Ball Machine Court Localization Using 3D Model Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball machines struggle to automatically determine their position on different courts without external sensors or imaging devices, making it difficult to vary the type of ball projection and accurate placement.
Innovation Solution
A ball machine system equipped with a memory storing court dimensions in a 3D coordinate system, an imaging system to capture images, and a processor to analyze these images and superimpose a court model, allowing it to calculate its position on the court.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional ball machines use manual feed and adjustment, then the operator can control ball projection, but the process is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The ball machine automatically determines its own position on the court using an imaging system and processor, eliminating the need for manual positioning adjustments. The system captures images, detects court features, calculates its location, and autonomously adjusts projection parameters based on the determined position, making the machine self-sufficient in localization tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ball machines allow limited predetermined shots, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to vary projection type and placement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated optical-electronic system. The imaging system captures visual data, the processor analyzes court features and calculates position, and the control system automatically adjusts projection parameters. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with automated electronic control enables versatile ball projection variations without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms.
3Extent of automation
If ball machines lack external sensors or imaging devices, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to automatically determine position on different courts is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system serves multiple functions: capturing court images for position determination, detecting court features for localization, and potentially monitoring ball projection. The processor performs multiple tasks including image analysis, feature detection, position calculation, and control signal generation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each task, making the automation system more efficient and less complex than it would appear at first glance.
Data Source
AI summary
A ball machine system comprising a ball launching system, a memory configured to store a court model that includes dimensions of a court type in relation to a three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system, an imaging system connected to the ball launching system and configured to capture a plurality of images of a court, and a processor. The processor configured to analyze the plurality of images to detect feature points in each of the plurality of images, superimpose a plurality of different transformations of the court model onto the plurality of images to generate a plurality of model fits, select as a final model fit, from the plurality of model fits, a model fit based on a degree of overlap among features of the transformed court model and the respective image, and calculate the position of the ball launching system on a playing surface of the court based on the selected final model fit and intrinsic parameters of the imaging system.