System, method and entertainment system for monitoring performance when launching a ball

Abstract

A system and method for including an entertainment aspect in an individual's training/practice session for throwing/kicking/hitting (i.e. launching) a ball, requires recording a video stream(s) that includes images of the individual's body motions and the resultant flight trajectory of the ball. Images from the video stream(s) can then be used, with appropriate metrics, to study the motion kinetics of the individual and the ball's resultant flight trajectory, to evaluate the individual's performance in launching the ball. Also, images from the video stream can be edited by the individual for subsequent training or entertainment purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for incorporating an instructional/entertainment aspect into a training/practice session for an individual, wherein the training/practice session involves launching a ball, the system comprising:
 a driving range defined by a base-line having a first end and a second end with a periphery extending from the first end of the base-line around a surface area of the driving range to the second end of the base-line with a three-dimensional x-y-z space above the surface area;   at least one ball launching bay for use by the individual to throw/kick/hit a ball into the x-y-z space;   a video unit including an n number of cameras installed on the periphery of the driving range for creating digital video stream images of an individual in the bay launching the ball and the in-flight trajectory of the ball as it travels from the bay to a touchdown landing location on the surface area of the driving range;   a predetermined target on the surface area of the driving range;   a computer connected with the video unit for manipulating the video stream to correlate motion kinetics of the individual during a launch of the ball, together with the in-flight trajectory of the ball, and with the touchdown location of the ball relative to an intended target on the surface area, to identify a causal relationship between the individual's motion kinetics and the in-flight trajectory of the ball relative to the intended target; and   an interactive display located at the launching bay connected with the computer for showing the individual during a launch of the ball, the in-flight trajectory of the ball, and its touchdown location, to inform and entertain an individual of his/her performance in launching the ball.   
     
     
         2 . The system recited in  claim 1  further comprising a projector for illuminating a predetermined portion of the driving range surface area with a laser light to create a visible optical target thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The system recited in  claim 2  further comprising:
 a fabricated convex surface erected over at least a portion of the surface area of the driving range; and 
 at least one gutter connected to an edge of the convex surface for passive retrieval of balls from the convex surface for return to the individual. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system recited in  claim 3  wherein the convex surface is configured to optimize laser light reflection therefrom for enhanced contrast of the optical target. 
     
     
         5 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the video stream image of the ball in the touchdown location includes identification of an impact point of the ball relative to the predetermined target and subsequent ball movement. 
     
     
         6 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the computer provides the interactive display with capabilities for interactive gaming with individuals at other bays; for creating and selecting target designs and presentations on the driving range surface area; for moving targets on the driving range surface area; and for evaluating the statistics and scoring values for each ball launched, individually and competitively, with balls launched by other individuals. 
     
     
         7 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the video unit comprises:
 at least one camera for creating a video stream including images of the individual when launching a ball; 
 at least one camera for creating a video stream of the ball's in-flight trajectory; and 
 a camera focal plane created from a respective video stream for each of the n number of cameras, wherein each camera focal plane comprises a plurality of pixels for use by the computer in measuring motion kinetics of the individual launching the ball and georectifying the ball with the surface area of the driving range to correlate the ball with targets on the surface area of the driving range. 
 
     
     
         8 . A system for incorporating an entertainment aspect into a practice session which comprises:
 a driving range defined by a surface area wherein the driving range includes at least one bay for launching a ball onto the driving range;   a video unit installed on the periphery of the driving range for creating a video stream image of an individual in the bay and a video stream image of the in-flight trajectory of the ball as it travels from the bay to a touchdown landing location on the surface area of the driving range;   a computer connected with the video unit for correlating motion kinetics of the individual at the bay, when launching the ball from the bay onto the driving range, with the in-flight trajectory of the ball and its touchdown location relative to a predetermined target on the surface area of the driving range, to identify a causal relationship between the individual's motion kinetics and the in-flight trajectory of the ball; and   an interactive display at the bay connected with the computer for showing the in-flight trajectory of the ball and its touchdown location, to inform and entertain the individual at the bay of his/her performance in launching the ball.   
     
