A few weeks ago you may have seen an exciting post on our socials of the Unitree PUMP on a track. We haven’t quite adapted the Unitree technology into high speed racing yet(!), although never say never. After all, people are always surprised when they see the Unitree Robot Dog running around and doing some tricks, and who could have predicted we’d be using a dog to show off our technology?
Ash Buckman, Performance Coach from the Formula 2 team Hitech GP took the Unitree PUMP for a spin in Monza over their racing weekend. With the aim of prepping his drivers before racing and mainly to strengthen their neck to prevent overload when driving.
You can read the exclusive interview below:
How did you hear about the Unitree PUMP?
I was looking to expand my travel equipment for my work within motorsport to help with driver physical preparation; and I came across the PUMP and thought immediately this could prove useful not only to me but also for the drivers I work with.
Why is it useful for a professional athlete like a pro racing driver?
Busy schedules, travelling and impromptu sessions are standard in most racing driver's schedules. The PUMP helps cater for all of the above meaning we are able to ensure a quality training session when on the go to maximise the physical preparation of the driver through their scheduling. Therefore, whether a driver has a poor hotel gym, needs to warm up effectively at the track or is on the go away from a gym, they have the ability to maintain their training without a hiccup.
What was your initial reaction when you started using it? And what were the driver’s?
I was amazed by how light the PUMP was considering it has the ability to apply 20kg of resistance to the user. And with the number of accessories that comes with the unit, you are able to perform an array of exercises across the whole body whilst being able to attach other handles and kit that you can use on conventional cable machines.
Drivers' initial reactions were “what is this?”, but being in a sport such as motorsport, they are always excited by new and innovative technology. They loved how much load the PUMP could achieve in a portable unit allowing them to actually feel as though they are getting a workout compared to resistance bands we have used previously.
What questions did people ask you when they saw you using it?
Like the drivers, most would ask what it is, and after explaining, everyone was eager to try it out and see how it actually felt. We had mechanics and engineers doing bicep curls by the cars all waiting to have a go and genuinely enjoying the equipment.
What surprised you about it?
The biggest thing that surprised me was not only how easy it is to change the resistance of the PUMP, but also how instantaneous it was. We were able to change loads mid set in warm ups to progressively load neck whilst being aware of the load changes unlike any other kit, even conventional resistance machines. Also, the eccentric and concentric setting are perfect for when we are targeting specific training adaptations, or minimising fatigue around the race weekend.
Will you continue to use it? If so, how?
I think the PUMP was able to fit seamlessly into my travelling kit bag and enhanced the training for the drivers. It has become a staple part of the warm ups for any activation exercise we have, as well as filling in the exercise gaps when using poor gyms whilst travelling. Not only will I continue to apply the PUMP to my driver's training, but also my own as it can be hard to work, travel and train. I can use the in the paddocks and team areas in breaks of work to ensure I am still getting my weekly load in where normally I would not be able to.
How did it impact the way you work with your drivers?
Plain and simple, it made life easier. There was less guess work and interruptions as the PUMP allowed us to switch between loads and movements far easier than normal. I was also able to prescribe better and accurate loads through movements where normally it would vary due to the resistance bands. The PUMP has 100% elevated my work within motorsport and driver performance.
So there you have it. A real test drive for the Unitree PUMP. Travelling with it, taking it in new environments, and being creative to make it work wherever it is for the purpose intended. Whilst using new attachments to get use the resistance in how it was needed in a high performance environment.
We’ll spare you all the puns now, so enjoy the video Ash made - for a Performance Coach he has a real talent for content!