Eliseo Robles and NurivaTech Democratize Motion Capture with Smartphone AI

Eliseo Robles, the CTO of NurivaTech, is on a mission to make motion capture technology accessible and affordable. Traditionally, this tech has been locked behind $200K+ laboratory setups, but Robles and his team have developed sportFX.ai, a markerless motion capture platform that leverages smartphone video for biomechanical analysis.

The Challenge of Traditional Motion Capture

The benchmark in motion capture technology has long been set by marker-based lab systems. These systems require specialized markers placed on the body to track movement, which are then recorded by high-speed cameras and processed using complex algorithms. While these setups provide precise data, they come with a hefty price tag and significant infrastructure requirements.

• High Cost: Traditional motion capture systems can cost upwards of $200K.
• Infrastructure: These systems require dedicated lab space and specialized equipment.
• Limited Accessibility: High costs and infrastructure needs make the technology inaccessible to many researchers, athletes, and smaller institutions.

The Vision Behind sportFX.ai

Eliseo Robles' journey into motion capture began with his first company, Lumina Education. He saw firsthand how rural schools in Mexico were left behind by educational technology designed for well-funded districts. This experience taught him that the most compelling technology challenges are about making existing solutions accessible to those who can't afford them.

• Lumina Education: Served over 5,000 students in underserved communities.
• Key Lesson: The best tech problems aren't about innovation but about accessibility.

At NurivaTech, Robles and his team applied this philosophy to motion capture. They aimed to create a platform that could deliver the same high-quality data as traditional systems but at a fraction of the cost.

How sportFX.ai Works

sportFX.ai uses smartphone video to perform markerless motion capture. Here’s how it works:

• Data Collection: Users record their movements using any smartphone camera.
• AI Processing: The platform's AI algorithms analyze the video in real-time, extracting key biomechanical data.
• Results: Users receive detailed reports and visualizations of their movements, similar to what they would get from a marker-based system.

Validation and Credibility

One of the biggest challenges for Robles and his team was convincing sports science professionals that sportFX.ai could deliver accurate results. To address this, they conducted an initial validation study at Wake Forest University, comparing their platform against a leading marker-based system.

• Study Design: Head-to-head comparison using the same participants.
• Results: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values averaging above 0.98, indicating high reliability and accuracy.

These results were a game-changer, providing the evidence needed to gain credibility in the field.

The Impact of sportFX.ai

By making motion capture accessible, sportFX.ai has the potential to democratize biomechanical analysis. Here are some key impacts:

• Broader Research: More researchers can conduct studies without the need for expensive equipment.
• Athlete Training: Coaches and trainers can use the platform to improve athlete performance and prevent injuries.
• Healthcare Applications: Physical therapists and healthcare providers can monitor patient progress more efficiently.

Looking Forward

Eliseo Robles is quick to credit his team for the success of sportFX.ai. “I’m lucky to lead a really talented group of engineers,” he says. “The team is the reason any of this works.”

As NurivaTech continues to refine and expand sportFX.ai, they are committed to making advanced motion capture technology available to everyone who needs it.