96 results about "Movement activity" patented technology

A navigational control system for altering movement activity of a robotic device operating in a defined working area, comprising a transmitting subsystem integrated in combination with the robotic device, for emitting a number of directed beams, each directed beam having a predetermined emission pattern, and a receiving subsystem functioning as a base station that includes a navigation control algorithm that defines a predetermined triggering event for the navigational control system and a set of detection units positioned within the defined working area in a known spaced-apart relationship, the set of detection units being configured and operative to detect one or more of the directed beams emitted by the transmitting system; and wherein the receiving subsystem is configured and operative to process the one or more detected directed beams under the control of the navigational control algorithm to determine whether the predetermined triggering event has occurred, and, if the predetermined triggering event has occurred transmit a control signal to the robotic device, wherein reception of the control signal by the robotic device causes the robotic device to implement a prescribed conduct that alters the movement activity of the robotic device.

A method for monitoring a ball used for an athletic activity includes detecting movement of the ball at a first time, using a sensor module coupled to the ball, determining that the movement of the ball corresponds to a predetermined activation movement, entering an active state of the sensor module in response to the determination that the movement of the ball corresponds to the predetermined activation movement, and detecting movement of the ball at a second time, using the sensor module in the active state.

A method for monitoring an individual engaged in an athletic activity includes detecting movement of the individual at a first time, using a sensor module coupled to the individual, determining that the movement of the individual corresponds to a predetermined activation movement, entering an active state of the sensor module in response to the determination that the movement of the individual corresponds to the predetermined activation movement, and detecting movement of the individual at a second time, using the sensor module in the active state.

Individuals may be encouraged to perform athletic activity based on punishments or adverse effects that may be applied if the individual loses an athletic activity competition. For example, a user's device may be adversely affected by visual or functional effects configured to obscure or obstruct one or more functions of the user's device. The punishment or adverse effect might not be removed or deactivated until a user has completed a new competition without losing. In some arrangements, the user may be required to win in order to have the adverse effect removed.

A navigational control system for altering movement activity of a robotic device operating in a defined working area, comprising a transmitting subsystem integrated in combination with the robotic device, the transmitting subsystem comprising means for emitting a number of directed beams, each directed beam having a predetermined emission pattern, and a receiving subsystem functioning as a base station that includes a navigation control algorithm that defines a predetermined triggering event for the navigational control system and a set of detection units positioned within the defined working area in a known spaced-apart relationship, the set of detection units being configured and operative to detect one or more of the directed beams emitted by the transmitting system; and wherein the receiving subsystem is configured and operative to process the one or more detected directed beams under the control of the navigational control algorithm to determine whether the predetermined triggering event has occurred, and, if the predetermined triggering event has occurred transmit a control signal to the robotic device, wherein reception of the control signal by the robotic device causes the robotic device to implement a prescribed conduct that alters the movement activity of the robotic device.

A method and apparatus for tracking objects used in connection with athletic activities or sporting events, especially, balls, pucks, and the like. The method includes the steps of differencing present and previous frames of a video image including the, for example, ball to obtain motion regions, converting the motion regions to HSV color space, extracting the region corresponding to the ball based on empirical color data about the ball, obtaining a motion vector based on the motion of the ball region from a previous frame to the current frame, and updating the ball trajectory based on the newest motion vector obtained. The method also preferably includes a step of identifying completed trajectories based on preset constraints. The method is preferably expanded on by using at least one pair of cameras to provide a three-dimensional trajectory, and sometimes preferable expanded on by using a plurality of cameras, especially a plurality of pairs of cameras. An apparatus according to the present invention includes at least one camera connected to a computer which operates to difference previous and current frames, compute the ball track, convert ball regions to HSV color space and output the tracking and video information. In a case where one or more pairs of cameras are used, the computer is preferably also provided with a stereo matching device or module for matching the tracking results from respective cameras and / or respective pairs of cameras.

