In answering some questions/concerns throughout the thread...
Wearable tech that paces you doesn't truly pace you, it just tells you when you're off pace, which causes you to speed up and slow down just like you would a stopwatch... inefficient and money wasted. A device such as this, and the one I'm working on, leads you at the exact pace you need without the distraction of wondering if you're on or off pace. Only limitation is that it's on the track instead of on the road... this is a safety concern so that's why it's made just for the track.
Cost-wise, it doesn't cost as much as a drone. The device I'm working with is all retail prices on the components and car and still doesn't cost as much as some drones, so price to consumer won't be bad. More costly than a GPS watch, but well worth the price when you care about your training.
I have an aerospace engineering degree and am a pilot, and I would NEVER build a drone to do this. Battery life on the drones is too low --- my device can run for > 2 hours, enough for a whole practice and possibly even a whole marathon (of course, I don't advise a marathon at the track, that would get super boring real quick). Plus, if the wind is blowing, your drone is screwed for battery life. Drones would get costly and heavy to carry batteries capable of this and it would be a nightmare when it comes to safety... you know someone will run into the blades, and looking up would get distracting.
Speed control is very accurate. Not sure exactly how BeatBox gauges speed, but my device uses a very accurate infrared sensor/encoder disc that can get it down to the nearest centimeter. Speed is dead on, distance is dead on, no problems. And the speed control loop can be programmed so that constant speed is also dead on.
The "chaser vs pacer" is easy to call out...from the Puma video. Check out the insta page for my device:
http://www.instagram.com/zeiasinc
Pro track lights are great.... for the tracks that have it. These line-following devices are portable. My first prototype strapped to the buckles of my backpack and I could easily carry it from one track to another and do the exact same workout. No infrastructure, totally portable, and carries very easy. The new prototype doesn't match up very well to carry, so I do that one by hand, but still not a problem when just going from the car to the track.
Also, not sure about Puma, but my device is programmed for interval workouts right now. I can do a 300 on-100 off workout with ease, consistency, and accuracy and not have to worry about a coach yelling out times, being slower in round 2 than round 3, faster in round 6 than round 2, etc. and coaches won't have to worry about athletes dogging it.
If y'all have any other questions or concerns, let me know :)