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USP develops accessible tool to analyze track and field start
Low-cost, open-source system measures forces applied by athletes during the start and provides real-time feedback for coaches and teams
The device was tested with the Sesi track and field team – Photo: Felipe Medeiros/Jornal da USP
The start is one of the most decisive moments in track and field sprints. Fractions of a second, how force is applied through the legs on the starting blocks, reaction time, and initial power can determine the final outcome of a race. However, precise analysis of this movement still relies largely on expensive laboratory equipment that is not portable and is impractical for everyday use on the track.
To address this gap, researchers from the Graduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance at the Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP) developed a technology aimed at high-performance sports training: the instrumented starting block, which measures – in real time – the force applied by athletes at the start and provides feedback for coaches and teams.
The system was developed as part of the PhD thesis of Moser Zeferino Vicente José, supervised by Paulo Roberto Pereira Santiago, a professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP) at USP, in partnership with Sesi’s Olympic and Paralympic track and field teams.
The device, called the IoT Instrumented Starting Block (“IoT” stands for Internet of Things), adapts a traditional starting block to the Internet of Things concept – a network of physical devices connected to the internet, equipped with sensors and software capable of collecting and transmitting data autonomously. The goal is to transform a common piece of track equipment into an affordable technological tool for analyzing sports performance.
Moser Vicente José, PhD candidate at EEFERP, and Paulo Santiago, the professor who supervised the study – Photos: Felipe Medeiros and LinkedIn
According to Santiago, similar technologies already exist on the market, but they present significant limitations. “Instrumented solutions for start analysis are already available internationally, but at high cost. In addition, they are imported technologies that, in many cases, do not generate local scientific output. The goal of this project was to develop an open solution, with access to raw data, enabling both practical use and the generation of knowledge”.
How it works
The system uses load cells coupled to the starting block to record the force applied by the athlete’s feet during the start, as well as reaction time to the start signal. These data are captured by load cells connected to an ESP32 microcontroller, responsible for the initial processing of the information, which is transmitted via Bluetooth to the StartBlock app, developed by the team in React Native – a technology that makes it possible to receive, process, and manage force data in real time.
Within the app, coaches and athletes can view force graphs, numerical indicators, and start records in real time, enabling immediate technical adjustments during training. The system also allows local storage of the data and export for subsequent analysis.
According to Santiago, choosing accessible components was the project’s core principle. “We opted for a low-cost architecture, using equipment that is easily found on the market. Because the entire structure is open, the device can be understood, assembled, and adapted with relative ease, even outside highly specialized environments”, he said.
PhD candidate Moser Vicente José emphasized that the instrumented block is part of a broader running-analysis project. “My PhD involves analyzing performance in different running scenarios, and the start is one of them. From the force applied on the block, we can extract important information, such as reaction time and force distribution between the legs”, he explained. According to him, although the technology is already functional, the device is still undergoing final adjustments to improve its performance.
Innovation and application
One of the key differentiators of the technology is the ability to use it directly in the training environment, outside the laboratory. “Even though it involves sensors, microcontrollers, and data processing, the goal was to make the technology accessible and applicable in the day-to-day track setting, allowing coaches and athletes to use the system in a practical way”, Santiago emphasized.
For Sesi track and field coach Maria Rosana Soares, the tool represents an important advance in monitoring athlete performance. “Data analysis allows us to work directly on aspects such as reaction time and the force applied on the block. If the athlete is not pushing the block properly, it appears clearly in the data, which makes it easier to implement specific training adjustments”, she said.
Athlete Erik Felipe Barbosa Cardoso, who holds the Brazilian and South American record in the 100 meters, also highlighted the equipment’s importance for sprint events. “In sprinting, the start from the blocks makes a huge difference. With this system, we can visualize the force applied and reaction time. The technology shows where the errors are and helps coaches plan more targeted training to improve these points”, he said.
The instrumented starting block has already been tested with Sesi athletes, but it is still undergoing final adjustments before its final delivery to the team, scheduled for March 2026. The collected data will also be used in future research at USP, including undergraduate research projects, such as the one developed by EEFERP student Jhonatan Pereira Azevedo, expanding the technology’s scientific and social impact.
*Intern under the supervision of Rose Talamone
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
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A reprodução de matérias e fotografias é livre mediante a citação do Jornal da USP e do autor. No caso dos arquivos de áudio, deverão constar dos créditos a Rádio USP e, em sendo explicitados, os autores. Para uso de arquivos de vídeo, esses créditos deverão mencionar a TV USP e, caso estejam explicitados, os autores. Fotos devem ser creditadas como USP Imagens e o nome do fotógrafo.
A reprodução de matérias e fotografias é livre mediante a citação do Jornal da USP e do autor. No caso dos arquivos de áudio, deverão constar dos créditos a Rádio USP e, em sendo explicitados, os autores. Para uso de arquivos de vídeo, esses créditos deverão mencionar a TV USP e, caso estejam explicitados, os autores. Fotos devem ser creditadas como USP Imagens e o nome do fotógrafo.