Patent Application
20250229157
The disclosed technology provides an interactive agility post system useful in training athletes to lower their center of gravity, while keeping their eyes up and increasing their speed and agility in basketball. The disclosed technology further provides a system, media and methods for tracking and improving athlete agility, speed and body position.
In one embodiment, an interactive system useful in training athletes may include an agility post having a stanchion supported on a stability base, with two arms extending from and rotatably affixed to the stanchion. A light is positioned at the top of the stanchion, and one or more lights are positioned on or along each arm of the stanchion. Supported on the agility post are a plurality of sensors and cameras.
A communications module is secured to the agility post and configured to receive positional data from the sensors, to direct operation of the top light and the lights positioned on or along each arm pursuant to a light sequence, and to transmit the sensor data to a computing device. The computing device receives video data from the cameras and sensor positional data from the communications module, and calculates a user's travel path, body position, speed and acceleration, and displays the same on a user interface. One or more additional lights or lasers may be positioned on the post to direct the user's movement relative to the post pursuant to the light sequence.
The user interface of the computing device may receive user input to create the light sequence, which may be transmitted to the communications module. Further, the system may include a plurality of agility posts, each agility post having its own communications module; in this embodiment the communications module of the agility posts may communicate with each other.
In this and other embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium embodies computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to receive sensor data from the communications module reflecting user positional data relative to an agility post, and camera video from a plurality of cameras positioned on the post. The processor may also create and display a record associated with the user based upon the sensor positional data. The processor may further output to the communications module light sequence data, which the communications module will use to activate lights on the agility post.
In these and other embodiments, a method may include receiving from a plurality of sensors positional data of a user relative to an agility post, and receiving from a plurality of cameras video data of the user relative to the agility post. The method may further include creating and displaying a record associated with the user based upon the sensor positional data and the camera data, and outputting to a plurality of lights on the agility post light sequence data configured to activate a light sequence in the plurality of lights. The method may also include creating the light sequence data.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals, and in which:
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, systems, and media for an interactive agility post that utilizes sensor data and camera video and interacts with a graphical user interface. For a given drill (using one or more agility posts of the disclosed technology) various sensors and cameras may be available to capture movement data through the drill, including body position. For example, using sensor data, speed, acceleration and position relative to the post may be accurately identified. Similarly, using camera data, body position in the drill can be identified. Additionally, a graphical user interface may be utilized to design, modify and/or review a user's path to and past one or more agility posts. Utilizing sensors, camera data, and a graphical user interface with the herein presented agility post can provide a dynamic drill to athletes, and a highly accurate, reliable, quickly available and readily accessible analysis of one or more user drills through the system.
Referring now to
Positioned about the stanchion and/or the stability base are a plurality of sensors 600 to sense the athlete's presence about the post, and one or more cameras 700 to record and transmit images or video of the athlete to a computing device, as hereinafter described.
The operation and in some embodiments the color or pulsation of the lights and lasers is controlled by a communications module 400. The communications module 400 further communicates with, and/or receives data from, the sensors, and transmits some or all of such data to a computing device. Further, the communications module 400 receives light sequence data from the computing device. Using sensor data and/or data from the device, the communications module directs the lights and lasers of the agility post 1, and controls the operation of the sensors and cameras. Video or pictures captured by the cameras are communicated directly to the computing device for further processing. Using sensor and camera data received by the device, the computing device calculates the athlete's speed and acceleration, as well as determining and assessing the presence and body position of an athlete.
Returning to
Rotatably affixed to the stanchion are at least two arms 200. The rotation of the arms relative to the stanchion may be provided in two or more planes. Useful in providing full rotational coupling of the arms to the stanchion are adjustable, articulating friction magic arms 201 such as model MA-7 offered by Vidpro, wherein one end of a magic arm is affixed to the stanchion, and the other end to the arm of the agility post 1. The arms 200 may be made of any suitable material to maintain the structure of the arm. Each of the arms 200 may present as a single element, or may present in segments, wherein the segments may themselves be rotationally coupled together to allow rotation in one or more planes. In either of these configurations, the arms may be positioned relative to the stanchion so that the athlete must lower his or her body position to pass the agility post, under the arm, as directed by the light signals; thereby, the positioning of the arms may be adjusted based upon the height and ability of the athlete.
