Conductive Elastomeric Basketball Net for Shot Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing basketball shot-tracking systems lack an efficient method to accurately detect successful shots, relying on complex wrist-worn sensors and net-mounted sensors that require calibration and may not provide reliable shooting percentage data.
Innovation Solution
A basketball net with a conductive elastomeric strand that stretches upon a shot being made, utilizing a sensing circuit to monitor electrical resistance changes and compare them to a normative profile to determine successful shots, allowing for wireless transmission of shot data to a mobile device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If wrist-worn sensors and net-mounted sensors are used to detect successful shots, then shot-tracking capability is provided, but the system complexity and calibration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from complex sensor systems and implements it using a simple conductive element integrated into the net. The conductive element directly detects ball passage through electrical property changes, eliminating the need for separate wrist-worn and net-mounted sensors with complex calibration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sensor systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes) with an electrical detection system. The conductive element's electrical properties change in response to mechanical deformation from ball passage, converting a mechanical detection problem into an electrical measurement that is simpler and more reliable.
2Loss of information
If complex sensor systems are used to track shots, then shot-tracking data can be collected, but reliability of shooting percentage data decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive element serves dual functions: it is both the structural component of the net and the detection sensor. This self-service approach eliminates errors from separate sensing systems and ensures that the detection element is inherently integrated into the net's function, improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in electrical parameters (resistance, capacitance, or conductivity) of the conductive element as it deforms during ball passage. These parameter changes provide a direct, reliable signal for shot detection without the noise and calibration issues of mechanical sensors.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conductive elastomeric material is used in the net, then shot detection capability is added, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite conductive elastomeric material that combines the structural properties of net material with conductive properties. This single composite material serves both structural and sensing functions, simplifying manufacturing compared to integrating separate sensor components into the net.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides accurate and reliable detection of successful shots, enhancing shooting performance tracking by simplifying the detection process and improving data accuracy, enabling effective monitoring of shooting percentages.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive element that stretches with the net when a basketball passes through the net
Implementation Method 2
an electrical property of the element (e.g., its resistance) varies (e.g., increases) as the element stretches
Data Source
AI summary
A made-shot-detecting net system is configured to determine when a basketball passes through the net. The system uses a strand of conductive material that is laced through the net, an electrical property (e.g., resistance) of which changes (e.g., increases) as the net—and hence the strand of conductive material—is stretched. By filtering out steady-state components of a voltage signal obtained from the net, instances where the net is being stretched can be identified. A value obtained by integrating (i.e., summing) the voltage output over the course of a stretch event is compared to various thresholds to identify the nature of the event. In certain embodiments, the fact that a shot has been made is transmitted wirelessly to a basketball-performance tracking application running on a mobile electronic computing device.