Automated Impact Sensing System

The Automated Impact Sensing System (AISS) was developed by Dr Helmer for Prof Allan Hahn at the Australian Institute of Sport to address concerns over the subjective nature of competitive scoring in Olympic combat sports. AISS provides an objective assessment of an athletes’ performance and has facilitated safe competitive sparring for Olympic athletes and community squads. The AISS uses specially modified boxing equipment with electronic textiles that automatically detect valid scoring impacts when a scoring region of one combatant connects with that of their opponent. Small wearable electronic units on each combatant transmit data from the electronic textiles to a ringside computer where live scores are displayed. The technology has demonstrated its ability to survive a demanding environment for over a decade whilst providing accurate and objective scoring that exceeds spectator expectations and expert review in a modified form of boxing called Box’Tag®. Boxing Australia officially adopted Box’Tag® as its national ‘community participation program’ and re-introduced boxing to the Police and Emergency Services Games in 2012.