One or more lights may be presented on the stanchion to direct the athlete's movement relative to the agility post, the operation of which is controlled by the communications module. In the embodiment shown, a light 310 on top of the stanchion may present in red, for example, indicating that the athlete should stop. Further, a second light 320 on the front of the stanchion may present in yellow, for example, indicating that the athlete should retreat. Lasers 800 may be positioned along the base of the stanchion to signal the athlete to pivot or jab step.
Presented on each of the arms 200 are one or more lights 300, the operation of which is also controlled by the communications module 400, to direct the travel of the athlete past the agility post 1. The light(s) 300 may be secured to one or more sides of the arms 200, along any portion thereof, or present at the end segments of the arms, as shown.
These and other lights and lasers may direct the athlete's movement relative to the agility post, and may present in a single color or may present in two or more colors as directed by the communications module 400. The lights may be positioned along the exterior of the post 1, secured within the post 1 and extending through apertures, or secured within the post wherein at least a portion of the post is translucent to allow light from the LEDs to be visible to an athlete.
The lights 300, 310 and/or 320, and lasers 800, may be light emitting diodes (LED), or other suitable lighting, such as incandescent, halogen, compact-fluorescent, fluorescent, solar, laser, flame, and the like. In some embodiments, to signal direction the lights present in one color (e.g., green) on one or more arms, and another color (e.g., red) on one or more other arms. In other embodiments the lights signal direction by presenting on one or more arms colored or clear, while the lights on the other arm(s) are off. In these and other embodiments, any of the lights and lasers may pulsate, at one or more rates, particularly useful to direct color-blind athletes to stop, retreat, and/or travel in a particular direction.
In embodiments the lights and lasers may be powered and controlled by wiring from the communications module 400, through or about the stanchion and along the exterior of the arms 200, or within a hollow interior of the arms, if any. In other embodiments, wireless power and/or communication mechanisms may be utilized, such as wireless communications (RFID, NFC, etc.) and battery-operated LEDs.
Sensors 600 are secured about the stanchion 100, preferably on three or more sides. The sensors 600 are coupled with the communications module 400 to provide data which can be used by the communications module and/or the computing device (as hereinafter described) to calculate and/or display the direction, path, speed, acceleration and reaction time of the athlete as he or she approaches and passes the agility post. Data from the sensors may include the athlete's presence, distance and position relative to the post 1.
Further, as a sensor detects the presence of an athlete, it may activate (via the communications module and/or the computing device) random or pre-programmed light signals on the stanchion and the arms. Alternatively, the sensor's detection of the presence of an athlete may activate a single light signal, and then either alone or with data from other sensors and/or the camera determine whether the athlete has taken the appropriate action corresponding to the light signal before proceeding on to a second light signal, and so on. Data communicated by the sensor to the communications module and/or the computing device is herein referred to as “positional data.”
Any suitable type of sensor may be utilized to detect and track the position of the athlete, including wired or wireless technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH, Bluetooth Low Energy, NFC, Wi-Fi, radio wave, etc.). An example of a sensor suitable for use in the disclosed technology is the Adafruit Vl530X, a distance sensor utilizing laser sources.
In embodiments, the sensor may detect the athlete no further than a certain pre-determined distance from the sensor (e.g., 3 feet), wherein the pre-determined sensing distance may be set through the computing device and communicated to the sensor(s) via the communications module 400. In this embodiment the presence of the athlete within the pre-determined distance is communicated to the communications module to trigger the light sequence. Alternatively, the sensor may communicate the distance and position an athlete travels over time in the sensing area, wherein the distance and position is communicated to the communications module, which triggers the light sequence when the communications module (or the computing device receiving such data from the communications module) determines from the positional data that the athlete has reached a certain pre-determined distance from the sensor. The light sequence may then proceed with additional light signaling as set through the communications module, or in a random sequence, in either case with or without additional positional data triggering other segments of the signaling sequence.
One or more cameras 700 may be affixed to and supported by the stanchion 100 to take still pictures or videos of an athlete as they travel about the agility post 1; these pictures may be transmitted by the camera to the communications module (and then further communicated to the computing device), directly to the computing device, or to a storage location in a remote location. The cameras 700 may be supported on the underside of a collar 120 secured about the stanchion, or otherwise secured to the stanchion. In some embodiments four cameras are presented, one on each side of the stanchion. Suitable cameras for use in the disclosed technology are provided in the OPENCV AI KIT: OAK-D by Luxonis Holding Corporation. Operation of the cameras (e.g., video capture on/off) may be controlled by the communications module, based upon a start or stop signal, a time lapse after the front sensor senses the athlete, or otherwise (or any combination thereof).
