Think you're the next Robokicker?
Engineering instructor Rob Jones holds the football for fellow instructor Trevor Douglas, who, along with professor Karim Naqvi (background) developed a field goal kick simulator which is on display at the “HeART of the Rider Nation” exhibit recognizing the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 100th anniversary. -Photo by U of R Photography Dep't

You can find out if you have what it takes to be a professional football kicker thanks to the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Engineering instructor Trevor Douglas and professor Karim Naqvi developed a "field goal kick simulator" that measures success in hoofing the ball through the uprights. Aspiring kickers can try out the simulator starting Sept. 4 and through the month at the Cumberland Gallery in Regina's Legislative Building, as part of the "HeART of the Rider Nation" exhibit recognizing the Saskatchewan Roughriders' 100th anniversary.

The simulator project began about 18 months ago when "HeART" curator Heather Hodgson suggested the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science develop something for the show. Douglas and Naqvi took her up on the challenge.

Similar to a golf simulator, where the swing determines where the ball lands, the football is kicked toward an image of the uprights at the southeast end of Taylor Field, projected on a screen. The kicker chooses the distance and selects from beginner, intermediate or expert levels. High-speed cameras bathe the ball on its kicking tee with infrared light, aided by reflective dots on the ball. A software program developed by Douglas and Naqvi assesses the initial speed and direction of the kick. The program then harnesses the laws of physics to plot the rest of the ball's trajectory and determine who's ready for the pros, or not.

According to Douglas and Naqvi, it's not just a fun tool. They'll use the simulator as a teaching instrument with their students.

"It'll show up in the classroom, and at University of Regina events," Douglas says of the simulator.

Like football, development of the kick simulator was a team effort, with University of Regina Engineering graduate student Brian Fitzgerald helping with the software development and instructor Rob Jones assisting with the hardware.

The team made certain the kicking experience would be an authentic one. Crowd sounds rise to a crescendo as a kicker prepares to launch the ball, and if it's a miss, the crowd will voice its disappointment. Those with tender egos need not apply.

"Basically, we had zero budget," says Douglas, "so a lot of the equipment was donated or borrowed. For Karim and I, the biggest item was our time, but we have knowledge we can incorporate into our teaching. We may even add more environmental effects, like wind, rain, maybe some blowing snow, just to enhance the experience."

Anyone can try the kick simulator throughout September in the Cumberland Gallery at the Legislative Building, when the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science will have someone available to operate the equipment.