This week, HP revealed a new partnership with the National Football League, stating that all 32 teams will adopt its FitStation 3D scanning platform to create customized cleats next season.

This coming Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots will clash in Minnesota for Super Bowl LII, the National Football League’s 52nd championship game. Fans from across the world will have their eyes glued to the television to see whether or not the staunch Eagles defensive can put a stop to the championship pedigree of Tom Brady and the Pats.

While most fans will spend Sunday night eagerly watching every play and commercial, the tech giant HP will be directing its excitement to the following year.

Next season, NFL players will have the opportunity to sport customized cleats created with HP’s groundbreaking FitStation platform. On Monday, the global tech company announced the new partnership with the NFL. The professional sports league will adapt the dual hardware and software 3D scanning system into the equipment rooms of all 32 teams.

Released back in September, HP’s FitStation captures 3D scans of the foot, foot pressure measurements, and gait analysis to build a user profile. This collected data will be put into an algorithm that matches each player with previously scanned images of football cleats from Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.

Learn more: HP Delivers Custom 3D Printed Footwear With FitStation Platform

“We are proud to have HP onboard as an official sponsor and have the ability for the League and each of its 32 clubs to tap into their innovative 3D scanning technology. The NFL’s number one priority is continuing to enhance player safety and performance and by utilizing HP’s technology to give our players personalized cleat recommendations we’re able to continue that mission,” said Renie Anderson, Senior Vice President of Sponsorship and Partnership Management for the NFL.

How HP’s FitStation Platform Could Impact Safety in the NFL

The integration of HP’s FitStation will help support the NFL’s ongoing commitment to improving player health and safety. The platform was selected by the league’s Musculoskeletal Committee, which analyzes injury data and trends, and also studies injury mechanisms and prevention.

“The NFL’s number one priority is continuing to enhance player safety and performance and by utilizing HP’s technology to give our players personalized cleat recommendations we’re able to continue that mission.”

The 3D scanning platform will enable the NFL to produce personalized data to link the play with the shoe that best matches their physical anatomy and athletic needs.

“FitStation is a truly disruptive platform that supports the high safety standards of the NFL and can help personalize players’ cleats. We see tremendous opportunities for FitStation to help athletes in the NFL and other sports perform at their best. It’s the latest example of how HP technology is fueling the future of computing,” said Louis Kim, global head of Immersive Computing, Personal Systems, HP Inc.

According to Dr. Richard Kent, University of Virginia professor and member of the NFL Musculoskeletal Committee, the custom-made cleats can protect players from detrimental injuries such as turf toe, Lisfranc fractures, and high ankle sprains.

The FitStation is capable of capturing up to 500 precise measurements per second, containing nine cameras to automate length, width, and arch-height of the personalized footwear. HP first unveiled the 3D scanning platform back in September 2017, ultimately creating a more complete ecosystem with the highly touted HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer.

All in all, the new partnership with the NFL is a major feat for HP, which has already seen a number of big-name companies adapt its 3D printing technology. By coupling this 3D scanning platform with the Multi Jet Fusion system, HP is proving that it can cover the entire length of the field all on its own.

Source: HP