Game Changers

Strengthening bodies and minds, on and off the field, through Sports & Performance Engineering

Broadly defined, human performance is governed by a complex biological system— chemical, electrical, physical and mental. Engineers are trained to understand such levels of complexity, often in man-made systems.

To be a Villanova Engineer is to pursue solutions to help others. So how might we leverage technology to enable people to live their best lives?

The College of Engineering is addressing this question through the Sports & Performance Engineering Initiative (S&PE). Launched in Spring 2022, and supported by the College’s 2023–2033 Strategic Plan, this forward-thinking initiative aims to use engineering principles to solve problems in sports and performance, creating new opportunities for teams and individuals, athletes and nonathletes alike. Whether it’s through novel devices to augment brain health, or through our new seed grant program in partnership with Villanova Athletics, the goal is to enhance human performance—from the playing field to the classroom to the boardroom and beyond.

“Consistent with Villanova’s mission, the S&PE Initiative advances research that improves the human condition for all individuals, strengthening our commitment to using engineering for the betterment of society,” says Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE, Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering.

Smart Brain

A biomimetic model of the human skull and brain that provides insight into how concussions and TBI affect brain structure and function

According to the Brain Injury Association, one in 60 adults is living with some form of disability related to traumatic brain injury (TBI). To develop more effective interventions for workers and athletes against concussions and TBI requires in-depth knowledge of how brain matter moves within the skull and how these injuries affect its structure and function.

The Smart Brain is a highly advanced research tool for understanding the link between impact and injury. It is the result of a novel synthesis of fluid mechanics, materials, instrumentation and manufacturing processes. Developed by Qianhong Wu, PhD, professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Cellular Biomechanics and Sports Science Laboratory, the 3D-printed hydrogel brain sits within a transparent skull and mimics the geometry and mechanical properties of the human brain. The model provides insights into injury mechanics by determining how and why a brain injury occurred, measuring cerebrospinal fluid pressurization and recording the acceleration and surface deformation data resulting from the impact.

Dr. Wu’s Smart Brain technology will have broad impacts on both brain biomechanics and the next generation of helmet design, not only for athletes but also for soldiers, construction workers and others at risk for head injuries.

“The problem itself is very complex and challenging, and our work is the first to attempt to uncover a longstanding mystery in brain biomechanics,” Dr. Wu says. “We hope this work will fill in a significant knowledge gap in the study of traumatic brain injuries.”

Insights

• The Smart Brain can accommodate patient-specific anatomical data to develop personalized treatments.

• Dr. Wu’s Smart Brain research is supported by a two-year, $300,000 NSF/EAGER grant and backed by two patents.

PITCHvr

Training batters to track pitched baseballs in the virtual realm

PITCHvr, the patented Perceptual Image Trainer for the Complete Hitter in the virtual realm, is a virtual batting practice system developed by Mark A. Jupina, PhD, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Commercially available through Novation Tech LLC, the virtual reality headset-based system supplements on-field training for serious baseball players to develop and hone such vital batter skills as pitch-type recognition, strike zone location recognition and pitch trajectory.

PITCHvr Vision, the latest version of the technology, uses staircase adaptive training to optimally advance a player’s skill level, tracking and assessing their hitting performance over time. Players can choose between training or evaluation modes and set the pitching difficulty at the high school, college or professional level. A realistic avatar throws in various styles (overhead, ¾ release, sidearm, submarine) and includes multiple pitches, such as fastballs, changeups, curveballs and sliders.

The system, which is available on Steam in a variety of hardware platforms, including Meta, HTC, Valve and HP, also generates detailed reports for each session, assessing a player’s performance metrics in each area. These can be used by coaches and trainers to show a player’s progress over time and set goals for real-world training activities.

“PITCHvr Vision has allowed batters to see more pitches and hone their pitch recognition abilities,” Dr. Jupina says, “but through our current development of PITCHvr Hitter, batters will be able to see their actual swing path along with the metrics of the swing—leading to new ways of visualization and training.”

Insights

• A laptop/tablet version of PITCHvr Vision is in development with hitting coach Rick Strickland of the Tennessee Smokies, a Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate. This version could be used by players while traveling, in the locker room or in the dugout during a game.

• PITCHvr Hitter, a swing-capture system, is now in development in consultation with Dan Hennigan, a professional hitting analyst from Brain & Barrel Hitting, and John Cowell, head baseball coach at Devon Preparatory School in Pennsylvania.

Smart Sleeve

A novel, wireless physical therapy device to enhance conditioning and recovery

The Smart Sleeve is designed to augment training in all forms, from strength and conditioning to recovery and physical therapy. Developed by Mechanical Engineering Professor Qianhong Wu, PhD (below, right), and Associate Professor Bo Li, PhD (below, left), with support from Square Root Brands, the device is fully wireless and is instead powered by the wearer’s limb motion, which delivers targeted compression and stimulation via a fluid-filled cell pack network. The idea is to deliver all the benefits of a physical therapy session with the convenience of a weighted sleeve garment.

The first generation of the Smart Sleeve system was designed to help stroke survivors regain use of their affected left arms, using targeted compression to accelerate muscle and nerve recovery. Because the system is both low-profile and wireless, it can be worn in nearly any setting, thus delivering continuous stimulation.

The true innovation behind the Smart Sleeve is its cell pack platform, modeled after the human circulatory system. The self-driven mechanism uses the body’s own muscle contractions as its input signal, serving as the driving force to build up pressure propagation along the area requiring treatment. As such, the Smart Sleeve requires no external energy input.

“This system represents an integration of biomechanics, fluid mechanics, data analysis and advanced manufacturing techniques, resulting in a novel rehabilitation device with myriad applications,” Dr. Wu says.

Insights

• The cell pack platform technology has broad applications in rehabilitation, strength and conditioning.

• The team envisions the creation of “full body” smart suits that can deliver precise and targeted stimulation to select muscle groups via the power of human movement.

fNIRS Brain Imaging to Assess Cognitive Function

A wireless, easy-to-use brain-monitoring device for the playing field and beyond

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive brain-imaging technology that uses light to measure changes in oxygenation levels in the pre-frontal cortex. Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Meltem Izzetoglu, PhD (above, left), developed a wireless fNIRS device that can be applied to the forehead to monitor changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. These readings, when paired with a tablet or laptop, provide insights into a player’s cognitive function, from memory to decision-making to attention and motor functions.

Dr. Izzetoglu’s fNIRS monitoring system is a field-ready modality for assessing an athlete’s cognitive functioning in real time. And since the system uses light to make its readings, it’s more immune to motion effects, meaning an athlete can be in any position for a reading to be made. Beyond the athletic field, Dr. Izzetoglu sees myriad applications for the field of personalized brain monitoring, such as for workers in heavy industry or new drivers where vigilance for safety or attention to detail is required. Dr. Izzetoglu has also received numerous government grants to explore the use of her fNIRS system in assessing cognitive function or decline in the elderly and as a point-of-care monitoring device for the US Department of Defense.

“Our affordable, miniaturized modular device, which is wireless and app-operable, brings us one step closer to personalized cognitive activity monitoring in everyday settings,” Dr. Izzetoglu says.

Insights

• Coaches and trainers can use Dr. Izzetoglu’s fNIRS system to collect baseline cognitive data for a team’s players. If a player were to suffer a collision or concussion during a match or practice, a new reading can be taken on the field to assess whether it’s safe for the player to return to competition.

• Dr. Izzetoglu and Infrascan Inc. received a manufacturing innovation grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development to design and develop the first proof-of-concept prototype of this modular, wireless fNIRS sensor.