The Marketing Minute: Staying Positive When the Market Isn’t
Marcy’s Musings: Continuing to Invent the Future With SEL
It’s Only Common Sense: Why Failure Is an Opportunity for Growth
MVP Robotics, Columbia Tech Innovate Football Tackle Dummies
September 29, 2020 | PRWEBEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Columbia Tech is proud to announce their manufacturing partnership with MVP Robotics, the creators of the world’s first robotic tackling dummy that helps improve performance, reduce injuries and minimize unnecessary player on player contact during practices. The dummies are the result of a collaborative effort between Dartmouth’s head football coach, Buddy Teevens, and a group of student-athletes and engineers from Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering to help decrease the number of head injuries suffered during practice.
The CDC estimates that 1.6 - 3.8 million concussions occur during sports activities, annually. Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research conducted a study referencing data from nearly 20,000 high school and college football players during the 2012 and 2013 football seasons and found that more than 50% of concussions occur during practice.
The “Mobile Virtual Player” (MVP) can successfully mimic a charging lineman or linebacker during training sessions while drastically reducing incidents of head injuries in players. In Dartmouth’s first two years using the MVP tackling dummies, the school recorded a 58% reduction in concussions. In addition, the robotic training systems have served as a safer practice option during the COVID-19 pandemic and have allowed teams to continue practicing and simulating game situations while limiting direct contact between players.
The technology has been well-received from inception, with the first run of MVP|DRIVE units selling out and going to half of the NFL, over 40 colleges and more than 75 high schools. Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, has been a strong advocate of the technology and has recently joined the MVP team as their Chief Football Advisor. MVP has released a new model that has been designed to fit the needs of high school and youth programs. The new model, dubbed the MVP|SPRINT, was developed in collaboration with and will be manufactured by Coghlin Companies’ subsidiary, Columbia Tech.
“Columbia Tech has helped us accelerate the product launch cycle for MVP's robotic training systems. Our partnership with Columbia Tech allows us to flex our team as needed to achieve aggressive timelines and meet market demands," said MVP CTO and Co-Founder, Quinn Connell.
“We’re very excited to be working on a project that will have such a positive impact and provide a safer practice environment for athletes. It’s an innovative and game-changing piece of technology, and we’ve developed an excellent working relationship with the team at MVP Robotics to ensure successful commercialization,” said Chris Coghlin, President and CEO of Coghlin Companies.
Columbia Tech’s product development team is comprised of highly skilled engineers and technicians with extensive knowledge of the product development process. The Caring Associates at Columbia Tech provided full design and engineering support to the MVP team, as well as scalable manufacturing to commercialize a product that would meet their goals.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Kopin Announces $9 Million Follow-On Contract for Defense Thermal Imaging Assembly
08/14/2025 | BUSINESS WIREKopin Corporation, a leading provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, industrial, consumer and medical products, today announced the award of an approximate $9 million follow-on production contract in support of a custom thermal imaging assembly build for a major U.S. defense prime contractor.
Facing the Future: Challenges and Opportunities in Reshoring PCB Manufacturing
08/12/2025 | Prashant Patel -- Column: Facing the FutureFor decades, offshore manufacturing dominated the global electronics industry. The pursuit of cost efficiency, scalability, and access to vast labor markets made countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam attractive destinations for printed circuit board (PCB) production. But a seismic shift is underway, from geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions to rising labor costs and national security concerns.
Automated Production Equipment and Manncorp Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand SMT Solutions for U.S. Electronics Manufacturers
08/06/2025 | Automated Production EquipmentAutomated Production Equipment (APE), a trusted supplier of high-performance soldering and rework systems, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Manncorp, a leading provider of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production equipment. This collaboration brings together two industry leaders to deliver expanded, end-to-end SMT solutions to electronics manufacturers across North America.
KYZEN to Feature CYBERSOLV 141-K and KYZEN E5631J at SMTA Michigan Expo and Tech Forum
08/05/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Michigan Expo and Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at Laurel Manor in Livonia, Michigan. During the event, the KYZEN Clean Team will highlight precision aerosol cleaner CYBERSOLV 141-K and understencil cleaner KYZEN E5631J.
Global Citizenship: Chinese PCB Fabricators Will Remain an Important Part of the Supply Chain
08/06/2025 | Tom Yang -- Column: Global CitizenshipIn today’s hyperconnected electronics landscape, collaboration is no longer optional; it’s essential. No single country holds a monopoly on innovation, and no one company or country can go it alone. Electronics manufacturing is very much a global business, and this will not change, no matter how the tariffs and global trade winds are blowing. Whether you're a startup founder building your prototype, an aerospace engineer pushing the boundaries of performance, or a supply chain leader managing a complex global network, Chinese PCB fabricators have likely already touched your world.