Patent Application
20120310390
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fight analysis system.
In various forms of fighting (e.g., boxing, martial arts, fencing, criminal attacks, etc.), the success or survival of a fighter is generally determined by the quantity and quality of landed strikes inflicted by and received by that fighter (e.g., punches by a boxing glove in a boxing match, stabs by a knife in a knife fight, or a cut by a sword in a fencing match). The quality of a landed strike can be assessed by determining the type of strike and the force with which the strike landed on the other fighter as well as the location of the strike. For example, a strike landed with a particular amount of force to a particular point on the jaw of a fighter may be more effective than a strike landed with less force to the same point on the jaw of that same fighter. Similarly, a strike landed with a particular amount of force on the forearm of a fighter may be less effective than a strike landed with the same amount of force delivered to the throat of that same fighter.
In most competitive fights, judges determine the quantity and quality of landed strikes based solely on what they can perceive with the naked eye, leaving significant room for human error and mistake. For example, a judge may not be able to see certain landed strikes if his view is obstructed by one of the fighters and therefore may not give a fighter credit for that landed strike. Furthermore, even if a judge is able to see a landed strike, it is often difficult to accurately assess the quality of that strike since that assessment is based primarily on a subjective determination by the judge of the force with which the strike landed. Moreover, in training fighting designed to assess the progress or level of a fighter (e.g., sparring in boxing, testing in martial arts, or defending against a simulated attack in self-defense training), judges are often not available provide indications of the quantity and quality of landed strikes.
In attempting to make scoring of fights more objective, existing solutions include equipment to be worn by the fighters that contain switches or other contacts to indicate the occurrence and location of a landed strike. For example, in fencing, both fighters wear equipment around their torso that can provide an indication when the sword of one fighter has contacted another fighter. These existing solutions, however, typically require that the fighters wear a significant amount of equipment and wiring, decreasing the mobility of the fighters. Also, these existing solutions generally provide information about the occurrence and location of a landed strike, but not necessarily the type of strike and the force with which the strike landed.
In training fighting (e.g., self-defense training), fighters are often required to simulate aspects of a real-fight. For example, the training of a fighter to defend himself against another fighter wielding a knife will involve the use of a fake knife. For the safety of the fighter being trained, the fake knife is typically constructed in such a way that will not inflict significant harm to the fighter being trained (e.g., knife that provides an electric shock to, or marks the clothing of, the fighter stabbed with the knife). However, these safety measures also diminish the reality of the simulation, and therefore diminish the quality of the training. In addition, these simulated fights cannot provide realistic feedback on the actual affect such a landed strike might have on a fighter to better simulate aspects of a real fight. For example, a knife strike to the throat of a fighter would cause more damage (e.g., blood loss) than that same knife strike to the forearm of that same fighter, which would affect the fighter's ability after receiving that strike. Similarly, a strike with a fake knife that does not inflict harm on a fighter does not provide any feedback on the actual force that such a strike would have delivered, diminishing the simulation.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide fight analysis that would objectively determine the quality and quantity of landed strikes without the need to wear a significant amount of equipment and wiring. In addition, there is a need to provide fight simulations that provide a more realistic assessment of a fight.
A fight analysis system to objectively determine the quality and quantity of strikes in a fight. In one exemplary embodiment, one fighter wears a plurality of passive RFID tags at different locations that are read by a striking module (e.g., a knife) when the striking module lands on, or comes in proximity to, the fighter, to provide the location of a strike. Force sensors in the striking module enable determination of the type and force of a landed strike. A graphical user interface module displays information gathered by the fight analysis system.
So that the manner in which the features of the invention can be understood, a detailed description of the invention may be had by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of the invention. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which:
The invention is described with reference to several different embodiments, all of which are directed to providing fight analysis that can objectively determine the quality and quantity of strikes as well as simulating fights in a way that provides a more realistic assessment of a fight.
In one embodiment, the graphical user interface module 50 can include without limitation a personal computer 52 running software for a graphical user interface display 60 to provide a visual indication of the status and activity associated with the fighters and the modules of the fighting analysis system 10. In other embodiments, the graphical user interface module 50 can include satellite or television broadcasts and databases for storing the information provided by the fighting analysis system 10.
