System and method for analysing batting performance using colour changing pressure-sensitive coating and image processing techniques

Abstract

A system for analysing batting performance comprises a sporting bat with a colour changing pressure-sensitive coating that alters appearance upon impact, a camera, and computer program code instruction controllers. The image capture controller captures image data from the camera of the bat. The image analysis controller analyses the image data to detect the boundaries of the bat and visual impact points within these boundaries. A metric analysis controller calculates performance metrics based on the size and position of the visual impact points within the boundaries. The system provides detailed insights into impact characteristics, enabling improved performance evaluation and training. The coating may include microencapsulated thermochromic pigment for enhanced durability and reversibility, allowing repeated use.

Description

System and Method for Analysing Batting Performance Using Colour Changing Pressure-Sensitive Coating and Image ProcessingTechniquesField of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sports performance analysis, specifically to a system and method for analysing the batting performance, through the use of a colour changing pressure-sensitive coating, image capture and image processing. The invention aims to provide detailed insights into impact characteristics and player performance, facilitating enhanced training and technique improvement.Background of the Invention

[0002] The analysis of batting performance, particularly in the realm of cricket, has traditionally relied on subjective evaluations and limited technological methods. Players and coaches often assess performance based on visual inspection and personal experience, which can result in inconsistent and inaccurate feedback. Over the years, various tools and methods have been introduced to enhance the accuracy of performance assessments, but many of these solutions still fall short of providing comprehensive and objective analysis.

[0003] There is a growing need for a solution that leverages these technological advancements to offer a more accurate, efficient, and user-friendly method for analysing batting performance. Such a solution would ideally provide detailed performance metrics enabling players to monitor their progress and make data-driven improvements to their technique.

[0004] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.Summary of the Disclosure

[0005] The described system is configured for analysing batting performance, featuring a sporting bat with a colour changing pressure-sensitive coating that altersits appearance upon impact. This system includes a camera and a suite of computer program code instruction controllers including an image capture controller configured to capture image data from the camera of the bat, and an image analysis controller designed to analyse this image data to detect the boundaries of the bat and the visual impact points within these boundaries. Additionally, a metric analysis controller is utilised to calculate performance metrics based on the size and position of the visual impact points within the boundaries.

[0006] Preferably, the coating on the bat comprises microencapsulated thermochromic pigment. This type of coating ensures durability and consistent performance, as it changes colour in response to temperature variations upon impact. The use of microencapsulated thermochromic pigment offers the advantage of providing clear and immediate visual feedback on the point and force of impact, enhancing the analysis accuracy.

[0007] The metric analysis controller may further be configured to calculate the dispersion of the impact points within the boundaries. By measuring the distances between impact points and calculating the standard deviation or variance, the system provides insights into the player's consistency and control, offering a quantitative assessment of performance variability.

[0008] Additionally, the metric analysis controller can be configured with a specific region within the boundary, such as a "sweet spot", to determine the coincidence of the position of the visual impact points within this region. This configuration allows the system to calculate the frequency of impacts in the designated sweet spot area, providing metrics that reflect the player's hitting effectiveness and accuracy.

[0009] Moreover, the metric analysis controller may determine the frequency of coincidence of the position of the visual impact points within the region. This involves counting the number of impacts within the sweet spot across multiple sessions, thus evaluating the player's sweet spot hitting accuracy over time, which is essential for assessing long-term performance improvements.

[0010] The metric analysis controller may also detect the coincidence consistency of the impact points. This feature represents the player's control over the bat byanalysing the consistency and predictability of the impact points. Pattern recognition and statistical analysis techniques, including clustering algorithms and time-series analysis, can be employed to provide a robust evaluation of the player's skill and technique.

[0011] Furthermore, the metric analysis controller may calculate a power measurement according to the size and intensity of the visual impact points. The size of each impact point is measured by calculating the area of the altered colour region, while the intensity is assessed by evaluating the shift in hue, saturation, and brightness. Integrating these metrics using a weighted formula allows the system to reflect the energy transferred during the ball's impact, thereby providing a comprehensive analysis of the player's hitting power.

[0012] The metrics calculated by the metric analysis controller may be displayed in the user interface or transmitted via the data interface to a remote server. This feature ensures that the player receives clear and actionable feedback on their performance, which is crucial for ongoing improvement and training.

[0013] Preferably, the coating is reusable due to its advanced microencapsulated thermochromic pigment, which allows the colour change to be reversible. Once the temperature normalises, the thermochromic liquid crystals revert to their original phase, ensuring that the bat can be used repeatedly without reapplication of the coating. This reusability offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution for continuous performance analysis.

