Cone2020 Wins ProFit Design Competition

Bart Wolfs and Spinnov have won the ProFit Design competition with their interactive cone, the Cone2020.

The Dutch companies Bart Wolfs and Spinnov have won the ProFit Design competition with the Cone2020, an interactive intelligent cone designed to enhance the sporting experience and provide a fun active play solution for kids. The winners received 20,000 euros to develop an improved set of interactive cones which will then be used in a public park in Sheffield for a year. Additionally, the improved solution and the game experience it provides will be tested at the University of Sheffield.

The Cone2020 is a technology-enhanced version of the regular plastic cone used in sports training. It uses ultrasonic radar sensing technology to sense the presence of play objects and players within a five-metre radius. The cone reacts to the players’ moves and uses 16 coloured lights to send them in different directions.

The Cone2020 supports both single and multiplayer mode of play. The system can be used in a number of games and sports, ranging from dance games, running games, and ball games to strategy games, football, and field hockey training. The interactive cone is particularly useful in football training as it was originally envisioned as a tool for developing basic football techniques and ball handling skills. The system is portable and controlled by a smartphone. It can be used both indoors and outdoors.

The ProFit Design competition was launched to support collaboration and development of innovative products that motivate children and the elderly to be physically active. The competition was held in FieldLabs in four European cities – Sheffield, Eindhoven, Kortrijk and Delft – and the Cone2020 took the prize in Sheffield. The FieldLabs are research and development locations for the development and testing of innovative sports concepts. ProFit is funded by the European Union under the Interreg IVB North West Europe (NWE) program.

Watch the video to see the Cone2020 at play.