World Taekwondo expects to demonstrate its AI-assisted scoring technology in 2027, with Jin-bang Yang aiming to show how motion recognition could change the way kicks are rewarded.
Emir Hamdan
Jin-bang Yang aims for a first demonstration around October 2027, with motion recognition designed to give a wider range of kicks a route to the scoreboard.
World Taekwondo expects to demonstrate its AI-assisted scoring technology in 2027, with Jin-bang Yang aiming to show how motion recognition could change the way kicks are rewarded.
Speaking to MASTKD at the Paris Grand Prix, the World Taekwondo vice-president put the first demonstration around October next year. The technical framework is established, but the development contract is still under review and no prototype has been built.
The sporting question behind the project is familiar to athletes and coaches: which techniques does the scoring equipment reward, and what does that encourage competitors to attempt?
In his February explanation of Smart PSS, Yang argued that the current Protector and Scoring System can favour touches that register easily, while more powerful techniques struggle to score.
His proposal combines electronic sensors with AI-based motion recognition to identify the kick itself. Recognising different techniques could allow different scoring criteria, giving athletes more reason to vary their attacks.
The back kick was his example. Yang believes it is difficult to score with existing equipment; better recognition, he argued, could make it a more attractive option in a bout.
He envisages a gradual transition, with sensors and AI working together while motion recognition becomes more accurate and reliable.
Yang presented the project to the World Taekwondo Council in Chuncheon on 15 September. MASTKD reported a roadmap running through basic development by the end of 2027, possible G1 and G2 trials in 2028, then a gradual move into larger championships.
Brisbane 2032 remains the long-term objective, rather than a confirmed Olympic introduction. The planned demonstration next year is an early development milestone, with competition use still further down the road.
World Taekwondo leads the project, supported by the Korea Taekwondo Association. Yang named Waychamp, KPNP and Daedo as intended collaborators, though the Paris interview did not detail their individual roles.
Before that timetable can become a change on the Court, the system will have to demonstrate that it can recognise techniques reliably in competition. The next step is to build a prototype and put the proposal to the test.