An item velocity monitoring system is provided which interfaces with a consumer retail store that has several cash registers that are tied into a “point of sale” store controller. The item velocity monitoring system is capable of detecting when sales (or other movement activities) of an item are occurring too quickly, or too slowly. The item velocity monitoring system is first “trained” in a learning mode of operations, during which item patterns and group patterns are evaluated and placed into a pattern database. The system then compares the observed item velocity to its model probability velocity, and if the observed item velocity deviates beyond the statistical model, a “velocity event” is generated, declaring one of the above selling “too quick” or “too slow” conditions. Once a velocity event is detected, an event handling routine displays the event, and can transmit the event information over a network (including the INTERNET) to a remote computer for additional analysis or record keeping. A “Loyalty Out-of-Stock System,” (LOSS) is incorporated in the above item velocity monitoring system which automatically detects when items for sale are out-of-stock (OOS), discovers the reasons for these “stock-outs,” and determines how customers react to these stock-outs. The LOSS operates on store data and models the expected item movement rate for each item under varying time-of-day, day-of-week, price, promotion, season, holiday, and market conditions; detects items that are moving abnormally slowly, thereby identifying items that may be improperly displayed; provides early warning that an item may go out-of-stock (OOS) by detecting items with abnormally high movement; detects and reports on items that are OOS at retail stores; summarizes OOS events for the store and retail chain management, and for suppliers, thereby identifying items that are over-stocked (too few OOS events), under-stocked (too many events), badly re-stocked (too long events); analyzes the OOS events to find patterns that explain why OOS's are occurring; and determines the impacts of these OOS events on store customers, thereby measuring losses to the retailer and supplier, and establishing the loyalty of consumers to the item, brand, and chain.

A method for providing a recommendation to an individual about an article of footwear includes receiving data about the individual from a sensor module associated with the individual during a first athletic activity engaged in by the individual, determining a first characteristic about the individual's gait based on the data related to the first athletic activity, providing a recommendation about a first article of footwear to the individual based on the first characteristic, receiving data about the individual from the sensor module associated with the individual during a second athletic activity engaged in by the individual, determining a second characteristic about the individual's gait based on the data related to the second athletic activity, comparing the first characteristic with the second characteristic, and providing a recommendation about a second article of footwear to the individual based on the comparison.

A method for determining a location of a caption in a video signal associated with a Region Of Interest (ROI), such as a face or text, or an area of high motion activity. The video signal is processed to generate ROI location information, the ROI location information conveying the position of the ROI in at least one video frame. The position where a caption can be located within one or more frames of the video signal is then determined on the basis of the ROI location information. This is done by identifying at least two possible positions for the caption in the frame such that the placement of the caption in either one of the two positions will not mask the ROI. A selection is then made among the at least two possible positions. The position picked is the one that would typically be the closest to the ROI such as to create a visual association between the caption and the ROI.

A method for monitoring the motion of a sport ball that has been impacted by an individual during the course of an athletic activity includes the steps of a portable electronic device wirelessly receiving motion data from the sport ball, and the portable electronic device determining a point of impact based on the motion data, wherein the point of impact includes a location on a surface of the sport ball where the impact occurred.

Example embodiments may relate to a system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media configured for prompting a user to perform an exercise, monitoring form of the user while performing the exercise, and calculating an energy expenditure estimate for the user performing the exercise based on a type of the exercise and on the form of the user.

A method for monitoring a ball used for an athletic activity includes detecting movement of the ball at a first time, using a sensor module coupled to the ball, determining that the movement of the ball corresponds to a predetermined activation movement, entering an active state of the sensor module in response to the determination that the movement of the ball corresponds to the predetermined activation movement, and detecting movement of the ball at a second time, using the sensor module in the active state.

According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods, computer readable media, and computer program products are provided for implementing a wireless shelf pusher activity detection system. One example apparatus is a monitoring device for monitoring theft or sales activity associated with a product pusher device. The monitoring device may include a sensor configured to detect movement of a pusher member of the product pusher device, a wireless communications interface, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive at least one sensor signal from the sensor indicating movement of the pusher member, determine a product movement activity type based on characteristics of the at least one sensor signal, and generate, for transmission via the wireless communications interface, a pusher activity message indicating the product movement activity type.

A method of using an athletic activity heads up display system during an athletic activity includes the steps of a heads up display unit receiving information about a sport ball and the heads up display unit displaying an image to an individual based on the information, where the image is overlaid on the individual's present field of view of an environment.

An apparatus and method provide an elastic resistance to a free-range of motion of a user. A cord running through a pulley and connected at either end to handles permits assisted resistance control (ARC) and a leverage advantage. In ARC, release by an anchor hand, still maintaining a load, may provide consistent or reduced force on the other, active, hand. One bodily member, such as a hand, may selectively halt and move as an “anchor” member, thereby simultaneously exercising itself and exerting control over another “active” bodily member operating in a “free range of motion.” Thereby, motion of the active hand may continue throughout a range desirable for a physical therapy regimen, a sporting activity, a work activity, or the like. A full range of motion of a bodily member and all supporting portions of the body is possible, without excessive stress or strain on joints due to a mismatch of position and load common to prior art systems.

