Camera-Based Hit Detection for Live Action Projectile Gaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming outfits for in-person live action games that detect projectile impacts are bulky and restrictive, or provide limited impact detection, leading to movement restrictions and perspiration issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that tracks players and projectiles using image processing, object tracking algorithms, and deep learning, supplemented by sensors and wireless communication, to predict projectile trajectories and attribute hits without physical impact sensors on player outfits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gaming outfits with physical impact sensors are used to detect projectile impacts, then shot detection accuracy is improved, but player mobility and comfort deteriorate due to bulky structure and restricted movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical impact sensor system on gaming outfits with an optical tracking system using cameras and computer vision algorithms. The system captures video footage of the playing field, tracks projectile trajectories through image processing, and determines impacts by analyzing the intersection of projectile paths with player positions, thereby eliminating the need for physical sensors on player clothing while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational system that acts as a mediator between the projectile launch and impact detection. Instead of direct physical contact sensors on players, the system uses camera-based trajectory tracking and mathematical modeling to predict and confirm impact events, serving as an indirect but accurate detection method that preserves player comfort and mobility
2Reliability
If gaming outfits provide comprehensive body coverage for impact detection, then shot detection coverage is improved, but player comfort deteriorates due to perspiration and movement restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for comprehensive sensor coverage on player outfits by replacing the physical sensing system with an external optical tracking system. Cameras positioned around the playing field capture and analyze projectile trajectories, determining impacts through computational methods rather than physical contact, thereby completely removing the harmful effects of bulky clothing on player comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the impact detection function from the player's clothing system and relocates it to an external camera-based system. By taking out the sensing capability from the gaming outfits themselves, the system maintains full body coverage for detection purposes while players wear only normal, comfortable clothing, eliminating perspiration and movement restrictions associated with specialized gaming outfits
3Measurement precision
If trajectory prediction algorithms are used to confirm impacts, then false positive reduction is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting projectile trajectories in advance using physics-based models and visual data from cameras. The system calculates the expected path of each projectile before impact occurs, then uses this pre-computed trajectory information to efficiently verify whether a projectile actually hit a player, reducing false positives while managing computational load through proactive rather than reactive analysis
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for tracking and trajectory prediction for in-person live action gaming are provided. In one example, video data is captured from multiple cameras monitoring a field of play in which multiple players are engaged in an in-person, live action game. The players and projectiles fired from respective projectile launchers of the players are tracked by applying one or more deep learning algorithms to the video data. Projectile trajectories and potential player impacts by one or more projectiles of the projectiles are predicted. A player of the multiple players is identified as an impacted player by confirming a hit on the player by a projectile fired from a projectile launcher of the respective projectile launchers associated with a shot originator without requiring use of a physical impact sensor on an outfit worn by the player. The hit is then attributed to the shot originator for scoring purposes.