[0014] In certain embodiments, user interaction features allow players to interact with their data, set goals, and receive personalised recommendations based on their performance. The system may include features such as challenges, badges, and leader boards to motivate players and enhance the training experience. This gamification aspect not only encourages regular practice but also makes the training process more engaging and enjoyable.

[0015] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] Figure 1 shows a system for analysing batting performance in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0018] Figure 2 shows a method for analysing batting performance using the system in accordance with an embodiment.Description of Embodiments

[0019] Figure 1 shows a system 100 for analysing sporting bat performance, such as a cricket bat. The system 100 includes a sporting bat 101 with a colour changing pressure-sensitive coating 102 applied to a striking surface thereof that alters appearance upon contact with a ball.

[0020] The coating may comprise microencapsulated thermochromic pigment which consists of microcapsules containing thermochromic liquid crystals embedded within a polymeric binder. The thermochromic liquid crystals change colour in response to temperature variations, typically in the range of 25°C to 45°C. These microcapsules protect the liquid crystals from environmental factors, ensuring durability and consistent performance. The coating may be applied to the bat by mixing the microencapsulated pigment with a suitable solvent and spraying or dipping the bat, followed by drying to form a thin, uniform layer. Upon impact, the heat generated causes a localised colour change, indicating the point and force of impact.

[0021] The system 100 further comprises a camera 103 configured to capture image data of the coating 102. Image data may comprise photographic or video data. Preferably, the camera 103 is configured to capture high-resolution images of the coating 102, such as to a resolution exceeding 4 megapixels, which ensures detailed and accurate capture of the colour changes in the coating 102.

[0022] The system 100 further comprises an electronic device 104 having a processor 105 configured for processing digital data. A memory device 107 in operable communication with the processor 105 via a system bus 106 is configured for storingcomputer program code instructions and associated data 113. In use, the processor 105 fetches these computer program code instructions and associated data 113 from memory 107 for interpretation and execution of the computer functionality described herein.

[0023] These computer program code instructions may be logically divided into a plurality of computer program code instruction controllers 108 as will be described in further detail below. The processor 105 may comprise an I / O interface 114 operably interfacing a digital display 115. The controllers 108 may comprise a display controller 112 configured to display a user interface 116 on the electronic display 115. A haptic overlay may interface the electronic display 115 to receive user input gestures in relation to digital information displayed thereon. The processor 105 may further interface a data interface 117 for sending and receiving data across a wide area network, such as the Internet. In the embodiments shown, the electronic device 104 is a mobile communication device integrally having the display 112 and the camera 103 and having a software application installed thereon. It should however be noted that alternative computer system architectures may be employed including serverbased architecture and separate camera devices 103.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the system 100 may be realised by a mobile electronic device 104 configured with a high-resolution imaging subsystem operably interfaced with the camera 103. The camera 103 may comprise a CMOS imaging sensor of at least 8 megapixels with an f / 1.8 lens assembly capable of capturing images at frame rates exceeding 60 frames per second. The electronic device 104 may be based upon a system-on-chip architecture including the processor 105, which may comprise multiple CPU cores, a graphics processing unit, and an integrated digital signal processor configured to accelerate image-processing functions. The processor 105 may further incorporate a machine learning accelerator to support execution of boundary detection, pattern recognition, and statistical analysis techniques used by the controllers 108.

[0025] The memory 107 may include both volatile memory for high-speed program execution and non-volatile storage for maintaining the computer program codeinstructions and associated data 113. The system bus 106 interconnects the processor 105 with the memory 107, camera 103, and input / output interface 114. The data interface 117 provides connectivity over wireless communication protocols, such as Wi-Fi or 5G, to allow transmission of the performance metrics or raw image data to remote servers for further processing and storage.

[0026] The controllers 108 may be implemented as program code executed by the processor 105. The image capture controller 109 may directly interface with the camera 103 to manage sensor operation, resolution, exposure, and colour calibration, and may also coordinate pre-processing tasks handled by the digital signal processor. The image analysis controller 110 may execute algorithms on the processor 105 to detect the boundaries of the bat 101 and to identify visual impact points within the coating 102. These algorithms may utilise edge detection, segmentation, and colour histogram analysis techniques, with acceleration by the integrated GPU of the processor 105 where available. The metric analysis controller 111 may operate statistical functions on the image data, calculating dispersion, coincidence, frequency, and power measurements based on the relative positioning and size of impact points. The display controller 112 may generate a user interface 116 on the display 115 by rendering visual overlays such as impact dispersion maps, sweet spot heatmaps, and power charts, while the I / O interface 114 allows interaction with the display 115 and reception of user gestures. The data interface 117 may be operated by the controllers 108 to upload performance metrics and to receive training recommendations, thereby extending the functionality of the system 100 beyond the device 104.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a method 200 for analysing batting performance in accordance with an example. Step 201 comprises an image capture controller capturing image data from the camera 103 of the bat 101. During batting, ball impacts on the coating 102 create visible impact points which are apparent in the image data.

