Embedded Sensor Projectile for Trajectory Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports apparatuses lack advanced analysis capabilities for tracking and analyzing the movement of projectiles during sports events, failing to provide comprehensive statistical insights into player performance and game metrics.
Innovation Solution
A sports apparatus equipped with sensors, a wireless interface, and a mobile device that receives and analyzes data signals from the sensors, using machine-readable code to determine motion characteristics and trajectory analysis, enabling more detailed analysis of projectile movements and performance assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are included in projectiles to track movement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) and communication modules into an integrated sensor unit that is embedded within the projectile. This merging approach allows comprehensive motion tracking while consolidating components into a single modular unit, reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed to perform multiple functions: tracking position, velocity, acceleration, rotation, and orientation simultaneously. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate tracking systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision across all motion parameters.
2Loss of information
If advanced analysis capabilities are added to sports apparatus, then analysis depth is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data processing system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a sensor unit for data collection, a wireless communication module for data transmission, and a separate data processing arrangement for analysis. This segmentation allows advanced analysis capabilities to be added without overwhelming the overall system complexity, as each module handles specific tasks independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication interface as an intermediary between the sensor unit and the data processing arrangement. This mediator enables sophisticated data analysis to be performed remotely on a separate computing device, allowing the projectile itself to remain relatively simple while still achieving comprehensive analysis through the intermediary communication layer.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated in the projectile, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the sensor unit is housed within a compact enclosure that is itself integrated into the projectile body. The accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers are nested within the sensor unit housing, which is then nested within the projectile structure. This nested doll approach allows multiple sensors to be manufactured and assembled in a hierarchical manner, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining high measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A sports apparatus for monitoring movement of a sport projectile includes a sensor and a wireless interface disposed within the sport projectile for communicating sampled data signals from the sensor, a portable communication device in wireless communication with the wireless sensor for receiving sampled data signals from the wireless sensor, the sampled data signals indicative of a motion of the sport projectile. The portable communication device includes a controller having a memory including programming instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to detect a sensor signal from the wireless interface, determine a motion characteristic of the sport projectile from the motion characteristic from the sensor signal, and determine if the motion characteristic is passage of the sports projectile through a goal structure, motion of the sports projectile after a shot or an impact of the sport projectile with an object.