Eyes on the Ball

Two teams of Seattle University computer science students are researching ball-tracking and line determination technology for use in live streaming Redhawk soccer games, putting to the test the power of T-Mobile’s campus-wide 5G network with advancements in artificial intelligence.

The technology—still being developed—could one day allow for SU soccer games to stream on Twitch, an experience that will be enhanced by the precision of cameras that will never lose track of the ball and keep fans dialed into the quick action.

Beyond that, the project could be used to help referees make their calls more accurately. The teams working on this project anticipate that when fully functional it will allow for streaming games for students living on campus and beyond—currently not on option. The following day a recording of the game will be available using the ball-tracking technology. 

The project comes after T-Mobile and Seattle University kicked off their collaboration last October, bringing 5G to campus and foreshadowing other state-of-the-art initiatives down the road, including an innovation hub and connected laboratories.

Right now, the project is split between one team of students using stationary GoPro cameras, posted on tripods at the corners of the pitch, and the other team using a drone fitted with a camera. As the project is in an early stage, the students are filming themselves kicking the ball around. The two approaches will allow for the soccer ball to be centered on the screen as it is kicked and headed around the pitch, theoretically even when the ball disappears behind players.

This is where AI comes into play, with students using machine learning to keep “eyes” on the ball. Students from both teams say the power of T-Mobile’s 5G network makes the effort possible.

“Otherwise, the products would be finicky and wouldn’t work as expected. It’s only possible because of 5G,” says team member Felix Pham, ‘25, a computer science major. “If we did this before I don’t think we would have anything usable no matter how long we worked on it.”

Team member and computer science major Gurshan Rai, ‘24, says the powerful network allows for seamless connections and lightning-fast upload and download speeds.

“Trying to upload a lot of data at a high rate, that’s another capability of 5G that allows us to do that,” he says.

The potential for innovation that T-Mobile’s 5G network brings to campus is astonishing with its near instantaneous streaming, with 5G already up to 10 times faster than 4G in places. Theoretically 5G devices will be able to reach peaks of 10 gigabytes per second, says Dwayne Walker, T-Mobile’s account executive for higher education in the Pacific Northwest.

On campus the network is used to strengthen the academic experience of students as well as for security and safety purposes. But Walker says it’s also here to provide students and faculty with an ultrapowerful tool.

This student-led work is part of the College of Science and Engineering senior capstone projects in the lead up to Projects Day, held on May 31, produced in collaboration with industry partners. With the Project Center students are tasked with solving a problem that comes directly from a sponsoring company or organization. However, this one originated differently.

Pham says given that the campus has access to T-Mobile’s 5G technology, the teams posed the question, “How can we make something exciting for students?”

That kind of experimentation is exactly what T-Mobile is hoping to foster, with Walker reminding that Facebook was started on a college campus.

“Who knows what kind of new application and new companies will be formed based on college campuses leveraging our technology,” says Walker, adding that in recent years a testing platform to compare 5G phones was developed by Seattle University students. 

“We still use that app. We still have it in our innovations center as of today,” he says.

Seattle University’s partnership with T-Mobile is especially gratifying for the capabilities of this type of work, says advisor Jason Wong, assistant teaching professor in computer science. 

“Seattle University also has a strong soccer tradition, being nationally ranked for many years,” Wong says, adding that the teams are also being assisted by the expertise of SU’s Information Technology Services. “Combined with the rapid growth of Seattle University’s computer science program, these projects demonstrate uses of AI and 5G in ways that appeal to people throughout the world.”

The two teams are just the first wave of students working on the project—it will continue for future seniors as their capstone projects—and the advanced technology will be further developed. One area is around measures that could also help improve the game through a tool for referees that will help detect which team has possession, goals, offside infractions and corner kicks. 

“Each of these future steps represents a significant advancement toward creating a fully functional (video assistant referee) system capable of assisting referees in making accurate and fair decisions during soccer matches,” says advisor Shadrokh Samavi, PhD, an instructor in computer science.

Though the technology could find uses around the world, it holds promise for Seattle, given that attending outdoor sports events isn’t always the most comfortable.

“The weather in Seattle can be unpredictable and often isn't the best for outdoor events,” says Madelyn Ringstad, project and change manager for Information Technology Services. “This technology would give you the ability to enjoy the game from the comfort of your couch. It would also expand the reach of our campus by allowing prospective students, the families of the athletes, alumni and SU Athletics fans to be able to cheer on the Redhawks from anywhere in the world."