When compared to the technology the LSU strength program was previously using, the Perch device will allow LSU to have one of the most efficient and effective velocity-based training programs in college athletics. There's a culture of staying on the cutting edge within the LSU athletic department.

Perch aims to improve physical training and coaching by installing a camera and tablet, which is mounted on gym equipment to track and display data like number of reps and velocity. It’s currently targeting college and professional teams, and plans to expand to commercial and home gyms.

A digital camera sees the world in three dimensions and follows the movement of the barbell the user is lifting. One important measure is velocity — the speed of each lift. The system can spot the difference between “strong and explosive” motions, or someone who is “barely completing his reps.” Future versions of Perch’s system, he says, will be...

A single sensor, for instance, an accelerometer in the form of a wearable device, can only collect an insufficient set of data. You’re not getting an entire picture of the quality of movement.

“As athletic development and technology continually evolve, I’m always looking for new ways to maximize my athletes’ potential,” said AC Flora High (S.C.) strength coach Micah Kurtz. “Perch is extremely intriguing because it shows the potential to become an efficient, affordable and portable method to quantify my athletes’ strength, power and...

The Perch module attaches to just about any rack and users can sign into their accounts from a tablet, which is also attached to the rack and Perch module. Perch then films and tracks every rep, allowing both athletes and coaches to analyze the workout, while also refining future workouts. "This helps to improve motivation and informs elite...

Weightlifting is not something anyone can jump into and expect results. It takes time and effort to get the movements and form down for changes to show. Perch could be the product an athlete needs to help them get that form down and prevent a potentially serious injury from happening.

Rothman, who played on MIT’s baseball team as an undergraduate, is co-founder of Perch, a company that uses 3-D cameras to assess the velocity of a weightlifter’s movements and provide instant feedback on how to improve form and minimize the risk of injury.

Perch enables Velocity Based Training (VBT), which allows coaches to put these unknowns (sleep, nutrition, work load, etc) in a black box and utilize velocity as a feedback mechanism. VBT improves safety, preventing athletes from lifting weight that is too heavy for a given day. Perch is providing an affordable, accurate, reliable, and...