Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Comprehensive review of TENG-based smart sports, covering physiological monitoring, training performance, refereeing, and injury prevention/rehabilitation. • Integration of TENG technology with AI/ML enhances data analysis and decision-making in sports, enabling energy-autonomous and digitally intelligent systems. • TENGs address limitations of conventional wearables by providing self-powered, flexible, and cost-effective solutions for motion sensing. • The review outlines future challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the potential of TENGs to drive sustainable and efficient evolution of intelligent sports.
Abstract
Technological advancements have profoundly transformed the sports domain, ushering it into the digital era. Services leveraging big data in intelligent sports—encompassing performance analytics, training statistical evaluations and metrics—have become indispensable. These tools are vital in aiding athletes with their daily training regimens and in devising sophisticated competition strategies, proving crucial in the pursuit of victory. Despite their potential, wearable electronic devices used for motion monitoring are subject to several limitations, including prohibitive cost, extensive energy usage, incompatibility with individual spatial structures, and flawed data analysis methodologies. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have become instrumental in the development of self-powered devices/systems owing to their remarkable capacity to harnessing ambient high-entropy energy from the environment. This paper provides a thorough review of the advancements and emerging trends in TENG-based intelligent sports, focusing on physiological data monitoring, sports training performance, event refereeing assistance, and sports injury prevention and rehabilitation. Excluding the potential influence of sports psychological factors, this review provides a detailed discourse on present challenges and prospects for boosting smart sports with energy autonomy and digital intelligence. This study presents innovative insights and motivations for propelling the evolution of intelligent sports toward a more sustainable and efficient future for humanity.
1. Introduction
The benefits of exercise can significantly influence systemic health of humans, reaching far beyond their effect on individual organ systems [1]. Regular physical activity is a cornerstone of health promotion, providing benefits across various interconnected physiological systems such as cognitive, immune, neurohormonal, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems. The multiorgan benefits after regular exercise (e.g., improved cardiorespiratory fitness) have been demonstrated to mitigate a broad spectrum of human diseases like cancer, cardiometabolic disorders, and frailty, and promote longevity [2–6]. The crucial role of physical activity for health and well-being is well acknowledged, with a directly proportional relationship observed between physical activity and health. Research suggests that individuals who aim to lead active, healthy lifestyles tend to enjoy longer and healthier lives [7].
As modern society and the economy rapidly evolve in the modern era, the significance of real-time and distributed sensing technology coupled with big data collection/analysis becomes increasingly pronounced in the Internet of Things (IoT) era [8]. The sports industry has experienced revolutionary technological changes, propelling it toward a truly digital, interactive, and intelligent era [9]. This field of research encompasses health data, training statistics, kinesiological analysis, competition support, safety forecasting, and information sharing. Exercise data not only enhance our understanding of human health and performance but also aid in decision-making [10–12]. It has become an indispensable tool for athletes, enabling them not just gather relevant data such as time, frequency, and speed of movement, but also to visualize their physical condition [13, 14].
The real-time tracking and monitoring of motion status typically rely on the use of widely distributed sensors [15]. However, current technologies fall short in meeting these objectives due to their lack of flexibility and portability. These technologies also often fail to exhibit adequate durability and frequently overlook environmental contamination concerns during motion [16]. Additionally, wearable electronic devices used for motion tracking face several limitations including high cost, substantial power consumption, inflexibility inadaptable to personalized structures, and flawed data analysis methods. Traditional sensors require an external power source, which is unsuitable for large-scale applications due to scalability issues, complex cabling, degradation, short lifespan, and high cost of batteries.
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Yunlu Wang, Zihao Gao, Wei Wu, Yao Xiong, Jianjun Luo, Qijun Sun, Yupeng Mao, Zhong Lin Wang (2025). TENG-Boosted Smart Sports with Energy Autonomy and Digital Intelligence. Nano-Micro Letters. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01778-1
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and how do they work in sports applications?
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are devices that convert mechanical energy from motion into electrical energy through contact electrification and electrostatic induction. In sports, they can be integrated into wearables or equipment to harvest energy from body movements, enabling self-powered sensors for monitoring physiological signals, tracking performance, and preventing injuries without external power sources.
How does TENG technology enhance smart sports systems?
TENG technology enhances smart sports by providing self-powered, flexible, and cost-effective sensing solutions. It enables continuous, real-time monitoring of physiological data and motion, and when combined with AI/ML, it improves data analysis and decision-making. This leads to more efficient training, better performance assessment, and proactive injury prevention, all while reducing reliance on batteries and external power.
What are the main challenges facing TENG-based smart sports?
Key challenges include improving the durability and stability of TENG devices under rigorous sports conditions, ensuring data accuracy and reliability, integrating TENGs with existing IoT infrastructure, and addressing scalability for widespread adoption. Additionally, there is a need for standardized protocols and further research to overcome limitations in sensitivity and signal processing.
What are the potential applications of TENGs in sports injury prevention and rehabilitation?
TENGs can be used in wearable sensors to monitor biomechanical parameters such as joint angles, impact forces, and muscle activity. This data can help detect abnormal movement patterns, assess injury risk, and guide rehabilitation exercises. Self-powered TENG sensors can be embedded in clothing or equipment to provide continuous feedback without the need for frequent battery changes, making them ideal for long-term monitoring.
How does the integration of TENGs with AI/ML improve sports analytics?
AI/ML algorithms can process the large volumes of data generated by TENG sensors to extract meaningful insights, such as identifying performance patterns, predicting fatigue, and optimizing training loads. This integration enables personalized coaching, real-time feedback, and more accurate performance evaluations, ultimately enhancing athletic performance and reducing injury risks.
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