Method and systems using prediction of outcome for launched objects
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Abstract
Each golfer (1-3) on a golf range (4) has an individual display (12-14) showing at least a predicted outcome of each of his/her shots, and a launch-analyser (6-8) to measure velocity vectors of the ball and/or club at strike for central-computation (9) of the prediction. Vibration and piezo-cable sensors (54,55;68,69) at instrumented targets (5;41-45,47) distributed throughout the range (4), detect the presence of balls arriving in their respective locations for matching with launched balls using the computed predictions and probability; active or passive radio-frequency identification and location of balls may also be used. Where a match is found, error between predicted and actual outcome is applied to adaptive correction of the prediction-computing process, and the actual outcome is displayed to the golfer instead of the prediction. Ball and/or club velocity vectors, and ball spin, at launch are measured from light changes occurring in detection planes (96,97;105;114-117;134;144-146) defined by slit apertures (94,95;104), and resulting from retro-reflection from ball (91;110;131) and/or club (130).
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Citations
62 Claims
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1-32. -32. (canceled)
- 33. A method for deriving representations of the individual outcomes of launching objects into an area that contains a plurality of mutually-spaced object-sensing means, wherein each sensing means detects the presence of any of the launched objects that arrive in the location of that respective sensing means, a prediction of the outcome of the launching of each individual object is computed in dependence upon measurements of velocity vectors of that object at launch, the prediction is used to provide representation of the outcome of the launch of that respective object in the event that the presence as aforesaid of that object is not detected by the sensing means, and the computation process by which the predictions are computed is subject to adaptive correction in dependence upon error between the outcome predicted and the actual outcome realised in respect of individual objects for which the presence as aforesaid is detected by any of the sensing means.
- 48. A system for deriving representations of the individual outcomes of launching objects into a defined area, comprising a plurality of mutually-spaced object-sensing means within the defined area, each of the sensing means being operative to detect the presence of any of the launched objects that arrive in the location of that respective sensing means, launch-analyser means for deriving measurements of the launch velocity vectors of each of the objects individually, computer means for computing in dependence upon these measurements a prediction for the respective object of the outcome of its launch, and means for providing representation of the computed prediction in the event that the presence as aforesaid of the respective object is not detected by the sensing means, and wherein the computation process by which the predictions are computed by the computer means is subject to adaptive correction in dependence upon error between the outcome predicted and the actual outcome realised in respect of individual objects for which the presence as aforesaid is detected by any of the sensing means.
Specification