NEW YORK: Intel and Alibaba have jointly announced their collaboration for developing a 3D athlete tracking technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that is aimed to be deployed at the Olympic Games 2020 and beyond. The technology uses existing and upcoming Intel hardware and Alibaba cloud computing technology to power a cutting-edge deep learning application that extracts 3D forms of athletes in training or competition.
“Optimized to run on Alibaba Cloud infrastructure, Intel developed a novel technology concept called 3D Athlete Tracking that uses AI to analyse video of athletes in ways that are expected to improve both the training process and has the potential to enhance the audience experience during actual competition. This technology has incredible potential as an athlete training tool and is expected to be a game-changer for the way fans experience the Games, creating an entirely new way for broadcasters to analyse, dissect and re-examine highlights during instant replays.” Intel Data Centre Group executive VP and GM Navin Shenoy said.
The combination of computer vision with AI deep learning algorithms will generate a 3D Mesh that enables coaches and trainers to extract intricate real-time biomechanical data via multiple standard video cameras without the use of special sensors or suits from which they can analyse performance and introduce new training enhancements.
Specifically, the technology leverages advanced pose modelling techniques and other AI algorithms designed to analyse the biomechanics of an athlete’s movements. The performance is captured with regular video cameras and the AI algorithm is applied with a heavy dose of computing power and a digital model of the performance is created that can be analysed in different ways.
The partnership seeks to also provide fans a deep insight into how world-class athletes perform and compare against one another.
“We are proud to partner with Intel on the first-ever AI-powered 3D athlete tracking technology where Alibaba contributes its best-in-class cloud computing capability and algorithmic design,” Alibaba Group CMO Chris Tung said.
“With our technological advancements, Alibaba is transforming the sports media and broadcasting industries. We continue to collaborate with industry leaders and drive innovations to create new experiences for the world to enjoy.”
The Olympic endeavour is the latest but not the first collaboration between Intel and Alibaba. In September last year, the two companies launched the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) Cloud, an innovative broadcasting solution that operates entirely on the cloud. It is set to transform the media industry for the digital in specialised configurations, supporting the extremely demanding content production and delivery workflows of the broadcasting of the Olympic Games 2020.
