Adaptive training system with aerial mobility system

• US 7,887,459 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Staihar, Steven J., Ungari, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew; Fenn C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tecco; Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US12/603,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20100035724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482 8- 9, 700/253, 700/255, 434/247, 701/26
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/34 Tackling, blocking or grappling dummies, e.g. boxing or wrestling or American- football dummies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

A mobile unit configured to train an athlete is disclosed. The mobile unit includes multiple sensors, communication devices and a mobility system. The mobile unit executes one or more training paths to simulate chasing associated with various sports. The mobile unit is capable of determining its own location and the location of the athlete throughout a training session, as well as other information. The mobile unit is configured to adapt the training path to stress weaknesses of the athlete with respect to various types of athletic skills.

Claims

1. A training system configured to train an athlete, comprising:

a mobility system comprisinq an aerial vehicle;

a mobile unit suspended from the aerial vehicle;

the mobile unit including a control unit and a display unit;

the control unit comprising at least one port configured to receive information associated with an athlete;

wherein the display unit displays the information associated with the athlete;

a data storage device associated with the control unit, wherein the data storage device stores at least one training goal of the athlete, and wherein the at least one training goal of the athlete includes at least one of improving lateral speed, improving linear speed, improving acceleration, improving deceleration, and improving banking;

a processor associated with the control unit, wherein the processor employs a learning algorithm to analyze the information associated with the athlete and the at least one training goal to learn a training weakness of the athlete; and

wherein the control unit automatically determines a path for the mobile unit based on the information associated with the athlete and the training weakness of the athlete.

2. The training system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further displays the at least one training goal and the training weakness of the athlete.

3. The training system according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on the display unit in real-time.

4. The training system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is associated with at least one speaker.

5. The training system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit further includes at least one device configured to transmit and receive information from a sensor system associated with the athlete;

and

wherein the information from the sensor system is displayed on the display unit.

6. The training system according to claim 5, wherein the mobile unit determines the relative location of the athlete using information received from the sensor system and displays the relative location of the athlete on the display unit.

7. The training system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the mobile unit according to the path by controlling the motion of the aerial vehicle;

and

wherein the path is displayed on the display unit.

8. The training system according to claim 7, wherein the processor analyzes an initial performance of the at least one training goal of the athlete to learn the training weakness of the athlete;

wherein the control unit determines a new training program that includes instructions for moving the mobile unit according to a new training path designed to target the training weakness of the athlete; and

wherein the new training path is displayed on the display unit.

9. A training system configured to train an athlete, comprising:

a mobile unit including a control unit and a display unit;

the control unit comprising at least one port configured to receive information associated with an athlete;

a data storage device associated with the control unit, wherein the data storage device stores at least one training goal of the athlete, and wherein the at least one training goal of the athlete includes at least one of improving lateral speed, improving linear speed, improving acceleration, improving deceleration, and improving banking;

a processor associated with the control unit, wherein the processor employs a learning algorithm to analyze the information associated with the athlete and the at least one training goal to learn a training weakness of the athlete;

a mobility system comprising an aerial vehicle and configured to suspend the mobile unit;

wherein the mobile unit is suspended above a practice field;

wherein the display unit displays the information associated with the athlete;

wherein the control unit automatically determines a path for the mobile unit based on the information associated with the athlete and the training weakness of the athlete; and

wherein the control unit moves the mobile unit according to the path by controlling the motion of the aerial vehicle.

10. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile unit includes an optical device configured to receive optical information associated with the athlete.

11. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the display unit further comprises a touch screen.

12. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the information associated with the athlete is displayed on the display unit in real-time.

13. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the display unit is associated with at least one speaker.

14. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile unit includes a sensor that can determine a distance between the mobile unit and the athlete.

15. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile unit includes at least one device configured to transmit and receive information from a sensor system associated with the athlete.

16. The training system according to claim 15, wherein the mobile unit determines the relative location of the athlete using information received from the sensor system.

17. The training system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit receives an initial training program into a database associated with the control unit, wherein the initial training program includes instructions for moving the mobile unit according to an initial training path designed to target the at least one training goal of the athlete.

18. The training system according to claim 17, wherein the processor analyzes an initial performance of the at least one training goal of the athlete to learn the training weakness of the athlete;

and

wherein the control unit determines a new training program that includes instructions for moving the mobile unit according to a new training path designed to target the training weakness of the athlete.