A motion detector system includes the ability to detect motion through the use of a Doppler radar sensor or a combination of PIR sensors and a Doppler radar sensor. The system includes an outdoor light fixture having one or more lamps and a housing coupled to the outdoor light fixture. The housing includes a Doppler radar sensor and a microprocessor for analyzing the signals received by the Doppler radar sensor. Alternatively, the housing includes a combination of PIR sensors and a Doppler radar sensor and a microprocessor for analyzing the signals received from these sensors. The lamps in the light fixture are activated when either the PIR sensor or the Doppler radar sensor generates a signal indicating motion within the monitored area. Alternatively, the lamps can be activated when either the PIR sensor or the Doppler radar sensor senses predetermined number of motion activities over a limited time period.

A lap counter system for multiple runners automatically counts and times one or more runner(s) during a workout session exercise at either an indoor or outdoor running track suitable for use at a health club, school, business, government or other organization promoting physical activity to enhance the health of their members. The system includes standalone, computer controlled, end user friendly components that displays fitness statistics during the use of the running track for each runner without impeding the athletic activity with a cumbersome wearable device. The system preferably includes a display visible to the runner at one or more points around the track such as a scoreboard with the aforementioned statistics displayed providing the runner with a virtual coach.

A system and method for determining the magnitude of linear and rotational acceleration of and direction of impact to a body part. In one version, protective sports equipment is worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity. The equipment includes a padding assembly that resides against the player during the sporting activity; a band removably positioned within the padding assembly, the band including a control unit having a plurality of sensing devices, a processor and a wireless transmitter that collectively interact to transmit data detected by the sensing devices, the control unit further having an encoder that encodes data from the sensing devices with a unique identifier prior to transmission.

The invention pertains to a sports training device for improving the follow through of the lower body during a sport activity. The device includes a base having a top planar surface and a disk assembly removably coupled to the base and configured to receive a foot of a user. The disk assembly includes a first disk that is rotable between a first relaxed position and a second rotated position. Upon movement of the disk between the first relaxed position to the second rotated position, the disk is biased toward the first relaxed position. In some embodiments, the disk assembly is configured to be rotatable between a closed position wherein the disk is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the base and an open position wherein the disk is directed away vertically from the base upon rotation of the disk by the user's foot to the open position.

A method for monitoring the motion of a sport ball that has been impacted by an individual during the course of an athletic activity includes the steps of a portable electronic device wirelessly receiving motion data from the sport ball, and the portable electronic device determining a point of impact based on the motion data, wherein the point of impact includes a location on a surface of the sport ball where the impact occurred.

According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods, computer readable media, and computer program products are provided for implementing a wireless shelf pusher activity detection system. One example apparatus is a monitoring device for monitoring theft or sales activity associated with a product pusher device. The monitoring device may include a sensor configured to detect movement of a pusher member of the product pusher device, a wireless communications interface, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive at least one sensor signal from the sensor indicating movement of the pusher member, determine a product movement activity type based on characteristics of the at least one sensor signal, and generate, for transmission via the wireless communications interface, a pusher activity message indicating the product movement activity type.

A system and method for measuring and normalizing physical resistance for athletic activities and fitness equipment are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: measuring a level of physical resistance in an athletic activity; generating sensor data indicative of the measured level of physical resistance; using the sensor data to determine if the measured level of physical resistance will achieve a desired performance level in the athletic activity; and automatically generating control signals to adjust the level of physical resistance if the measured level of physical resistance is unlikely to achieve the desired performance level in the athletic activity.

The invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for skateboarding (and other sporting activities) that monitor motion of a skateboard to identify tricks performed on it by a user. A system according to one aspect of the invention includes (i) a sensing device that is attached (or otherwise coupled) to the skateboard and that measures a physical characteristic of it, and (ii) a data processor that identifies the feat or trick (or other action) performed by or on the skateboard based, at least in part, on correspondence between physical characteristics of motion and / or of the environment measured by the sensing device(s) and a unique signature associated with each of one or more possible tricks.