Method and systems using prediction of outcome for launched objects

Abstract

Each golfer (1-3) on a golf range (4) has an individual display (12-14) showing at least a predicted outcome of each of his/her shots, and a launch-analyser (6-8) to measure velocity vectors of the ball and/or club at strike for central-computation (9) of the prediction. Vibration and piezo-cable sensors (54,55;68,69) at instrumented targets (5;41-45,47) distributed throughout the range (4), detect the presence of balls arriving in their respective locations for matching with launched balls using the computed predictions and probability; active or passive radio-frequency identification and location of balls may also be used. Where a match is found, error between predicted and actual outcome is applied to adaptive correction of the prediction-computing process, and the actual outcome is displayed to the golfer instead of the prediction. Ball and/or club velocity vectors, and ball spin, at launch are measured from light changes occurring in detection planes (96,97;105;114-117;134;144-146) defined by slit apertures (94,95;104), and resulting from retro-reflection from ball (91;110;131) and/or club (130).

Description

[0001] This application is a national stage completion of PCT / GB2005 / 000611 filed Feb. 18, 2005 which claims priority from British Application Serial No. 0423500.8 filed Oct. 22, 2004, which claims priority from British Application Serial No. 0414028.1 filed Jun. 23, 2004, which claims priority from British Application Serial No. 0412583.7 filed Jun. 5, 2004, which claims priority from British Application Serial No. 0403561.4 filed Feb. 18, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to methods and systems using prediction of outcome for launched objects. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for deriving representations of the individual outcomes of launching objects into an area that contains a plurality of mutually-spaced object-sensing means, wherein each sensing means detects the presence of any of the launched objects that arrive in the location of that respective sensing means, a predictio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The method and system of the invention is especially applicable to providing representations of the outcome of successive strikes of a golf ball, for example in the context of a golf range. In this respect, measurements of the launch velocity and spin vectors of a ball can be used to predict its ensuing flight-carry and -duration, its landing speed, landing backspin, angle of descent and subsequent bounce and roll. However, the accuracy of such prediction is very prone to errors arising from inaccuracies in the flight model, the bounce a

Problems solved by technology

However, the accuracy of such prediction is very prone to errors arising from inaccuracies in the flight model, the bounce and roll model and the launch measurements

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