TRAJECTORY DETECTION AND FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR GOLF

• US 20080182685A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pillar Vision Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pillar Vision Incorporated
• Inventors: Marty, Alan W., Edwards, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,409,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/407
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training

Abstract

A system that captures, analyzes and provides feedback related to golf is described. The system is designed to capture and analyze an initial trajectory of a golf ball and predict a subsequent flight of the ball. The system may be configured to provide immediate feedback that may be utilized by a player to improve their performance as well as provide entertainment value above and beyond what is normally associated with the play of a game of golf. The analysis and feedback system may be portable and may be operable for use in an area where golf is normally played, such as a golf course or an area where golf training takes place, such as a driving range. In one example, the analysis and feedback system may be integrated into a golf bag. Further, the system may be designed to be non-intrusive such that a player may use the system and receive feedback during normal activities associated with golf, such as out on a golf course.

Claims

1. A device for analyzing a trajectory of a golf ball, the device comprising:

one or more cameras for recording video frame data used to determine at least initial conditions for predicting a trajectory of a golf ball wherein only an initial portion of the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory is captured in the video frame data for the purposes of predicting the trajectory and wherein the predicted trajectory comprises at least impact with a club to a location where the golf ball is predicted to land;

a logic device designed or configured to i) receive the video frame data, ii) identify the golf ball in the video frame data, iii) predict the trajectory of the golf ball accounting for a spin of the golf ball wherein the trajectory predictions include generating trajectory parameters that characterize one or more states of the golf ball between at least the impact with the club and the location where the golf ball is predicted to land and iv) generate feedback information using the trajectory parameters; and

at least one output mechanism for providing the feedback information wherein the device is portable and designed for use outdoors.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes two cameras.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a stereoscopic camera.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more portions of the device is water-resistance or waterproof.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrated into a golf club bag.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

wheels.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to identify a body element of a person swinging the club.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to determine a position of the body element, an orientation of the body element, a velocity of the body element or combinations thereof, as a function of time and provide feedback information related to one or more of the position of the body element, the orientation of the body element or the velocity of the body element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein logic device is further designed or configured to incorporate the position of the body element, the orientation of the body element, the velocity of the body element or combinations thereof, as the function of time into an animated model.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the animated model is a 3-D skeletal model.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to identify the club in the video frame data.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to determine a position of the club, a velocity of at least one point on the club, an orientation of the club or combinations thereof as a function of time.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one point on the club is located on a club head or a clubface.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to incorporate the position of the club, the velocity of at least one point on the club, the orientation of the club or combinations thereof as the function of time into an animated model.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors for determining an orientation of the device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors comprise accelerometers or tilt sensors.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the output mechanism is a wireless interface for outputting the feedback information to one or more remote devices.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the remote device is worn by the player.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the output mechanism is an audio device coupled to the display.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, for the one or more cameras, the logic device, and the at least one output mechanism, the housing having a weight and form factor which facilitate one or more of transport, storage, unobtrusive set-up, calibration, or operation of the device.

21. The device of claim 1, further comprising an input mechanism.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the input mechanism is a touch screen display.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the input mechanism is a wireless interface for receiving input from a remote device.

24. The device of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic device is a general purpose computer comprising:

a processor, a data storage device, RAM, operating system software, device interfaces, device drivers and trajectory analysis software.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is capable of one of autonomous set-up, autonomous calibration, autonomous operation or combinations thereof.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein after manual input of data by a user, a confirmation of data determined by the device, the logic device is further designed or configured to complete a calibration procedure.

28. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory storage device for storing trajectory session information wherein the trajectory session information comprises one or more of

     1) digitized video frame data, trajectory information and feedback information generated for a plurality of trajectories,

     2) a trajectory session time,

     3) a trajectory session date,

     4) a trajectory session location and combinations thereof.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is designed to determine for a plurality of related trajectories captured by the device a consistency for at least one of the trajectory parameters generated for each of the plurality of related trajectories.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the consistency is determined by calculating a statistical deviation.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein an actual distance the golf ball travels in a straight line along the ground from the impact with the club to the location where the golf ball actually lands is greater than 10 meters.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein an actual distance the golf ball travels in a straight line along the ground from the impact with the club to the location where the golf ball actually lands is greater than 50 meters.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is for use on a golf course or on a driving range.

34. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a database of club characteristics for use in the trajectory predictions.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the club characteristics include club geometry parameters, club material properties and club mass properties.

36. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to predict a trajectory after the location where the golf ball is predicted to land.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein a final portion of the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory includes a prediction of one or more bounces or rolls by the golf ball.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein logic device is further designed or configured to account for a change in elevation between a location where the golf ball is hit to the location to the golf ball is predicted to land in determining where the golf ball is predicted to land.

39. The device of claim 1, wherein feedback information is related to one or more of the following:

1) a predicted straight-line distance of the shot,

     2) a measured straight-line distance of the shot based,

     3) a predicted height of the shot,

     4) a measured height of the shot,

     5) a predicted landing speed of the shot,

     6) the location where the shot is predicted to land,

     7) a predicted direction vector of the shot,

     8) a measured landing speed of the shot,

     9) a measured landing location of the shot,

     10) a measured direction vector of the shot,

     11) a parameter quantifying trajectory consistency of a plurality of shots with an identical club,

     12) a parameter quantifying trajectory spacing of a series of clubs,

     13) a measured initial speed of the shot,

     14) a measured initial angle of the shot,

     15) a measured initial spin of the shot,

     16) a measured initial direction vector of the shot,

     17) a predicted time aloft,

     18) a measured time aloft,

     19) a predicted quantification of the amount of draw of the shot,

     20) a measured quantification of the amount of the draw of the shot,

     21) a predicted quantification of an amount of fade,

     22) a measured quantification of an amount of fade,

     23) a predicted distance traveled along trajectory of the golf ball,

     24) a predicted distance traveled along the ground track of ball,

     25) a predicted distance traveled along a line between the shot starting point and a another position,

     26) a predicted initial distance from a pin prior to shot minus a final distance from the pin after the shot,

     27) a measured initial distance from the pin prior to the shot minus the final distance from the pin after the shot,

     28) a predicted distance accounting for a surface with which the golf ball makes contact including one or more of a fairway surface, a green surface, a rough surface, a water surface, a sand surface, a tree surface or combinations thereof,

     29) a predicted club head speed at the impact with golf ball,

     30) a measured club head speed at the impact with the golf ball,

     31) a length of time of a backswing,

     32) a length of time of a forward swing or

     33) combinations thereof.

40. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic device is further designed or configured to store data related to one or the trajectory of the golf ball, movements of a person swinging the club, movements of the club captured in the video frame data for use in a video simulation related to golf.

41. The device of claim 40, a video simulation of the player is generated using the stored data.

42. The device of claim 1, where the logic device is further designed or configured to facilitate a game played between two or more persons separate from the play of a golf game.

43. the device of claim 1, wherein a first person of the two or more persons is remotely located relative to the device.

44. A device for analyzing a trajectory of a golf ball, the device comprising:

one or more cameras for recording video frame data used to determine at least initial conditions for predicting a trajectory of a golf ball wherein only an initial portion of the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory is captured in the video frame data for the purposes of predicting the trajectory and wherein the predicted trajectory comprises at least impact with a club to a location where the golf ball is predicted to land;

a logic device designed or configured to i) receive the video frame data, ii) identify the golf ball in the video frame data, iii) predict the trajectory of the golf ball accounting for a spin of the golf ball wherein the trajectory predictions include generating trajectory parameters that characterize one or more states of the golf ball between at least the impact with the club and the location where the golf ball is predicted to land and iv) generate feedback information using the trajectory parameters for a person swinging the club; and

at least one output mechanism for providing the feedback information to the person in real-time wherein the device is portable and designed for use outdoors.

45. A device for analyzing a trajectory of a golf ball, the device comprising:

one or more cameras for recording video frame data used to determine at least initial conditions for predicting a trajectory of a golf ball wherein only an initial portion of the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory is captured in the video frame data for the purposes of predicting the trajectory and wherein the predicted trajectory comprises at least impact with a club to a location where the golf ball is predicted to land;

a logic device designed or configured to i) receive the video frame data, ii) identify the golf ball in the video frame data, iii) predict the trajectory of the golf ball accounting for a spin of the golf ball wherein the trajectory predictions include generating trajectory parameters that characterize one or more states of the golf ball between at least the impact with the club and the location where the golf ball is predicted to land and iv) generate feedback information using the trajectory parameters for a person swinging the club; and

at least one output mechanism for providing the feedback information to the person in real-time wherein the device is portable and designed for use outdoors wherein the one or more cameras, the logic device and the at least one output mechanism are integrated into a golf bag for carrying golf clubs.