In post 5 we explored how computer vision and AI are starting to understand the game from the outside. Today we go inside the kit itself. Modern rugby players are becoming walking sensor platforms. GPS units, smart mouth guards, heart-rate monitors and connected equipment are now common at the professional level and increasingly accessible to ambitious amateur clubs.
This post looks at the hardware layer: what is being measured, how the data gets off the player and what developers need to think about when working with real-world sports IoT.
The Main Categories of Player Technology
1. GPS / GNSS tracking units
Usually worn in a vest between the shoulder blades. These devices record position, speed, acceleration, distance and sometimes heart rate. They are the workhorses of modern load management.
