Sports Stick Training Tool

Abstract

A hockey puck outfitted with sensors and a hockey stick outfitted with sensors, are both coupled with each other and with a wearable device having a computer storing an application and with an external device. The application may be stored in a wearable device or an external device such as a computer and receives data from sensors in the hockey puck and hockey stick, processes the data and provides information about the user's performance and recommendations for improved performance. This combination of an instrumented puck, stick, wearable feedback device and external device allows players to gain insights into their performance and to receive instant notifications when their actions align with optimal metrics for performance.

1 . A sports-training system comprising:
 an instrumented hockey stick having a shaft and a blade and comprising a first set of at least one embedded sensor configured to detect interactions and motion related to the hockey stick; and   an instrumented hockey puck comprising a second set of one or more embedded sensors configured to detect motion and position related to the hockey puck; and   a wearable device comprising a processor and memory storing an application, the wearable device configured to:   wirelessly receive first sensor data from the first set of embedded sensors; and   wirelessly receive second sensor data from the second set of embedded sensors; and   process the first and second sensor data using the application; and   generate a feedback indicator related to the processed data, wherein;   the feedback indicator provides real-time performance information to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first set of embedded sensors in the instrumented hockey stick comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: 
 force sensors distributed along the blade, force sensors distributed along the shaft, vibration sensors in the blade, proximity sensors in the blade and accelerometers, and gyroscopes; wherein 
 the force sensors distributed along the blade are configured to detect contact points and pressure distribution between the blade and the hockey puck; and 
 the vibration sensors are configured to measure a resonant signature of the blade upon impact with the hockey puck; and 
 the proximity sensors are configured to detect the relative position of the hockey puck to the hockey stick; and 
 the accelerometers and gyroscopes are configured to measure motion dynamics of the hockey stick including swing and angular velocity. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second set of embedded sensors in the instrumented hockey puck comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: 
 accelerometers, gyroscopes, proximity sensors; wherein 
 the accelerometers and gyroscopes are configured to measure velocity, acceleration and spin of the hockey puck; and 
 the proximity sensors are configured to determine the distance and spatial relationship between the hockey puck and the hockey stick. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the wearable device is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a helmet-mounted device, a wrist-worn device and a shoulder-mounted device. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feedback indicator is an audible cue. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feedback indicator is a visual cue. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feedback indicator is a haptic cue. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an external electronic device configured to wirelessly receive the first and second sensor data; and
 process the first and second sensor data to provide detailed analysis and graphical visualization of user performance. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein:
 the graphical visualization includes one or more representations selected from the group consisting of: 
 puck trajectory visualizations, blade resonance patterns, and puck contact heat maps on the blade. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein:
 the application is configured to compare the processed data representing a user's performance against stored optimal performance metrics. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 the optimal performance metrics are derived from sensor data recorded during a professional player's performance. 
 
     
     
         12 . An instrumented hockey stick for use in a sports training system comprising:
 a shaft and a blade; and   a plurality of embedded sensors distributed along at least one of the shaft and the blade, the sensors including at least one force sensor configured to detect contact pressure and location; and   motion sensors configured to detect stick dynamics; and   a wireless communication module configured to transmit sensor data generated by the plurality of embedded sensors to a separate processing device.   
     
     
         13 . An instrumented hockey puck for use in a sports training system comprising:
 a puck body; and   a plurality of embedded sensors within the puck body, the sensors including at least one motion sensor configured to detect velocity, acceleration and spin of the puck; and   at least one position sensor configured to detect proximity to an instrumented hockey stick; and   a wireless communication module configured to transmit sensor data generated by the plurality of embedded sensors to separate processing device.   
     
     
         14 . A method for using the system of  claim 1  comprising:
 detecting contact points and pressure distribution between blade and hockey puck; and 
 measuring a resonant signature of the blade upon impact with the hockey puck; and 
 detecting the relative position of the hockey puck to the hockey stick; and 
 measuring velocity acceleration and spin of the hockey puck; and 
 determining the distance and spatial relationship between the hockey puck and hockey stick; and 
 wirelessly transmitting data to a device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the device is a wearable device. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 generating an audible cue. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 generating an visible cue. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 generating an haptic cue. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the device is an external device. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 generating graphical representations of the data.