Method and system for athletic motion analysis and instruction

• US 20060166737A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PG Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Bentley Kinetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0636 3D visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 : Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 : for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 : Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 : characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 : Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 : involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 : Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 : Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 : using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 : Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 : being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 : using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 : Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 : for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 : Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing and improving the performance of an athletic motion such as a golf swing requires: instrumenting a user with inertial sensors and video cameras and monitoring a golf swing or such other athletic motion of interest; drawing upon and contributing to a vast library of performance data for analysis of the test results; the analysis including scoring pre-defined parameters relating to component parts of the motion and combining the parameter scores to yield a single, kinetic index score for the motion; providing a real-time, information rich, graphic display of the results in multiple, synchronized formats including video, color coded and stepped frame animations from motion data, and data/time graphs; and based on the results prescribing a user-specific training regime with exercises selected from a library of standardized exercises using standardized tools and training aids.

Claims

1. A method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of an individual, comprising:

using a computer-based motion analysis system comprising a processing computer, inertial sensors, a video camera, and a computer-driven display screen;

testing an individual by monitoring the execution of a said athletic motion with multiple said inertial sensors mounted on and said camera directed at said individual;

collecting sensor data from said sensors and video signal from said camera during the execution of said athletic motion;

analyzing the sensor data by processing said sensor data into motion data representing pre-defined selected performance parameters of pre-defined selected components of the athletic motion; and

reporting the results of the analyzing in a form comprising a computer generated display of multiple, selectable configurations, one of which includes in a composite, synchronized combination said video signal, a multi-color, three dimensional animation representing the motion of at least one color-coded body segment created from said motion data, and a time-based graph of multiple selected said performance parameters of said motion.

2. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said inertial sensors incorporating wireless data transmitters, said computer-based motion analysis system incorporating a wireless data receiver.

3. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said athletic motion requiring manipulation of an associated tool, said individual comprising the individual and the associated tool in combination.

4. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said individual comprising a golfer with a golf club, said athletic motion being a golf swing motion.

5. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said animation being color coded by major body segments.

6. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, further comprising:

setting range of motion limits for selected said components of motion in advance of said testing, said animation incorporating a three dimensional cage representing said motion limits and within which a said body segment is visible.

7. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 6, further comprising:

altering a selected color within said display upon the occurrence of a motion exceeding said motion limits.

8. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said analyzing further comprising comparing for selected parameters the motion data test value to a pre-defined benchmark value for the same parameter and determining a degree of deviation therefrom, said reporting further comprising said time-based graph displaying the test value and the benchmark value of selected parameters concurrently.

9. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 8,

said analyzing further comprising calculating from said test value and said benchmark value a score for each said selected parameter.

10. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 9, said analyzing further comprising combining the scores of said selected parameters by a pre-defined formula so as to yield a single score representing the total performance value of said athletic motion.

11. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 8, further comprising:

prescribing a regime of training exercises selected from a pre-defined list of exercises based on the amount of said deviation from said benchmark values of respective said parameters, said exercises being associated with a pre-defined list of training tools.

12. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 11, the frequency and length of periods of exercise being limited by pre-defined available training time of said individual.

13. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 2, said sensors having a stacked topology within a sensor enclosure wherein a battery is proximate to and its shape conforms with the bottom of said enclosure, and sensor elements and electronic circuitry are positioned over said battery within said enclosure.

14. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said sensors being attached to body appliances that are worn by said individual, said sensors and said appliances having corresponding mating structural by which said sensors are uniformly and repeatably attachable to the same place with the same orientation on said appliances.

15. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said results of said analyzing in a computer database and making said results available for later replay.

16. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting said computer-based system to a computer network and making said results available for remote access.

17. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, further comprising prior to said testing:

selecting and defining a test site to have at least one motion reference point;

positioning said video camera to be directed at said test site at a pre-defined angle, height, elevation and offset with respect to said reference point;

feeding a video signal from said camera to said computer-driven display screen;

inserting an overlay in said computer-driven display screen corresponding to said reference point.

18. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 1, said multi-color, three dimensional animation representing the motion of at least one color-coded body segment created from said motion data comprising:

a stepped frame animation wherein selected positions of an object in motion are retained in subsequent frames of said animation such that a motion track is apparent to a viewer;

the retained positions being selected on a basis selected from the group of basis consisting of time, position, speed, and acceleration of said object in motion.

19. A method for analysis and improvement of a golf swing motion of an individual gripping a golf club, comprising using a computer-based motion analysis system comprising a wireless receiver communication with a processing computer, wireless inertial sensors, a video camera, and a computer-driven display screen for:

testing an individual by monitoring the execution of a said golf swing motion with multiple said sensors on and said video camera directed at said individual and said golf club;

collecting sensor data from said sensors and video signal from said camera during the execution of said golf swing motion;

analyzing the sensor data by processing said sensor data into motion data test values representing selected performance parameters of selected components of the athletic motion and comparing for said selected performance parameters the motion data test value to a pre-defined benchmark value for the same said parameter and determining a degree of deviation therefrom, calculating from said motion data test value and said benchmark value a score for each said parameter, and combining the scores of said selected performance parameters by a pre-defined formula so as to yield a single score representing the total performance of said golf swing motion;

reporting the results of the analyzing in a form comprising a real time, computer generated display of multiple, selectable configurations, one of which includes in a composite, synchronized combination said video signal, a multi-color, three dimensional animation representing the motion of at least one color-coded body segment created from said motion data, and a time-based graph of multiple selected said performance parameters of said motion;

prescribing a regime of training exercises selected from a pre-defined list of exercises based on related performance parameters, said exercises being associated with a pre-defined list of training tools;

connecting said computer-based system to a computer network and making said results of said analyzing and said prescribing available for remote access; and

storing said results of said analyzing and said prescribing in a computer database and making said results available for later replay.

20. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 19, further comprising:

setting range of motion limits for selected components of said motion in advance of said testing, said animation incorporating a three dimensional cage representing said motion limits and within which said body segments are visible.

21. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 19, further comprising:

altering a selected color within said display upon the occurrence of a motion exceeding said motion limits.

22. The method for analysis and improvement of a selected athletic motion of claim 19, the frequency and length of periods of exercise being limited by pre-defined available training time of said individual.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

repeating the recited steps.