From athletes to everyday health: UF Engineers unveil bold vision for the future of human performance
- University of Florida launches the Center for Engineering Human Performance and Wellness, uniting engineering and health experts to advance how human movement, recovery and performance are measured and improved across the lifespan.
- The center leverages wearable sensors, robotics and advanced data analytics to transform continuous health and movement data into actionable insights for athletes, older adults and everyday users.
- Building on the rapid growth of wearable technology, UF researchers aim to convert real‑time data from devices embedded in clothing, footwear and headsets into smarter, personalized strategies for health, stability and performance.
From tracking how fast athletes sprint, how hard they train, and how quickly they recover, to helping older adults stay steady on their feet, University of Florida researchers are launching a new center aimed at transforming how we understand and improve human performance.
The UF Center for Engineering Human Performance and Wellness brings together experts from the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the College of Health and Human Performance to study how wearable sensors, robotics and advanced data analysis can be used to monitor, understand and optimize how people move, recover and live.
"Wearable sensors and robotics are rapidly changing how we understand human movement, health and performance. Our goal is to position the university at the center of that transformation while preparing students and researchers to lead what comes next." —Daniel Ferris, Ph.D., the Robert W. Adenbaum professor of engineering innovation in UF’s J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering
The effort builds on the rapidly growing reality of wearable technology. One in three Americans uses a wearable device to track health and fitness, according to the National Institutes of Health. Today, wearable sensors are found not only on our wrists but also in our shoes, on our fingers, inside our clothing and even embedded in glasses and headsets — continuously collecting data about how our bodies function.
At UF, researchers see an opportunity to harness that constant stream of data into something far more powerful.
“We found that so many of us within the college were working on things related to human performance but simply didn’t know each other,” said Daniel Ferris, Ph.D., the Robert W. Adenbaum professor of engineering innovation in UF’s J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering. “The center allows us to take an interdisciplinary approach to advance the research and education using engineering methods.”
The center grew out of a 2024 investment in the UF & Sports Collaborative, where engineering faculty partner with the University Athletic Association to explore AI-powered athletics using data from student athletes. The work revealed a broader set of possibilities to improve performance on the field and to impact health far beyond it.
“The University Athletic Association at UF collects a large amount of data from student athletes on health, nutrition and sports performance, including wearable sensors at practices and games,” said Ferris, who is also the center’s director. “Most of the data is under-analyzed and under-utilized, and our proposed treatment of the data could greatly benefit team performance and student-athlete health and well-being.”
The new center is expanding that vision into several key areas.
In neuroengineering, researchers are using wearable sensors and AI to better understand how the brain controls movement and how that breaks down in disease.
“Wearable sensors and AI enable continuous, objective measurement of neural and motor function in real-world settings,” said Diego Guarin, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology in the UF College of Health and Human Performance. “This has the potential to transform how we detect disease, monitor rehabilitation outcomes and personalize interventions to improve performance and quality of life.”
Ultimately, these advances can shift care and research from periodic in-clinic assessments to ongoing tracking that helps providers better understand and improve how people function day to day, said Guarin.
Another focus is wearable robotics, including exoskeletons that can boost strength and help restore mobility. These devices could assist workers in physically demanding jobs or support individuals who are trying to remain independent.
“Exoskeletons can support emergency responders such as firefighters, helping them carry heavy equipment, or sustain physical performance during long and hazardous operations,” said Eric Du, the Steve and Wendy Blum Professor in the UF Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering. “Another important area is assisting older adults, where wearable robotic systems can help maintain mobility, reduce fall risk, and enable people to live more independently as they age.”
Du said these types of devices have a strong potential in labor-intensive industries such as construction and manufacturing, where exoskeletons can reduce fatigue, prevent musculoskeletal injuries and allow workers to perform demanding tasks more safely.
Researchers will also study biomechanics, or how the body moves, to better prevent injuries, improve rehabilitation and enhance athletic performance. The work can lead to more personalized approaches to athletic training, said Jessica Allen, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
“For athletes, this knowledge can inform training strategies that improve performance or support a safe return to sport after injury,” Allen said. “For other populations, such as older adults or individuals recovering from neurological injury, it can help explain the cause of a person’s impaired mobility or balance deficits and guide more personalized rehabilitation strategies.”
Beyond research, the center aims to train the next generation of scientists and engineers through a proposed National Science Foundation-funded traineeship program. The team also plans to launch a center seminar series designed to bring together researchers, students and industry partners to exchange ideas and spark new collaborations.
"Wearable sensors and robotics are rapidly changing how we understand human movement, health and performance," Ferris said. "Our goal is to position the university at the center of that transformation while preparing students and researchers to lead what comes next."
