INERTIAL MEASUREMENT OF SPORTS MOTION

• US 20130204411A1
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Clark, William W., Romeiko, Jeremy R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00

Abstract

Systems and methods of motion tracking are disclosed that can be used in connection with sports motion. Such a method can include placing one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs) on at least one of a person or one or more pieces of equipment, recording motion data associated with the at least one of the person or the one or more pieces of equipment, and synchronizing the recorded motion data. The method can also include analyzing the synchronized motion data in connection with a motion standard, and generating feedback based at least in part on the analyzed motion data.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates motion tracking, comprising:

a set of one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs), wherein each IMU of the set is attached to and records motion data associated with one of a person or at least one piece of equipment;

a control component that receives and synchronizes the motion data recorded by each IMU of the set; and

an analysis component that analyzes the synchronized motion data in connection with a motion standard and generates feedback based at least in part on the analysis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the set of one or more IMUs is attached to and records motion data associated with the person.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated feedback is based at least in part on a value of a performance index.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the performance index is based at least in part on one or more of a motion factor or an equipment-based factor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion data is associated with a swing of a baseball bat.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the generated feedback is based at least in part on a moment of inertia of the baseball bat.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the generated feedback comprises a recommendation of at least one of a length or a weight of an optimal baseball bat.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the generated feedback comprises one or more design parameters associated with a design of an optimal baseball bat.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis component derives at least one of a linear velocity or an angular velocity based at least in part on the synchronized motion data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion data is associated with a pitch of a baseball.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the motion data comprises at least one of an arm speed associated with the pitch, grip data associated with the pitch, or release data associated with the pitch.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined feedback comprises a comparison between the synchronized motion data and benchmark motion data.

13. A method of motion tracking, comprising:

placing one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs) on at least one of a person or one or more pieces of equipment;

recording motion data associated with the at least one of the person or the one or more pieces of equipment;

synchronizing the recorded motion data;

analyzing the synchronized motion data in connection with a motion standard; and

generating feedback based at least in part on the analyzed motion data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising deriving additional motion data, wherein the additional motion data comprises at least one of a linear or an angular velocity.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the recorded motion data is associated with a swing of a baseball bat.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the generated feedback is based at least in part on a moment of inertia of the baseball bat.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating feedback comprises recommending of at least one of a length or a weight of an optimal baseball bat.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the generated feedback is based at least in part on a speed of the baseball bat at the time of a collision with a baseball.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the motion data is associated with a pitch of a baseball.

20. A method of motion tracking, comprising:

recording motion data associated with the at least one of a person or one or more pieces of equipment;

synchronizing the recorded motion data;

analyzing the synchronized motion data in connection with a performance index, wherein the performance index is based at least in part on one or more of a motion factor or an equipment-based factor; and

generating feedback based at least in part on the analyzed motion data.