For simplicity, the exemplary graphical user interface display 60 is shown as providing information about one fighter but can be modified to show information about multiple fighters. As shown in
The graphical user interface display 60 can also display the time, force (e.g., mild, moderate, severe), type (e.g., stab, slice), and location (e.g., right chest) of a strike landed on a fighter, allowing for the display of a description of the last landed strike 67 against a fighter as well as a running log 68 of the landed strikes against a fighter. It will be understood that the determination of forces in the present invention can be the actual forces or approximations or characterizations of the relative forces inflicted or received by a fighter. These strikes can also be displayed on a graphical representation 69 of a fighter, showing the location 70 of the landed strike. The software of the graphical user interface module 50 can analyze the data associated with these strikes landed on a fighter, including without limitation the time, force, type, and location of a strike, based on physiological data that can be used to predict the physical harm that would be caused by the strikes (e.g., amount of blood loss) to estimate the status of the health of a fighter that can be displayed in a health status bar 72. As a fighter experiences landed strikes, the health status bar 72 can continue to decrease until the fighter experiences enough landed strikes to result in the death of the fighter. The graphical user interface module 50 can also be used to analyze and playback the fight to provide further fight metrics and training to the fighters. This analysis can provide an objective determination of which fighter inflicted and received the most damage during the fight (e.g., based on the cumulative totals of landed strikes and the forces associated with those strikes).
In the block diagram of the exemplary fighting analysis system 10 shown in
The striking module 110 can include an indicator 112 (e.g., a buzzer or LED display) to provide an audible indication or visual indication when a landed strike occurs. The indicator 112 can also provide a visual indication (e.g. and LED display) of the battery or connection status of the striking module 110. The striking module 110 can also include a wireless transceiver 118 (e.g., using BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, ANT, WIFI, LINX, GSM, or other proprietary communications techniques) for communicating with the graphical user interface module 50 to record data and track real-time use and performance of the fighting analysis system 10. For example, the wireless transceiver 118 can communicate the particular identification of the striking module 110, including identification of the fighter using the striking module 110, the time, force, type, and location of a strike landed by the striking module 110 on another fighter, and the connectivity status 61, battery status 63, and indicator status 65 of the striking module 110 to the graphical user interface module 50. The graphical user interface module 50 can communicate data and commands to the wireless transceiver 118 to configure the settings of the striking module 110, including without limitation the setting to turn on or off the indicator 112.
As shown in the block diagram of the exemplary fighting analysis system 10 shown in
In one exemplary embodiment, a three-axis (x, y, z), 8 g accelerometer 114 with an analog output can be used in a striking module 110 to detect whether a strike was landed or missed based on the difference in acceleration profiles between a landed strike and a missed strike.
A
M=√{square root over (AX2+AY2+AZ2)} (1)
In
In addition to detecting whether a strike was landed or missed, the accelerometer 114 can also provide data to determine the force of landed strikes. As demonstrated by the following equation (Newton's Second Law), the acceleration (A) of an object is directly related to the force (F) applied to the object and the mass of the object (m):
F=mA (2)
Since it is also known that the forces between colliding objects are equal and opposite (Newton's Third Law), by capturing the acceleration (or deceleration) during a landed strike, the force of the landed strike can be determined with knowledge of the approximate mass (m) of the striking module 110 (e.g., a fighter's fist, a knife, a knife plus a hand). This mass (m) of the striking object can be input to the software of the microcontroller 119 as part of the initialization and setup of the fighting analysis system 10 and could be changed if the striking module 110 (or fighter) is changed. The forces of each landed strike can be transmitted by the wireless transceiver 118 to the graphical user interface module 50 for display on the graphical user interface display 60. In addition, the overall cumulative force sustained by a fighter during a fight can be determined and presented on the graphical user interface display 60.
In another embodiment of the invention, the accelerometer 114 can also be used to track the orientation, velocity, and path of a strike when used with additional hardware (e.g., a gyroscope). The orientation of the mounted accelerometer 114 can be determined when the accelerometer 114 is motionless by detecting the acceleration caused by gravity. Looking at the components of acceleration in each axis (x, y, z) will provide the required data to calculate how each axis is oriented compared to the pull of the earth's gravitation field. With the addition of gyroscopes, changes from the initial motionless orientation can potentially be tracked throughout a fight, including when strikes are landed. Changes in velocity can be calculated by integrating the acceleration measured by the accelerometer 114 for each axis over time. Each axis can be calculated independently to monitor the velocity in each axis. The individual velocity components can be combined to get a magnitude and direction (vector) of overall velocity.
