Pitching machine and batting bay systems

Abstract

A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball pitching device comprising:
 a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched;   a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position; and   one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.   
     
     
         2 . The ball pitching device of  claim 2 , wherein a position of the impulse mechanism is configured to be adjustable relative to the launching position to control the pitch trajectory. 
     
     
         3 . The ball pitching device of  claim 2 , further comprising a first mechanical system configured to adjust the position of the impulse mechanism in a first dimension and a second mechanical system configured to adjust the position of the impulse mechanism in a second dimension. 
     
     
         4 . The ball pitching device of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second dimensions correspond to dimensions of an x-y plane. 
     
     
         5 . The ball pitching device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more control components are further configured to control at least one of the first and second mechanical systems to adjust the position of the impulse mechanism and the pitch trajectory. 
     
     
         6 . The ball pitching device of  claim 5 , further comprising an angled mount on which the launching surface and the launching system are disposed. 
     
     
         7 . The ball pitching device of  claim 6 , further comprising a third mechanical system configured to adjust an amount of tilt provided by the angled mount, the one or more control components being further configured to control the third mechanical system to adjust the amount of tilt provided by the angled mount and the pitch trajectory. 
     
     
         8 . The ball pitching device of  claim 1 , further comprising a casing on which the launching surface is disposed. 
     
     
         9 . The ball pitching device of  claim 8 , further comprising a first mechanical system configured to tilt the casing about a first axis and a second mechanical system configured to roll the casing around a second axis. 
     
     
         10 . The ball pitching device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more control components are further configured to control at least one of the first and second mechanical systems to adjust the pitch trajectory. 
     
     
         11 . The ball pitching device of  claim 1 , wherein the impulse mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder disposed below the launching position and at least one moveable piston, the pneumatic cylinder configured to accelerate the at least one moveable piston toward the launching position. 
     
     
         12 . The ball pitching device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more control components are further configured to adjust an amount of pressure in the pneumatic cylinder and to control the pitch power. 
     
     
         13 . The ball pitching device of  claim 1 , wherein the impulse mechanism includes an electromagnetic solenoid disposed below the launching position and at least one moveable piston, the at least one moveable piston being a ferromagnetic piston and the solenoid being configured to accelerate the at least one movable piston toward the launching position. 
     
     
         14 . The ball pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the launching system further includes a power source configured to apply a current to the electromagnetic solenoid, the one or more control components being configured to control the pitch power by adjusting an amount of current applied to the electromagnetic solenoid. 
     
     
         15 . The ball pitching device of  claim 14 , wherein the power source includes one or more capacitors, the one or more capacitors being selectively coupled to the electromagnetic solenoid to apply the current to the electromagnetic solenoid, and the one or more control components being configured to adjust a charging voltage applied to the one or more capacitors and to adjust the amount of current applied to the electromagnetic solenoid by the one or more capacitors. 
     
     
         16 . The ball pitching device of  claim 1 , wherein the launching position includes a circular aperture defined in the launching surface, the aperture having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the ball, allowing the ball to be held in the launching position and to be impacted by the at least one impulse mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The ball pitching device of  claim 1 , wherein the launching surface is configured to receive a series of balls via a ball handling mechanism connected to the ball pitching device. 
     
     
         18 . The ball pitching device of  claim 17 , wherein the ball handling mechanism includes a carousel system configured to rotate around a bearing to receive the series of balls and provide each ball of the series of balls to the launching surface one at a time. 
     
     
         19 . The ball pitching device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more control components are further configured to operate the ball handling mechanism and control a pitch frequency of the ball pitching device. 
     
     
         20 . The ball pitching device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control components are further configured to communicate with an external device, the external device being configured to control the ball pitching device. 
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling a ball pitching device, the method comprising:
 receiving a ball at a launching surface, the launching surface being configured to hold the ball in a launching position prior to the ball being launched;   determining a desired pitch power and pitch trajectory for the ball held in the launching position;   adjusting a position of an impulse mechanism disposed under the launching position in at least two dimensions based on the desired pitch trajectory; and   impacting, with the impulse mechanism, the ball held in the launching position with an amount of force corresponding to the desired pitch power to launch the ball from the launching position.