The project was conceived and created by the Free University of Bolzano along with EMG Italy, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Small Pixels and Vodafone Italia

5VREAL combines 5G and AI to enhance technical analysis and sports experience, from the playing field to the TV broadcast 

Milan, 2 December 2024 – Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, EMG Italy, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Small Pixels and Vodafone Italia present 5VREAL - 5G Volley Reality Experience & Analytics Live, a project that aims to transform the way in which sport, in particular the game of volleyball, is analyzed, experienced and transmitted, combining advanced technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence and Video Analytics systems.

The project, funded by the MIMIT 5G_Axis II Technology Support Program, aims to create a video and analytics system starting from the real-time acquisition and transmission of footage of volleyball matches.

Thanks to Vodafone's 5G network and EMG Italy's Edge Computing infrastructure, specifically installed at the Broadcast Center in Cologno Monzese for this type of application, it is possible to analyze a large amount of data and re-elaborate game actions in real time, measuring, for example, the position of the ball during matches, its speed, trajectory and the interval between player touches. To do this, non-professional cameras can be used, such as those normally used by sports technical staff or smartphone cameras. Tracking is made possible by advanced AI algorithms, created by VCL, Vision Computing and Learning Lab (Faculty of Engineering) of the Libera Università of Bolzano, Bruno Kessler Foundation and Small Pixels (an academic spin-off of the University of Florence). These AI algorithms increase and improve the quality and resolution of images without requiring high-frequency acquisition systems.

The potential of this technology extends to different areas, each with specific applications. Technical staff will have real-time access to analytical and automatic data, which are currently only available through manual detection with a consequent degree of approximation. At the same time, the television broadcast will be enriched by advanced graphics produced in an innovative way but at the same time easy to produce for TV event producers, since the underlying platform is centralized in the Cloud.

5VREAL was presented in a demonstration at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Trento, the T Quotidiano Arena, where the women's volleyball team "Trentino Volley" was involved. The event offered the opportunity to concretely demonstrate the potential and distinctive features of the project, highlighting how advanced video analytics, Artificial Intelligence and 5G network technologies can transform technical analysis and the fan experience in this sport.

"The 5VREAL project saw the creation of a consortium that brings together companies, spin-offs, research institutions and universities, which for a year have been engaged in an action aimed at advancing digital technologies applied to sport and specifically, to volleyball. It is an example of the use of 5G connectivity, vision and artificial intelligence, edge computing, and augmented reality as technological assets at the service of the coach and the spectator", underlinesOswald Lanz, full professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the Free University of Bolzano and scientific manager of the project.

“We are very happy to have participated in this innovative and multidisciplinary project, putting our broadcast technology at the service of new tools that will enrich the offer to the audience – says Claudio Cavallotti, CEO of EMG Italy – This will allow us to be proactive partners with our customers and study new cutting-edge solutions for volleyball and other sports. We are also proud to have collaborated with a team of Italian excellences”. 

Stefano Messelodi, senior researcher and responsible for the 5VREAL project for the Bruno Kessler Foundation, underlines: “The main objective of the activity of Fondazione Bruno Kessler in 5VREAL was to detect and track, in real time, the position of the 3D ball on the field starting from three image streams. The main challenges faced are related to the large amount of data to be processed in a very short time and to the difficulty of locating the ball, which is often not very visible due to occlusions, blurring or environmental disturbances”.

"We are proud to have contributed to the 5VREAL project, which demonstrates the transformative potential of generative and real-time AI technologies in improving sports performance - says Fabio Clabot, CEO of Small Pixels- “One of the most relevant use cases is the one dedicated to volleyball team coaches, who can now access real-time analytical data, such as position, speed and trajectory of the ball, using simple non-professional smartphones. This allows them to optimize tactical and technical preparation without the need for expensive or complex tools. With 5VREAL, we are bringing innovation directly to the playing fields, improving strategic decisions and offering concrete support to sports teams."

“5VREAL is an innovative project that transforms the fan experience, making it more engaging, and provides coaches with real-time analyses, representing an important step forward in sports innovation – says Cinzia Campanella Head of Innovation and Vertical Solutions at Vodafone – Thanks to our 5G network and our technology, together with other partners we have developed a platform that can improve the effectiveness of sports analytics, enriching technical analysis and offering a more innovative experience to spectators, paving the way for a future in which technology and sport are increasingly integrated”.