Automated scoring system for boxing begins to hit its mark

Scientific experts at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are exploring ways to use micro-technology monitoring sensors in the development of new automated scoring systems that could aid the future judging and safety of both men's and women's boxing.
For a number of years, the AIS has been working in collaboration with a range of partners, including the Commonwealth Scientific Research Organisation (CSIRO), to carry out groundbreaking work in the development of micro-technology sensors and monitoring devices and automated scoring systems in boxing.
The automated scoring technology is now being applied to support the development of BoxâTag, a modified version of competitive boxing with simplified rules aimed at accurately monitoring and minimising the risk of injury in the target area and improving the skill and level of physical fitness of contestants.
The objective of BoxâTag, designed by Strongarm Boxing and Fitness, a small company based in southern Sydney, is to score as many points as possible by delivering impacts to the âtarget zoneâ, the torso and upper arms, excluding the head of the opponent. Contestants are penalised for impacts to the head and for any hits above a moderate level of force.
This is how the scoring technology works to improve the accuracy of judging and just as importantly reduce the risk of injury in boxing. Electronic micro sensors developed by the AIS are embedded into wrist bands worn beneath the boxing gloves of contestants, and also into head guards and specially constructed vests. The sensors detect impacts in the âtarget zoneâ and the information is transmitted by wireless mechanisms to a ringside computer, which analyses and interprets it, allowing real-time display of scores on a large screen.
BoxâTagâs modified rules, and the fact that through the scoring technology contestants are penalised for impacts to the head and for any impact above a moderate level of force, also dramatically improves safety for athletes.
Over the past five years 21 BoxâTag events have been held, encompassing more than 200 individual bouts, and there have been no facial injuries recorded of any kind. About one-third of the participants in these BoxâTag events have been females.
The AIS Chief Scientist, Professor Allan Hahn, believes that BoxâTag represents a very positive application of the technology since it has the potential to achieve broad community appeal and to allow long-term participation, particularly in womenâs boxing.
Womenâs boxing will be introduced to the 2012 London Olympic Games, but boxing authorities have recognised that in the longer term elements of the sport may have to be modified from the male form of the sport to achieve major uptake in participation.

As Hahn explains âamateur boxing in its traditional form is a physically demanding and high contact sport which appeals to a specific demographic of women.

âBoxâTag, with its integration of sophisticated sensing technology, offers a much-increased level of safety and could attract a far greater number of female competitors.�?

Hahn said that the introduction of automated scoring would not replace boxing judges, but be there to assist them.

âThe application of automated scoring systems could be the answer to capturing and assessing accurate and reliable data about the boxersâ performance in competition,�? Hahn continued, adding âthis technology could help eliminate errors in the judging of boxing.�?