     
         9 . The system recited in  claim 8  further comprising a projector for illuminating a predetermined portion of the driving range surface area with a laser light to create a visible optical target thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The system recited in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a fabricated convex surface erected over at least a portion of the surface area of the driving range; and 
 at least one gutter connected to an edge of the convex surface for passive retrieval of balls from the convex surface for return to the individual. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system recited in  claim 10  wherein the convex surface is configured to optimize laser light reflection therefrom for enhanced contrast of the optical target. 
     
     
         12 . The system recited in  claim 8  wherein the computer provides the interactive display with capabilities for interactive gaming with individuals at other bays; for creating and selecting target designs and presentations on the driving range surface area; for moving targets on the driving range surface area; and for evaluating the statistics and scoring values for each ball launched, individually and competitively, with balls launched by other individuals. 
     
     
         13 . The system recited in  claim 8  wherein the video unit comprises:
 an n number of cameras installed on the periphery of the driving range for creating digital video stream images of an individual in the bay launching the ball and the in-flight trajectory of the ball as it travels from the bay to a touchdown landing location on the surface area of the driving range; 
 at least one camera for creating a video stream including images of the individual when launching the ball; 
 at least one camera for creating a video stream of the ball's in-flight trajectory; and 
 a camera focal plane created from a respective video stream for each of the n number of cameras, wherein each camera focal plane comprises a plurality of pixels for use by the computer in measuring motion kinetics of the individual launching the ball and georectifying the ball with the surface area of the driving range to correlate the ball with targets on the surface area of the driving range. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for evaluating the kinetics of an individual's performance when launching a ball toward an intended target which comprises:
 a video unit, including an n number of cameras to collectively create an n number of respective video streams, wherein the video streams include video data for use in imaging the individual's body motions during a launch of the ball, and for tracking the resultant in-flight trajectory of the ball;   a launch evaluation unit for receiving video data from the video unit to image the individual's motion kinetics during a throwing/kicking/hitting activity required to launch the ball;   a tracking unit for receiving video data from the video unit to image the in-flight trajectory of the ball launched by the individual; and   a computer incorporating the launch evaluation unit and the tracking unit for identifying a causal relationship between the individual's motion kinetics and the in-flight trajectory of the ball.   
     
     
         15 . The system recited in  claim 14  further comprising:
 a driving range defined by a base-line having a first end and a second end with a periphery extending from the first end of the base-line around a surface area of the driving range to the second end of the base-line with a three-dimensional x-y-z space above the surface area; 
 at least one ball launching bay for use by the individual to throw/kick/hit a ball into the x-y-z space; and 
 an interactive display located at the launching bay connected with the computer for showing the individual during a launch of the ball, the in-flight trajectory of the ball, and its touchdown location, to inform and entertain the individual of his/her performance in launching the ball. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system recited in  claim 15  further comprising, a projector for illuminating a predetermined portion of the driving range surface area with a laser light to create a visible optical target thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The system recited in  claim 16  further comprising:
 a fabricated convex surface erected over at least a portion of the surface area of the driving range; and 
 at least one gutter connected to an edge of the convex surface for passive retrieval of balls from the convex surface for return to the 
 
     
     
         18 . The system recited in  claim 17  wherein the convex surface is configured to optimize laser light reflection therefrom for enhanced contrast of the optical target. 
     
     
         19 . The system recited in  claim 15  wherein the computer provides the interactive display with capabilities for interactive gaming with individuals at other bays; for creating and selecting target designs and presentations on the driving range surface area; for moving targets on the driving range surface area; and for evaluating the statistics and scoring values for each ball launched, individually and competitively, with balls launched by other individuals. 
     
     
         20 . The system recited in  claim 14  wherein the video unit comprises;
 at least one camera for creating a video stream including images of the individual when launching the ball; 
 at least one camera for creating a video stream of the ball's in-flight trajectory; and 
 a camera focal plane created from a respective video stream for each of the n number of cameras, wherein each camera focal plane comprises a plurality of pixels for use by the computer in measuring motion kinetics of the individual launching the ball and georectifying the ball with the surface area of the driving range to correlate the ball with targets on the surface area of the driving range.