[0028] The image capture controller 109 may perform image preprocessing at step 202 by performing image / video validation to ensure the image data meets the required quality standards such as focus and lighting conditions. This can be doneeither by the software application during capture or by the website backend during analysis of uploaded image data. Pre-processing steps may include cropping and scaling the image to the area containing the bat and scaling it to a standard resolution to streamline analysis. Colour normalisation may be used to adjusts the image to a standard colour profile to compensate for variable lighting conditions during capture.

[0029] Step 203 comprises an image analysis controller 110 configured for analysing the image data. At step 204, the image analysis controller 110 may perform boundary detection to detect edges of the bat 101 within the image data. Boundary detection can be achieved using edge detection algorithms such as the Canny edge detection method, which identifies the boundaries by detecting sharp discontinuities in the image intensity. This process involves applying Gaussian smoothing to reduce noise, computing the intensity gradients of the image, applying non-maximum suppression to thin out the edges, and finally using double thresholding and edge tracking by hysteresis to identify strong and weak edges.

[0030] At step 205, the image analysis controller 110 detects visual impact points in the coating 102 within the detected boundaries. This is achieved by a detailed analysis of colour changes within the defined bat boundaries. The process begins with the controller scanning the image for regions exhibiting colour alterations, which are indicative of impact points. The controller may employ advanced image processing algorithms to quantify the changes in hue, saturation, and intensity, pinpointing the exact locations of impact. Additionally, the controller may evaluate the intensity and spread of these colour changes by calculating metrics such as the gradient of colour transition, the area of altered colour, and the contrast between impacted and non-impacted regions. This assessment allows the system to accurately determine the characteristics of each impact, including the force and distribution of the ball's contact with the bat. The refined data is then used to map out the impact points, providing a detailed visual representation and quantitative analysis of the batting performance.

[0031] Step 206 comprises a metric analysis controller 111 configured for calculating batting performance metrics based on the size of the visual impact points and relative positioning of the visual impact points within the detected boundaries.

[0032] The controller 111 measures the dispersion of the impact points to provide insights into the player's consistency and control. Dispersion calculation may involves measuring the distances between impact points and calculating the standard deviation or variance to quantify the spread.

[0033] The metric analysis controller 211 may be configured with a "sweet spot" region within the boundary and determines the coincidence of the position of the visual impact points within the region, offering a metric of hitting effectiveness. This may involves defining a central area on the bat as the sweet spot and calculating the frequency of impacts within this area. The controller tracks the consistency of impact points in the sweet spot to assess the player's accuracy.

[0034] The metric analysis controller 211 may be configured to determine the frequency of coincidence of the position of the visual impact points within the region. This is done by counting the number of impacts within the sweet spot across multiple sessions to evaluate the player's sweet spot hitting accuracy over time.

[0035] The metric analysis controller 211 may be configured to detect the coincidence consistency of the impact points, which represents the player's control over the bat through the consistency and predictability of the impact points. This process may involve pattern recognition and statistical analysis techniques wherein the controller 211 first compiles impact data from multiple batting sessions, creating a comprehensive dataset of impact points. It may then apply clustering algorithms to identify common impact zones and uses statistical measures such as standard deviation and variance to quantify the spread of these points. The controller 211 may assess the temporal stability of these impact points by comparing their locations across different sessions. A low variance in the impact points' positions indicates high consistency and control, while a high variance suggests irregularity and reduced control. Additionally, the controller 211 may employ time-series analysis to track changes in the impact patterns over time, enabling the detection of trends andimprovements in the player's performance. Advanced machine learning models may be used to predict future impact patterns based on historical data, providing further insights into the player's control and reliability. This detailed analysis allows for the generation of a control score, which is a quantifiable metric that reflects the player's ability to consistently hit the bat's target areas, thereby offering a robust evaluation of the player's skill and technique.