Δv=∫a·dt (3)
Changes in position can be calculated by integrating the calculated velocity components determined from the accelerometer 114 over time. Each axis can be calculated independently to monitor the position in each axis.
Δx=∫v·dt (4)
Returning to the block diagram of the exemplary fighting analysis system 10 shown in
The knife handle 308 can also include a rigid handle structural backbone 307 to which the knife blade 302 and circuit boards 313 are attached. As shown in
In another embodiment, force concentration devices (e.g., pucks) 315 can be adhered to the surface of the force sensors 316 to interact directly with the first face 304 and the second face 305 of the knife blade base 303 or vice versa (i.e., force concentration devices 305 can be added to the first face 304 and the second face 305 of the knife blade base 303).
In the embodiment of the knife 300 shown in
In the embodiment of the knife 300 shown in
Given its location in the boxing glove 400, the fluid bladder 402 will be compressed, increasing the force (i.e., pressure) in the fluid bladder 402, when force is exerted on the boxing glove 400 (e.g., when the boxing glove 400 lands on a fighter). To measure the forces exerted on the boxing glove 400 that, as described earlier, should be equal and opposite to the force exerted by the boxing glove 400 on a fighter, a force sensor 416 in the form of a pressure sensor 416 (e.g., an absolute pressure sensor) can be installed in conjunction with the fluid bladder 402 to measure the change in pressure caused by a landed strike.
A pressure sensor 416 detects the pressure differences between the surrounding or inlet pressure and a sealed vacuum reference. This is accomplished by detecting the deflection (and strain) of a member between the inlet pressure and the reference pressure. This difference in pressure is amplified and output. The output is available as an analog value that can be converted by the microcontroller 419 and used to calculate the force. Since pressure sensors are typically small, they can be rigidly mounted in the striking module 110 (e.g., in the fluid bladder 402 or a printed circuit board 413) and require a small amount of electrical power. In one embodiment shown in
In a typical boxing glove 400, there is little to no padding on the underside (palm) of the hand, which is protected from damage as it is not contacted during fighting. In one embodiment, this area of the boxing glove 400 can enclose one or more circuit boards 413 on which the electronics of the striking module 110 can be mounted. These electronic components can include without limitation, an indicator 412 (e.g., buzzer), an accelerometer 414, a wireless transceiver 418, and a microcontroller 419 as described previously. A rechargeable battery (not shown) for powering the electronics can also be enclosed in this area of the boxing glove 400. The indicator 412 can also provide a visual indication (e.g. and LED display) of the battery or connection status of the boxing glove 400.
In another embodiment (not shown), the electronics of the striking module 110 can be located remotely from the striking module 110 if there is insufficient space or no safe place in the striking module 110 (e.g., in a forearm pad connected to the striking module 110).
In one exemplary embodiment, a pressure sensor 416 can detect whether a strike was landed based on a change in the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 416 before/after and during a landed strike.
In addition to detecting whether a strike was landed or missed, the pressure sensor 416 can also provide data to determine the force of landed strikes. When force is applied to the fluid bladder 402, the pressure changes in an amount proportional to the force applied divided by the area on which the force is applied. Accordingly, the force of landed strike can be determined by multiplying the change in pressure (Δp) by the force contact area (A) of the fluid bladder 402 during the strike.
F=Δp·A (5)
Given this relationship between force (F) and pressure (p), the maximum force for a landed strike can be determined with knowledge of the maximum change in pressure measured by the pressure sensor 416 during the landed strike and the force contact area (A) of the fluid bladder 402 during the strike. In addition to determining the maximum force, the instantaneous force at a particular time can be determined with knowledge of the change in pressure measured by the pressure sensor 416 at that time and the force contact area (A) of the fluid bladder 402.