Through the video feed from the camera received directly or indirectly by the computing device, the athlete's position and movement relative to the agility post of the disclosed technology may be tracked. Further, the video feed may be used by the computing device to determine and visually present the athlete's body position (high/low, body angle, level of attack, center of gravity) for teaching purposes. In addition, the computing device may determine and visually present the athlete's shin and hip angles from the video feed, to help an athlete achieve better positioning and prevent future injuries. These and other body position calculations and presentations may be determined and presented using programs such as Computer Vision available through Open CV, and motion capture software available from various vendors. A picture of the athlete may be captured prior to commencing use of the agility post of the disclosed technology, to measure the athlete's unique body size, height, limbs and torso elements, to help inform the application as it generates visual presentations and assessments of the athlete's body position using the agility post. By analyzing camera data of a user's position, movement in each direction and position of the athlete's body, in three-dimensions (x, y, z) may be analyzed.
In embodiments of the disclosed technology, multiple agility posts are used in a single drill. In these embodiments, the communications module 400 of each post 1 communicates either directly (wirelessly) or indirectly (through the computing device) with communications modules of the other posts. Thus, for example, as an athlete is detected as passing a first post (determined by the communications module or the computing device from sensor and/or camera data), a ‘start’ signal may be communicated to a second post to commence its sensing, light signaling, and video capture. In this configuration the application may capture data as the athlete travels through the sequence of posts. Other drill technology may likewise be in communication with one or more posts to create a robust drill, such as the agility ladder as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,912,976, issued to the present applicant on Feb. 9, 2021.
The communications module 400 may be any suitable type of electronics to facilitate communications and/or power to and/or from the agility post 1. For example, the communications module 400 may utilize any suitable wireless and/or wired technology to receive from the communications module light sequence data, including for example ‘stop,’ ‘start,’ ‘reverse,’ ‘jab step’, and ‘right/left’ directional instructions. The light sequence data may be received in a packet, comprising all data, or may receive segments or independent data instructions over time. In either configuration, as an example, the communications module will activate light 310 upon a stop directional instruction, deactivate light 310 upon a start directional instruction, activate light 320 upon a reverse directional instruction, activate one or more lasers 800 for a jab step instruction, and activate the lights 300 on one of the arms 200 corresponding to the right or left directional passing instruction. Activation may include directing the coloration of the lights, wherein for example upon a right directional instruction the lights 300 on the right arm are activated as green, and the lights 300 on the left arm are activated as red. The light sequence data communicated to the communications module may include time data, indicating the duration of each signal in the sequence. In embodiments, the light sequence may further be directed by sensor data, received by the communications module, as directed by the computing device and its sensor triggering data; for example, the sensor triggering data may direct the sequence to pause at the stop signal until sensor data indicative of an athlete stopping a pre-defined distance from the post is received, and then the sequence may proceed on to the reverse signal. This pause awaiting sensor data, as directed by sensor triggering data, may occur at any point in the light sequence.
The communications module 400 may also receive power from external sources (electric outlet, battery, solar cell/panel, wireless power transmittal, etc.). The communications module 400 may transmit, via the wiring 801, the light sequence data (in the form of individualized lighting instructions which may be analog or digital) to each LED 300, 310, 320 and/or laser 800; alternatively, the communications module may simply supply power to the respective light/laser in accordance with the light sequence data. The LEDs and lasers may be connected to the communications module 400 with positive and negative wires, along with a separate ground. The communications module 400 may further have a receiving module to receive positional data of an athlete relative to the agility post from one or more of the sensors and/or the cameras, wherein the positional data may comprise location and/or body position relative to the post. The communications module may further have an output module configured to output such positional data for purposes of calculating user reaction, speed, acceleration, body position and other data as hereinafter described, and communicating the same to the computing device and its interface 120. Alternatively or additionally, the sensors and/or the cameras may communicate all or some of the positional data to the computing device, independent of the communications module.
