Dynamic Pitch Detection Using Gesture-Defined Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Baseball officiating is subjective due to reliance on human umpires to determine whether a pitch is a ball or a strike, leading to inconsistencies and complications in training and gameplay, especially when pitching to batters of different heights with varying strike zones.
Innovation Solution
A tracking device with sensors and anomaly detection capabilities is used to provide objective and consistent pitch detection by configuring a user-defined strike zone through gestures, accurately differentiating between valid pitches and false positives, and integrating with third-party devices for real-time feedback and training purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If human umpires are used to determine balls and strikes, then subjective judgment is applied, but consistency and objectivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical human judgment system with an optical detection system consisting of sensors, cameras, and computer vision algorithms. This substitution eliminates subjective human error while maintaining adaptability to different batter heights through programmable strike zone configurations and real-time pitch location analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital replica of the strike zone by mapping sensor data and camera images to a virtual representation of the pitch area. This digital model allows for precise measurement and comparison against predefined strike zone boundaries, enabling consistent objective calls while adapting to different batter configurations.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and detection methods are integrated, then pitch detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is divided into independent functional modules: optical sensors for pitch location detection, cameras for visual verification, anomaly detection algorithms for false positive filtering, and strike zone configuration systems. Each module operates semi-independently, allowing for targeted optimization and simplified maintenance while achieving high overall precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate processing layers including anomaly detection algorithms that filter false positives before final pitch classification, and strike zone configuration systems that translate physical measurements into detection parameters. These intermediaries reconcile data from multiple sensors and reduce complexity by handling integration logic centrally.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a device for pitch detection within user-defined zones. The device detects a first gesture at a first height based on first output from all or some sensors, and detects a second gesture at a second height based on second output from all or some sensors. The device sets a top and bottom of the user-defined zone based on the first height and the second height, and tracks a location of an object relative to the user-defined zone based on third output, from a subset of sensors, that is generated in response to the object moving over or under the subset of sensors. The device discards output generated from two or more sensors that are not adjacent, measurements from adjacent sensors that differ by more than a distance threshold, and/or output from adjacent sensors with timestamps that differ by more than a time threshold.