Application of VR system based on thermal radiation images in immersive sports training process: Real-time monitoring of sports thermal energy

Abstract

With the rapid development of virtual reality (VR) technology, its application in the field of sports training is more and more extensive. In this study, a high-sensitivity thermal imager was used to capture the thermal radiation image of athletes in real time during training, so as to reflect the change of the surface temperature of athletes, thereby indirectly indicating their thermal energy state. Through the image processing algorithm, the thermal radiation image is analyzed and the key thermal parameters, such as hot spot area and temperature distribution, are extracted. The results of thermal radiation image analysis are integrated into the VR system in real time to create a virtual environment that can reflect the athlete’s thermal state. The system will dynamically adjust the virtual scene according to the thermal energy data, such as changing the ambient temperature, wind speed, etc., to simulate different training conditions. Finally, an intuitive user interface is designed so that coaches and athletes can easily understand and operate the VR system, monitor and adjust training plans in real time. After a series of experiments and tests, the VR system based on thermal radiation image developed in this research successfully realized real-time monitoring of motion thermal energy. The experimental results show that the system is able to accurately capture changes in the athlete’s thermal energy and provide intuitive feedback through the VR environment. Athletes and coaches report that the system helps them better understand training intensity and body responses to make more rational training decisions.