ESPRIT project

ESPRIT, or the Elite Sport Performance Research in Training        is a UK EPSRC and UK Sport funded research project aiming to develop pervasive sensing technologies for better the understanding of the physiology and biomechanics of athletes in training, and apply the technologies to enhance the well being and healthcare of general public.

Key research themes

 * Generalised Body Sensor Networks - Imperial College London
 * Optimised Sensor Design and Embodiment - Queen Mary University of London
 * Learning, Data Modelling and Performance Optimisation - UK Sport, Imperial College London
 * Device and Technology Innovation (GOLD) in elite sports - Loughborough University

Proof of concept projects

 * Application of a solid-state saliva-based system to monitoring circadian rhythms in elite athletes - Swansea University
 * Real-time wireless localisation for team sports using body-centric communications - Queen's University Belfast
 * Optimized athlete body sensor networks for simulation-based performance analysis - Southampton University

Showcase/secondment projects

 * Monitor the effects of a warm-up on power production and wheelchair performance - Loughborough University
 * Using interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a measurement of exercise-induced inflammation - Loughborough University
 * Improvement of Powerwheel for racing wheelchairs - Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd.
 * Ankle and Foot Modelling in Elite Cycling - Paul Francis

Sports exemplars
A number of sports exemplars have been selected in the ESPRIT Programme to demonstrate and validate the application of pervasive sensing technology in elite sport performance monitoring

Healthcare exemplars
One of the main objectives of the ESPRIT project is to extend the developed sensing technology for wellbeing and healthcare applications. To demonstrate the application of the technology, a number of healthcare exemplars have been selected.
 * Fall detection
 * Post-operative care
 * Rehabilitation after knee-replacement surgery
 * COPD patient monitoring
 * Elderly care