Referring now to
Further, the output module of the communications module may send start/stop signals 240 to the sensors, camera, and the communications module of a second post in the drill, thereby powering on each of these elements to capture the drill about the post, and powering down each of these elements when the drill or drill segment is complete. The elements may be powered on at one time, or in sequence.
Turning now to
For example, as shown in
As shown in
The speed (distance (d)/time (t), or velocity (v)) and acceleration (Av/At) of an athlete may be calculated using sensor data, camera data, or programmed light sequence path data, or any combination thereof. For example, the aggregate sensor data provides the path of the athlete as he/she engages in the drill. Using this data and a clock (or time data associated with the sensor data), the computing device may calculate both speed and acceleration of the athlete for the entire drill, or for any segment thereof, or real-time throughout the drill, and display the same on the user interface. Alternatively, camera data with sensor data, or alone, and/or with the light sequence data, accompanied with times associated with such data or an independent clock, may be used to calculate the speed of the athlete.
Reaction time is the time it takes for an athlete to respond to a stimulus (e.g., LED lights) after it is presented; stated differently, it measures how quickly the athlete perceives and processes information and then initiates a physical response. Combining sensor data (or camera data) with light sequence data, and any associated or independent clock data, the computing device may calculate and report on the interface the reaction time of the athlete. This may be calculated for example as the time differential between the time a light signal indicating that the athlete is to act is activated and the time of sensor data indicative of the athlete's corresponding action, and reported on the interface.
Driving one's arm while running generates an in-sync motion with an athlete's lower body, creating acceleration, body torque and balance. Therefore, it is useful to calculate the average AAD speed of the athlete as he or she practices the drill. Using video data from the camera, the AAD speed may be calculated, wherein the computing device 900 translates upwards and downwards movement of the dribbling arm 234 to data, and using the camera time can determine the amount of time it takes for the athlete to complete each upward and downward cycle (dribble). The dribble times throughout the drill may then be averaged by the computing device and reported on the interface.
Similarly, the athlete's average shin angle (ASA) 250 relative to the ground may be calculated by the computing device during performance of the drill. A forward ASA helps with propulsion and promotes efficient transfer of energy from the lower limbs to the ground. It also can facilitate the use of gravity to aid momentum and reduce the risk of excessive braking forces. Importantly, the shin angle should be neutral and balanced, and not exaggerated; an overly aggressive forward lean can lead to poor running mechanics, loss of stability and increased risk of injury. Calculating the shin angle as an athlete travels through the drill can be extracted from the camera data (using the primary joint and body lines generated therefrom), averaged, and reported on the interface.
Additional data including the athlete's distance from the post as he or she passes under the post arms, for example, by may be calculated using side sensor data and/or cameras, and reported on the user interface.
In embodiments, video (or characterized video, or a two-dimensional symbol, such as a circle) of the athlete and his/her movement through the drill may be shown on the interface (see, e.g.,
In embodiments, a user can access through the interface a plurality of preset light directional sequences, modify at least one of the plurality of preset light directional sequences, or create a new light directional sequence. In some embodiments, users can save and upload their performance data as well as load the performance data of other users. For example, a user may want to compare their abilities to a famous professional athlete. If directional sequence data is available for that athlete, it can be loaded through the interface and provided to the agility post, which may then provide the loaded directional sequence as a light path sequence for the user to compete against.
In some embodiments, time data for each segment of the light path sequence may be pre-programmed either by the computing device or customizable via the user interface; in addition or alternatively, the light path sequence or segments thereof may be conditioned upon sensor data, In various embodiments, one or more customizable delay values may be provided to add a time buffer to one or more segments and/or lights in the light path sequence. A delay value may be uniform with respect to each light in the light path sequence, or each light and/or each segment may have its own delay value. A finish option may allow a user to terminate the sequence.
A time indicator 251 may be displayed to represent a current elapsed time. In other embodiments, this may be provided as a playback timer when showing a past user's path through the light sequence drill. In other embodiments, the time indicator 251 may provide a total amount of time that completing the stored drill sequence took. In some embodiments, a ranking of top times or other data, or combination of data, for a given directional sequence may be utilized. For example, if a user uploads their performance data for a given drill sequence, their performance can be compared against how other users did for the same drill sequence. A social media website may post the times or other performance data, or combinations thereof, of various users for a given directional sequence, such as in a continuously updated top ten users, and may make the directional sequence of other users available for download.