[0036] The metric analysis controller 211 may calculate a power measurement according to the size and intensity of the visual impact points. This involves an analysis where the controller 211 first identifies and isolates each impact point within the coating 102. The size of each impact point may be measured by calculating the area of the altered colour region using pixel counting algorithms, which determine the number of pixels within the impact boundary. To assess the intensity of the impact, the controller 211 may evaluates the colour change within the impact point, quantifying the shift in hue, saturation, and brightness. This is achieved through image processing techniques that compare the impacted area's colour profile to the baseline (pre-impact) profile, calculating the degree of change. The intensity data is then normalised to account for variations in lighting conditions during image capture, ensuring consistent and accurate measurements. The power score may be derived by integrating both the size and intensity metrics whereby the controller 211 applies a weighted formula that combines the area of the impact point with the intensity of the colour change, reflecting the energy transferred during the ball's impact. Larger and more intense impact points contribute to a higher power score, indicating more powerful hits. Additional processing may also factor in the distribution of impact points to differentiate between isolated powerful hits and consistently powerful performance across multiple hits. Additionally, the controller 211 may aggregate power scores over multiple sessions to provide a comprehensive analysis of the player's hitting power. This enables the detection of trends, such as improvements in hitting strength over time, and offers insights into the player's ability to generate powerful shots consistently. The power measurement data can be visualised through graphs andcharts in the user interface 116, providing players with clear and actionable feedback on their performance.

[0037] At step 115, the metrics calculated by the metric analysis controller may be displayed in the user interface 116 or alternatively transmitted via the data interface 117 to a remote server.

[0038] Preferably, the coating 102 can be reused due to its microencapsulated thermochromic pigment, which allows the colour change to be reversible. Upon impact, the friction and kinetic energy from the ball generate heat, causing a localized temperature rise at the impact point. This heat triggers a phase change in the thermochromic liquid crystals, resulting in a visible colour alteration. The polymer shells protect the liquid crystals from physical and environmental damage, maintaining their functionality over extended use. Once the temperature returns to normal, the thermochromic liquid crystals revert to their original phase, and the colour change reverses. This thermal reversibility ensures that the coating can return to its initial state, making the bat ready for subsequent use without any degradation in performance. This nature of the microcapsules ensures that the coating can withstand repeated impacts and temperature cycles, providing reliable and consistent feedback on the bat’s performance over multiple sessions. Furthermore, the reusability of the coating reduces the need for frequent reapplication, offering a cost-effective and sustainable solution for continuous performance analysis. The ability to repeatedly use the bat 101 with the same coating 102 maintains the integrity of long-term performance data, enabling accurate tracking of improvements and trends in a player's batting technique over time.

[0039] In embodiments, user interaction features allow players to interact with their data, set goals, and receive personalised recommendations based on their performance. The controllers 108 may include features such as challenges, badges, and leader boards to motivate players and enhance the training experience. Players can track their progress, compete with others, and receive feedback to improve their batting skills.

[0040] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims1. A system for analysing batting performance comprising: a sporting bat having a colour changing pressure-sensitive coating that alters appearance upon impact; a camera; and computer program code instruction controllers comprising: an image capture controller configured for capturing image data from the camera of the bat; an image analysis controller configured for analysing the image data to: detect boundaries of the bat; and detect visual impact points in the coating within the boundaries; a metric analysis controller for calculating performance metrics based on: size of the visual impact points; and position of the visual impact points within the boundaries.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises microencapsulated thermochromic pigment.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metric analysis controller calculates dispersion of the impact points within the boundaries.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the dispersion calculation involves measuring the distances between impact points and calculating the standard deviation or variance to quantify spread.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metric analysis controller is configured with a region within the boundary and determines coincidence of the position of the visual impact points within the region.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the metric analysis controller calculates frequency of impacts within the region.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metric analysis controller is configured to determine frequency of coincidence of position of the visual impact points within the region.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the frequency of coincidence is determined by counting the number of impacts within the region across multiple batting sessions.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metric analysis controller is configured to detect coincidence consistency of the impact points.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the coincidence consistency detection involves clustering and time-series analysis.11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the metric analysis controller calculates a power measurement according to at least one of the size and colour intensity of the visual impact points.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the size is measured by calculating an area of an altered colour region using a pixel counting algorithm.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the intensity is assessed by evaluating a colour change within an impact point, quantifying at least one of a shift in hue, saturation, and brightness.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the power measurement is derived by integrating both the size and intensity metrics using a weighted formula.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the metric analysis controller aggregates power measurements over multiple batting sessions.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metrics calculated by the metric analysis controller are displayed in the user interface or transmitted a the data interface to a remote server.

17. The system of claim 2, wherein the coating is reusable due to its pigment which allows the colour change to be reversible.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the microencapsulated thermochromic pigment consists of microcapsules containing thermochromic liquid crystals embedded within a polymeric binder that reverts to an original phase upon temperature normalisation.

19. A method of analysing batting performance using the system of claim 1 , the method comprising capturing image data of the sporting bat, detecting boundaries of the bat and visual impact points in the coating within the boundaries, and calculating performance metrics based on at least one of the size and position of the visual impact points.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying the calculated performance metrics on a user interface or transmitting the calculated performance metrics to a remote server for storage and further analysis.

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