A comparative study of the Field Marshal versus the Advanced Artificial Athlete on artificial and natural sports surfaces.

Engineering of Sport 15 - Proceedings from the 15th International Conference on the Engineering of Sport (ISEA 2024)

The Field Marshal (FM) is a compact, wireless, and versatile alternative to the Advanced Artificial Athlete (AAA), measuring shock absorption (%), vertical deformation (mm), and energy restitution (%) from a single drop. The FM offers several advantages over the AAA, including simplified setup, operation and a weight saving of 14.8kg facilitating use by a single operator within HSE safe lifting regulations. Whilst the two devices are significantly different in construction and drop height, the principal method of measuring impacts on a surface using a calibrated accelerometer remains constant. Currently, the FIFA Handbook of Test Methods [1] dictates the use of an AAA to measure shock absorption (FIFA Test Method 04a), vertical deformation (FIFA Test Method 05a), and energy restitution (FIFA Test Method 13). A comparative study was conducted on artificial and natural turf surfaces to validate the precision and accuracy of the FM, analysing and comparing data collected on both devices.