Terps Install 3D Cameras On Weight Racks To Assure Safe Lifting

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland Terrapins football team installed 3D cameras on its weight racks this month to help student-athletes lift safely. The cameras track their movements and help the players achieve proper form. This could reduce the risk of lifting injuries.

The technology, called Perch, was developed by a former varsity athlete at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Perch co-founder Jacob Rothman thought of the idea while he was recovering from a herniated disk that he suffered during a routine workout.

“What we’re doing is essentially making a weight rack smart,” Rothman said in a press release. “We aim to turn every athlete into the best version of themselves. We bring them information about the quality of their movement and what they can do to move more powerfully, efficiently and safely.”

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Several other college football teams use the cameras, including LSU, Duke, Ole Miss and Georgia. These professional squads also utilize Perch:

• New York Giants (NFL)
• Tennessee Titans (NFL)
• Miami Dolphins (NFL)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL)
• Orlando Magic (NBA)
• Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
• Dallas Stars (NHL)

The 20 cameras, which additionally display velocity and power data on a tablet, are part of the new Jones-Hill House. The football training facility opened on June 14. Terps players got a sneak peek at the building on June 4.

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