We integrate human augmentation technology with sports science, to develop effective training interventions tailored to individual athletes’ conditions and histories based on digital data. My goal is to uncover biogenic principles that drive these effects and transform them into personalized training processes. In addition to collecting data at the laboratory level, I aim to gather real-world data through training services in collaboration with corporations.

Sports science has made strides in reducing injury and improving performance through various training methods and sports equipment. However, it has not yet established effective, individualized training methods that account for athletes’ unique differences and histories. Given this, I have decided to develop new, personalized training processes by integrating wearable sensors, VR, electrostimulation, robotics, and other human augmentation technologies with Big Data analytics in sports science.

In recent years, sports training has increasingly been based on scientific evidences, but the trainer’s observations and experience remain crucial for tailoring training to individual characteristics and history. I aim to integrate human augmentation technology to create digital records of the training process and to personalized it scientifically using a digital twin of the body.

I have outlined three key issues on the roadmap for the future: (1) developing and evaluating the effectiveness of individualized training interventions through laboratory research, (2) identifying the principles underlying the effects of these interventions through human and animal testing, and (3) creating and testing training services in real-life scenarios using wearable sensing technology. We focus on examining the first and second issues, which center on fundamental research, during the first two years and summarize their academic outcomes. Based on these outcomes, I hope to collaborate with corporations and address the third issue over the following three years.

This research aims to transform sports training into a digital, data-driven, and science-based process, which I refer to as the digital transformation (DX) of sports training. This approach will not only benefit top athletes but also enhance the abilities and motivation of recreational athletes, thereby contributing to improved health across society. Furthermore, I believe that the training logs accumulated through this initiative will create valuable knowledge assets, forming the foundation for advancements in sports science.

Partnerships:
In addition to partnering with textile and apparel companies and device manufacturers that implement wearable sensing technology, I plan to collaborate with sporting goods companies, fitness companies, and other entities that offer digitized individual training support services. Collaborations with universities and local governments will also be essential for testing the effects of these training programs. Furthermore, l am interested in exploring partnerships with researchers in management studies who focus on the transformation of the manufacturing industry into a service-oriented sector, particularly as the industry begins to offer training support services.

Research collaborations:
I intend to actively collaborate and integrate with my primary work at the Human Augmentation Research Center at AIST, specifically utilizing the center’s advancements in wearable sensing and intervention technologies. In addition, I aim to leverage Ritsumeikan University’s evaluation technologies related to health and sports science, along with testing facilities both within and beyond the university. This will support collaborative efforts with Japanese and international universities and research institutes to test and discover the effects of innovative intervention methods.