Autonomous Camera Tracking for Live Event Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for producing video and still image content of live events require skilled operators and are inefficient in tracking objects, especially when objects become obscured, leading to high production costs and limited market accessibility.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses object tracking devices to determine location information, camera control devices to optimize camera views, and recording devices to capture and display performance data, enabling autonomous production and real-time feedback for athletes and coaches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If skilled operators operate cameras and production equipment to produce video and still image content, then production quality is maintained, but production cost remains high and market accessibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidautomation level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables autonomous camera operation where the camera system automatically tracks athletes and captures footage without human operators. The computer vision system processes video feeds, identifies athlete positions, and controls camera movements autonomously, eliminating the need for skilled camera operators and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical camera operation is replaced with an automated computer vision system that uses image processing algorithms to detect and track athletes. The system substitutes human operators with electronic detection and control mechanisms, achieving both cost reduction and increased automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If camera operators manually track objects to maintain them within field of view, then tracking reliability is maintained, but operator skill requirement increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where video feeds are constantly analyzed, athlete positions are detected in real-time, and camera positions are automatically adjusted based on this feedback. This closed-loop control system maintains reliable tracking without requiring skilled operators and improves tracking efficiency through automated real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A computer vision processing system acts as an intermediary between the physical world (athletes moving on field) and the camera system. This intermediary layer automatically interprets visual data, determines athlete locations, and translates this information into camera control commands, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If object tracking uses sensors attached to objects, then tracking data is obtained, but real image production capability is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual information retentionVSAvoidautonomous production capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using physical sensors on athletes, the system creates visual copies or representations of athletes through computer vision processing of video feeds. The system detects and tracks visual patterns corresponding to athletes in video streams, maintaining full visual information while enabling autonomous camera control and production without physical attachments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2405977B1System and methods for providing performance feedback
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 ISOLYNX LLC
  • EP2405977B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2405977B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2405977B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Systems and methods provide feedback to at least one participant in a field of play. A performance analysis device determines performance information of each participant in the field of play, where the performance information is based upon at least one of determined location, speed, path, acceleration and biometrics of said each participant. At least one output device provides real-time feedback to the at least one participant based upon the performance information. The real-time feedback comprises performance information of the at least one participant and/or performance information of one or more other participants in the field of play.