KAUST Develops Wearable Sensors for High-Tech Athletic Excellence in Professional Sports

Jeddah, August 09, 2024, SPA -- The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is racing against time in sports training innovations, adopting genuine collaborative partnerships, and creating advanced wearable sensors that aim to revolutionize sports systems, prevent injuries, and provide impactful insights that support superior professional performance and high athletic fitness.
This innovation aligns with the goal of Saudi Vision 2030, which is to achieve regional and global excellence in professional sports.
Prof. Khaled Nabil Salama from KAUST confirmed that the university benefits from an innovation using advanced electrochemical sensors to monitor drivers' physiological responses. He pointed out that this joint effort enhances drivers' agility and safety by providing detailed insights into body fluid levels, water and salt balance, and other stress indicators. This enables specialized therapeutic interventions and performance enhancement.
Salama explained that this information could be beneficial in predicting whether some racers will perform well, potentially altering driver rankings and more. He noted that field testing for this collaborative project will begin soon, with the possibility of developing commercially designed wearable devices within two years.
Dr. Nazek Al-Atab, the principal researcher at KAUST's Smart Memory Devices and Advanced Applications (SAMA) lab, indicated that wearable technology integrated with smart data storage and versatile computing systems can continuously monitor physical indicators during training and competitions. This technology helps coaches predict and prevent injuries, improve training systems, and even create personalized nutrition plans for athletes.
--SPA