I=∫F·dt=Δp
m
=mΔv (6)
In one embodiment, the use of multiple fluid bladders 402 in the boxing glove 400, each associated with pressure sensor 416 in a way where the microcontroller 419 can determine the force exerted on a particular fluid bladder 402 by a landed strike (e.g., if each fluid bladder 402 was associated with its own pressure sensor 416.) This can improve the detail of the information provided about a landed strike and how it was landed (e.g., a punch where most of the force was inflicted by the thumb is less effective where most of the force was delivered by the knuckles).
Returning to the block diagram of the exemplary fighting analysis system 10 shown in
Returning to the block diagram of the exemplary fighting analysis system 10 shown in
Given its location in chest protector 500, the fluid bladder 502 will be compressed, increasing the pressure in the fluid bladder 502, when force is exerted on the chest protector 500 (e.g., when a strike lands on a fighter). To measure the forces exerted on the chest protector 500 that, as described earlier, should be equal and opposite to the force exerted by striking object, a force sensor 516 in the form of a pressure sensor 516 (e.g., an absolute pressure sensor) can be installed in conjunction with the fluid bladder 502 to measure the change in pressure caused by a landed strike. In one embodiment shown in
In one embodiment, a protective case 560 located on a chest protector straps 561 can enclose one or more circuit boards 513 on which the electronics of the receiving module 110 can be mounted. These electronic components can include without limitation, an indicator 512 (e.g., buzzer), a wireless transceiver 518, and a microcontroller 519 as described previously. A rechargeable battery (not shown) for powering the electronics can also be enclosed in this protective case 560. The indicator 512 can also provide a visual indication (e.g. and LED display) of the battery or connection status of the chest protector 500.
In one embodiment, multiple fluid bladders 502 can be used in the chest protector 500, each associated with a pressure sensor 516 in a way where the microcontroller 519 can determine the force exerted on a particular fluid bladder 502 by a landed strike (e.g., if each fluid bladder 502 was associated with its own pressure sensor 516). This can improve the detail of the information provided about a landed strike and the location where it was landed (e.g., confirming that a strike was landed on the upper right side of the chest rather than only that the landed strike landed somewhere on the chest protector 500).
In another embodiment, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology can be used to provide information about the location of a landed strike. RFID is an automatic identification method that stores and remotely retrieves data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. The technology requires some cooperation of an RFID reader and an RFID tag. RFID tags can be active (requiring a battery to operate) or passive (no battery is required; power is harvested from the reader's transmitted radio waves). The RFID tags come in a variety of sizes and configurations, including those shaped like and the size of a credit card. Each RFID tag can have a unique identification that is detectable by the RFID reader when the RFID reader is within a given distance of the tag. The RFID reader can have an antenna that emits radio waves; the RFID tag responds by sending back its data. The frequency used for identification, the RFID reader antenna gain, the orientation and polarization of the RFID reader antenna and the RFID tag antenna, as well as the placement of the RFID tag on the object to be identified will all have an impact on the RFID system's read range.
Returning to the exemplary knife 300 used as a striking module 110 in one exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in
In one embodiment, the RFID antenna 321 and RFID reader 320 in the knife 300 can be configured to continuously scan for RFID tags 602 and report the location of, e.g., a landed strike (confirmed by a force sensor) or near miss, when the RFID antenna 321 comes in close proximity to an RFID tag 602. In another embodiment, the RFID antenna 321 and RFID reader 320 in the knife 300 can be configured to scan for RFID tags 602 and report the location of an RFID tag 602 when a force sensor 316 has confirmed the occurrence of a landed strike.
In addition to reading the identification of the RFID tags 602 to determine the location of a landed strike, the RFID reader 320 of the knife 300 can also be used to configure the fighting analysis system 10 to link a particular RFID tag 602 to a particular part of the body of a fighter. For example, if an RFID tag 602 is installed on the left bicep of the garment 600, the graphical user interface module 50 can communicate data and commands to the knife 300 to read the identification of that RFID tag 602 and assign it to the “left bicep.”
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For example, although the exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a boxing glove 400 and chest protector 500, it will be understood that the inventive concepts can be applied to other offensive and/or or defensive gear used in fighting (helmets, headgear, shirts, protective pads/guards for feet, shins, knees, elbows, forearms, shorts, pants). The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/647,148, filed Dec. 24, 2009, and entitled Fight Analysis System, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12647148 | Dec 2009 | US |
| Child | 13587581 | US |