Turning now to
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The computing device 900 may further include one or more input devices 606 which can include, by way of example, any type of mouse, keyboard, disk/media drive, memory stick/thumb-drive, memory card, pen, touch-input device, biometric scanner, voice/auditory input device, motion-detector, camera, scale, and the like. Input devices 606 may further include sensors 600, sensing components of a computing device (touch screen, buttons, accelerometer, light sensor, etc.), and any device capable of measuring data such as motion data (accelerometer, GPS, magnetometer, gyroscope, etc.), biometric (blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, perspiration, temperature, voice, facial-recognition, iris or other types of eye recognition, hand geometry, fingerprint, DNA, dental records, weight, or any other suitable type of biometric data, etc.), video/still images, and audio (including human-audible and human-inaudible ultrasonic sound waves). Input devices 606 may further include cameras 700 (with or without audio recording), such as digital and/or analog cameras, still cameras, video cameras, thermal imaging cameras, infrared cameras, cameras with a charge-couple display, night-vision cameras, three-dimensional cameras, webcams, audio recorders, and the like.
The computing device 900 typically includes non-volatile memory 608 (ROM, flash memory, etc.), volatile memory 610 (RAM, etc.), or a combination thereof. A network interface 612 can facilitate communications over a network 614 via wires, via a wide area network, via a local area network, via a personal area network, via a cellular network, via a satellite network, etc. Suitable local area networks may include wired Ethernet and/or wireless technologies such as, for example, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi). Suitable personal area networks may include wireless technologies such as, for example, IrDA, Bluetooth, Bluetooth or internet mesh networks, Wireless USB, Z-Wave, ZigBee, and/or other near field communication protocols. Suitable personal area networks may similarly include wired computer buses such as, for example, USB and FireWire. Suitable cellular networks include, but are not limited to, technologies such as LTE, WiMAX, UMTS, CDMA, and GSM. Network interface 612 can be communicatively coupled to any device capable of transmitting and/or receiving data via one or more network(s) 614. Accordingly, the network interface hardware 612 can include a communication transceiver for sending and/or receiving any wired or wireless communication. For example, the network interface hardware 612 may include an antenna, a modem, LAN port, Wi-Fi card, WiMax card, mobile communications hardware, near-field communication hardware, satellite communication hardware and/or any wired or wireless hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices. One or more databases 618 may be accessed via the network(s) to remotely access data and store data, such as performance data relating to the user's performance on the agility post 100 via the interface 208 and data obtained from the sensors 600 and cameras 700.
A computer-readable medium 616 may comprise a plurality of computer readable mediums, each of which may be either a computer readable storage medium or a computer readable signal medium. A computer readable storage medium may reside, for example, within an input device 90006, non-volatile memory 608, volatile memory 610, or any combination thereof. A computer readable storage medium can include tangible media that is able to store instructions associated with, or used by, a device or system. A computer readable storage medium includes, by way of example: RAM, ROM, cache, fiber optics, EPROM/Flash memory, CD/DVD/BD-ROM, hard disk drives, solid-state storage, optical or magnetic storage devices, diskettes, electrical connections having a wire, or any combination thereof. A computer readable storage medium may also include, for example, a system or device that is of a magnetic, optical, semiconductor, or electronic type. Computer readable storage media and computer readable signal media are mutually exclusive.
A computer readable signal medium can include any type of computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and may include, for example, propagated signals taking any number of forms such as optical, electromagnetic, or a combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may include propagated data signals containing computer readable code, for example, within a carrier wave. Computer readable storage media and computer readable signal media are mutually exclusive.
The computing device 900 may include one or more network interfaces 612 to facilitate communication with one or more remote devices, which may include, for example, client and/or server devices. A network interface 612 may also be described as a communications module, as these terms may be used interchangeably.
It is noted that recitations herein of a component of the present disclosure being “configured” or “programmed” in a particular way, to embody a particular property, or to function in a particular manner, are structural recitations, as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” or “programmed” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component.
The order of execution or performance of the operations in examples of the disclosure illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and examples of the disclosure may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the disclosure.
It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” and “approximately” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, features described with one or more embodiments may be incorporated into other embodiments, and are not exclusive. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.
