Patent Application
20190083875
The present invention pertains to systems and methods for objectively evaluating an individual's body motions while throwing, kicking, or hitting a ball; based in part on the resulting trajectory of the ball. More particularly, the present invention pertains to video techniques which can be employed to provide objective information for the use and/or entertainment of an individual while he/she is practicing on throwing, kicking or hitting a ball. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for converting video information into objective metrics which can be used to evaluate the kinetics of an individual's athletic performance abilities.
Repetition, persistence, and an objective evaluation of an individual's performance are the essence of any training regimen. This is particularly so in sporting activities where there is a continuing need and desire to improve one's performance. In sports activities which use a ball, individuals typically focus on the body's action that is required to throw, kick or hit the ball. As a general statement it can be said that the success of any such activity is objectively measured by the resultant trajectory of the ball as it is launched onto a driving range, or onto a similar type area. Stated differently, the body's motion and the resultant ball trajectory should be objectively considered together. This, however, becomes more difficult as the length of a ball's trajectory is extended.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/634,989 for an invention entitled “System and Method for 3D Optical Tracking of Multiple In-Flight Golf Balls” (hereinafter referred to as the '989 Application) is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and is incorporated herein in its entirety. In the '989 Application, it is disclosed how to isolate a single golf ball from a plethora of in-flight golf balls, and to track the trajectory of the isolated golf ball over great distances from the time it is launched until it comes to rest. To do this, the disclosure in the '989 Application discloses video techniques that collectively use a plurality of different video streams. Further, the '989 Application discloses that a visual presentation of each golf ball's trajectory can be provided with a monitor that is positioned at the location from where the golf ball is launched.
As recognized by the present invention, the metrics that are necessary for evaluating the kinetics of an individual's body motion for throwing/kicking/hitting a ball and his/her performance based on the ball's flight trajectory, can be accurately measured from the same video stream(s) that are used to track a golf ball trajectory as disclosed in the '989 Application. Also, interactive gaming and competitive exercises can be created between several different individuals (participants) using similar video stream(s). As an additional capability, it is recognized that a video presentation at a monitor which is located near the individual (participant) can be manipulated by the individual to customize a metric evaluation of his/her own performance as an individual activity or in competition with others.
With the above in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide video metrics for evaluating the kinetics of an individual's body motion and his/her overall performance, to include the resultant trajectory of a ball being thrown/kicked/hit by the individual. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an individual with the capability of controlling and using a video presentation of his/her activity as he/she throws/kicks/hits a ball. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for including an entertainment aspect into a practice session for throwing/kicking/hitting a ball that is easy to implement, is simple to use, and is comparatively cost effective.
A system for incorporating an instructional/entertainment aspect into a training/practice session for an individual includes at least one ball launching bay from where the individual is able to throw/kick/hit a ball into a three dimensional x-y-z space. Also included is a video unit having an n number of cameras installed on the periphery of a driving range (area) having a surface area under the x-y-z space. In combination, the n number of cameras are oriented to create respective digital video stream images of the individual in the bay as he/she launches the ball on an in-flight trajectory to a touchdown landing location on the surface area of the driving range.
In detail, the video unit has at least one camera for creating a video stream of the individual when launching a ball, and at least one other camera for creating a video stream of the ball's in-flight trajectory. Further, a camera focal plane is created from a respective video stream for each of the n number of cameras. Each of the camera's focal planes comprises a plurality of pixels which are mapped for input into a computer. Specifically, this mapping is done for purposes of measuring motion kinetics of the individual as he/she launches the ball, and for georectifying an in-flight ball with the surface area of the driving range. Further, the computer is used to correlate the golf ball with targets on the surface area of the driving range, and to evaluate the motion kinetics of the individual relative to the resultant trajectory of the ball. More particularly, the motion kinetics can be evaluated to identify a causal relationship between the individual's motion kinetics and the in-flight trajectory of the ball relative to the intended target.
An interactive display located at the launching bay is connected with the computer for purposes of showing the individual during a launch of the ball, the in-flight trajectory of the golf ball, and its touchdown location, to inform and entertain an individual (participant) with his/her performance in throwing/kicking/hitting the ball. Additionally, the computer provides the interactive display with capabilities for interactive gaming with individuals at other bays; for creating and selecting target designs and presentations on the driving range surface area; for moving targets on the driving range surface area; and for evaluating the statistics and scoring values for each ball as it is launched. This can be done individually, or competitively, with balls launched by other individuals.
As added features, the system of the present invention can include a projector for illuminating a predetermined portion of the driving range surface area with a laser light, to thereby create a visible optical target on the surface area. Also, the system can include a fabricated convex surface that is erected over at least a portion of the surface area of the driving range. Further, a gutter can be connected to an edge of the convex surface for passive retrieval of balls from the convex surface for return to the individual during a training/practice session.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
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For an operation of the present invention,
For a joint evaluation of the video streams 32 and 36, the video stream 32 that is created by the camera 20 is directed as input to a launch evaluation unit 38. Specifically, the launch evaluation unit 38 uses this input to evaluate the motion kinetics of the participant 30 during the act of throwing/kicking/hitting the ball 18 that is required to launch the ball 18. At essentially the same time that the motion kinetics of the participant 30 are being recorded and evaluated by the launch evaluation unit 38, a tracking unit 40 evaluates the video stream 36 of the in-flight trajectory 34 of the ball 18. A computer 42, which incorporates both the launch-evaluation unit 38 and the tracking unit 40, can then use information in both of the respective video streams 32 and 36 for either instructional purposes 44 or entertainment purposes 46.
For instructional purposes 44, the present invention uses the computer 42 to evaluate a causal relationship between the motion kinetics of the participant 30 and the in-flight trajectory 34 of the ball 18. In particular, this evaluation for a causal relationship is directed toward identifying the necessary changes that are required for a participant 30 to optimize his/her performance. For entertainment purposes 46, the in-flight trajectory 34 of the ball 18 can be used for such activities as target practice, score keeping, or interactive competition with other participants 30. Further, the tracking unit 40 can provide input to the computer 42 that can be used to enhance and support the instructional purposes 44. In any event, the results of the instructional purposes 44 and the entertainment purposes 46 can be individually or jointly presented on an interactive display 48 for use by the participant 30. Preferably, for the above stated purposes, the display 48 will be positioned in a bay 16, where the particular features of interest for the participant 30 can be selected from the computer 42 for presentation on the interactive display 48.
While the particular System, Method and Entertainment System for Monitoring Performance When Launching a Ball as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
