Description Data collection has become an integral part of modern football. High quality and accurate information is crucial for decision-making and elevating the team, and can even make the difference between winning and losing. One of the common methods used in football are heatmaps, which provide visual representation of the players’ movement during the entire match.
The project delves into the world of professional football players’ shoes, focusing on their interaction with the ball and the pitch. F•HEAT are football shoes with built-in pressure sensors, creating a foot heatmap that provides accurate data of the player’s activity, with the aim of helping players optimize and hone their performance and skills
Innovation This project aims to revolutionize football performance analysis by integrating data capture directly into the footballer's footwear. I designed a touch-sensitive football boot using conductive soft materials to map different foot areas and measure distinct performance metrics. This innovative approach enables the collection of detailed visual data on player-ball and player-pitch interactions, providing new insights into performance optimization.
Combining a specialized interface with synchronized video analysis of training and gameplay, generates a visual map of foot contact points. This approach measures both the location and intensity of foot interactions, providing athletes and coaches with a powerful tool for performance evaluation, enabling users to identify strengths, weaknesses, and optimization opportunities based on precise visual feedback.
Adding wireless charging capability to boot rooms, traditionally used for storage, allows for seamless integration of the shoe's technological functions without requiring additional actions from users, while overcoming the challenges associated with adding technology that requires power sources.
Product Detail The shoe is designed and built to fit existing production methods. The upper serves as a mapped division of the foot's contact areas. The graphic segmentation on the shoe creates a scheme that can be interpreted and adjusted between physical reality and a digital interface.
The lining covers the entire foot and features a polyester fabric tailored to the demands of a football boot. A combination of conductive stitches, arranged in a grid pattern across the lining, allows electrical signals to capture the force and position of the foot's contact with the ball and pitch.
The sensor and battery are positioned on the outside of the heel, an area with minimal ball contact, to reduce potential malfunction.
Specification The shoe is designed for both men and women, suitable for use in both training and matches. The bright color scheme ensures visibility against the green pitch, enhancing the readability of the shoe's mapped divisions. Conductive stitching is integrated seamlessly into the lining without adding bulk, making it virtually unnoticeable. The sensor and battery dimensions are based on the size of existing technology: 30 mm in length, 20 mm in width, and 5 mm thick.
Bio My name is Dan, i am an industrial designer with a strong sensitivity to detail and a deep passion for innovative design, driven by a relentless pursuit of learning. I strive to balance aesthetics and functionality while arousing curiosity, desire, and thought. I seek to explore paths less traveled, maintain an open mind to new ideas, and engage in self-reflection to foster growth. In my final project I wanted to combine the two passions I have for design and football.
