JOHAN V5 leverages EGNOS for extra precision
Winner of the GSA Special Prize at the 2013 Galileo Masters (former European Satellite Navigation Competition - ESNC), JOHAN has successfully established a start-up and is expanding its products portfolio. The company has developed GNSS-enabled motion sensors for location determination and performance measurement of sports teams, especially football and hockey players. The latest version of the sports tracker - V5 - leverages EGNOS/SBAS for extra accuracy.
The JOHAN V5 tracking system was developed in close collaboration with professional sports teams and offers accuracy, usability, and efficiency in a system that allows sports coaches to make quick and data-based decisions about player performance, injury risks, and training programmes.
The latest version of the sports tracker, the JOHAN V5, is equipped with a small powerful GNSS chip which, in combination with GNSS ground stations and sensor fusion, ensures high positioning accuracy. In addition, the V5 sensor also contains an integrated heart rate monitor, so that GNSS and heart rate data can be collected simultaneously from the players, who only need to wear one sensor. The latest version of the tracker offers real-time functionality, making it possible to translate live insights into training adjustments, through a user-friendly app.
Galileo for team spirit
The GNSS tracker – which is Galileo enabled – can determine a player’s position up to 1.5 metres and when this is combined with measurements from inertial sensors the level of accuracy increases even further. The monitor allows sports coaches or trainers to monitor the heart rate, number of sprints, distance covered and speed of all the team’s players.
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After using the tracer, players and coaches can review their performance, allowing players to spot weaknesses and improve their game over time and enabling coaches to make data-based tactical decisions to take advantage of players’ strengths and improve overall team performance.
“Sports trackers are yet another example of how Europe’s investment in space is being leveraged to provide innovative services in multiple sectors. In this case, Galileo’s accurate positioning is used to provide data-driven insights, allowing trainers to better strategize and enabling players to improve their performance,” said Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market Development at the GSA.
The V5 trackers are connected to a smart JOHAN control suitcase using new Bluetooth 5 technology, enabling live tracking. Bluetooth 5 technology has a range of over 400 meters, making it possible connect with the Live App to present accurate and consistent live tracking data.
GSA prize winner
Winning the GSA Special Prize at the ESNC in 2013 provided finance for incubation at an incubation centre of the project’s choice and JOHAN decided to cooperate with the European Space Agency’s Business Innovation Centre in Noordwijk. Working from this centre, the company ramped up development, adding customers and raising funds.
With kits to monitor teams of five players starting at EUR 995 per year, the company currently has more than 2,400 trackers in use by more than 120 teams in more than 24 countries, including Panathinaikos F.C. (Super League, Greece), Feyenoord Academy (Eredivisie, Netherlands), SC Braga Academy (Primeira Liga, Portugal) and the Icelandic national football team (FIFA, Iceland).
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