The Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) is Nike’s cutting-edge research facility dedicated to advancing human performance through biomechanics and sports science. Founded in the 1980s, The Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) brings together scientists, technologists, engineers, designers, and developers around a single mission: to help athletes of all levels and abilities achieve their sport goals.

When the NSRL team approached ROXBOX, they brought an exciting challenge—designing and building a mobile motion capture lab inside a shipping container. This unique setup would allow the NSRL team to take their advanced runner performance tracking technology on the road, bringing it to major running events across the country.

What made this project so complex? Motion capture systems typically require large, stable environments with perfectly level ground to accurately track a runner’s form from all angles. Until now, Nike’s motion capture technology had only been housed in permanent structures, making mobility a significant hurdle.

Through close collaboration, ROXBOX and Nike engineered a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind solution—seamlessly integrating a complex motion capture system within the compact footprint of a 20-foot trailerized shipping container. The result: the NSRL Form Mobile Lab, an advanced mobile running lab designed to bring cutting-edge performance tracking and individualized running insights to athletes everywhere. This custom-built ROXBOX Roadie Pro model will travel to marathons, track & field competitions, and trade shows for years to come.

The NSRL Roadie Pro is designed to unfold like a transformer, expanding into a state-of-the-art mobile lab at each stop before seamlessly folding back into a standard 20-foot shipping container for transport. With a streamlined setup process, only two to three team members are needed to manage transportation, deployment, and teardown throughout the tour.

The unit features three distinct sections, each designed to deliver an immersive, high-tech experience. In the main room or “lab”, an advanced treadmill is surrounded by a complex motion capture system, recording an athlete’s running form in just one minute. The system then conducts a full-body biomechanical analysis of the captured motion data, allowing the Nike team to present an individualized assessment of an athlete’s running profile. Adjacent to the lab is the consultation space, where athletes are walked through their individual run profile to help them understand how their body moves, receive suggestions for improvement, and get recommendations for footwear based on their assessment results. Surrounding three sides of the container, fold-down decks create an inviting space where athletes and visitors can relax, interact with the NSRL team, and connect with fellow runners while waiting for their session.

Traditionally, these high-tech motion capture systems have been limited to elite athletes at Nike’s Headquarters. The NSRL Roadie Pro changes that—bringing cutting-edge biomechanical analysis directly to everyday runners at marathons, trade shows, and running events worldwide. By leveraging the real-time data and insights captured in the unit, athletes can now receive personalized feedback on their running form and purchase Nike shoes and gear tailored to their exact biomechanics, redefining the way everyday athletes experience performance optimization.