vertically, allowing for precise framing and tracking of athletic performances. The exceptional focal distance and zoom capabilities add further value, ensuring that even the most dynamic and high-speed actions can be captured with clarity and detail.
The UE100, in particular, boasts a direct drive motor that facilitates smooth pan and tilt movements, coupled with installation flexibility, low operational noise, and high-resolution image capture. These features make it an ideal choice for sports analysis, enabling coaches and researchers to produce high-quality videos for in-depth scrutiny. Furthermore, the UE100 supports a wide array of IP transmission protocols, adding to its versatility.
The UE150, a companion to the UE100, brings additional strengths to the table. It is equipped to deliver very high-quality video production, boasting impressive zoom capabilities and wide shooting angles. These qualities make it an invaluable addition to sports environments, particularly in large venues such as stadiums. Moreover, both of Panasonic’s PTZ cameras have the capability to seamlessly integrate with timing loop technology commonly used in track cycling. This integration allows sports coaches to automatically capture video footage of cyclists during their training and competitions, eliminating the need for a dedicated video operator.
In the words of Maarten Slembrouck, a postdoctoral researcher at IDLab, Ghent University, “Track cycling coaches tend to focus on what their athletes are doing ‘in the moment.’ They often lack the time to capture videos of performances during training or at competitions, which would enable the athletes to learn and improve. Using Panasonic PTZ cameras, we were able to automate framing and timing loops of track cyclists, while limiting the amount of work involved for the coaches and any technical staff.”
In summary, the adoption of Panasonic’s UE150 and UE100 PTZ cameras by Ghent University’s research team has opened up new horizons in sports performance analysis. These cameras, with their adaptability, precision, and integration capabilities, have revolutionized the way athletic performances are captured and analyzed, ultimately providing coaches and athletes with a powerful tool for improvement.
Read the full Case Study from Panasonic Connect HERE
Learn more about Panasonic Connect AW-UE150 HERE
Learn more about Panasonic Connect AW-UE100 HERE
Learn more about Panasonic Connect HERE