Golf Ball Spin Calculation Using Feature Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for accurately measuring the spin of a moving golf ball are expensive and not suitable for low-performance systems, making it difficult to achieve rapid and stable spin calculation in applications like screen golf and virtual golf simulations.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that acquire and analyze consecutive images of a golf ball with a feature portion, using either forward or inverse operation analysis to calculate the spin axis and amount based on the movement of the ball, allowing for rapid and accurate spin calculation even when only a portion of the feature is visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar sensor is used to measure spin of the ball, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/radar-based sensing system with an optical imaging system. Instead of using radar sensors to directly measure ball spin, the invention uses a camera to capture images of the ball's surface features and processes these images computationally to determine spin characteristics. This substitution of mechanical sensing with optical imaging and computational analysis reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the ball's surface features through imaging and uses this copy for analysis. By capturing images of trademarks, logos, or other surface patterns and analyzing their movement and rotation in the image sequence, the system determines ball spin without needing direct physical contact or complex radar equipment. The image copy serves as a surrogate for direct measurement.
2Measurement precision
If expensive radar sensor is used, then spin measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive camera equipment and software-based processing instead of expensive radar sensors. The system uses standard imaging technology and computational algorithms that can be implemented on relatively low-cost hardware, making the solution accessible for general-purpose use in screen golf and driving range applications rather than requiring specialized expensive equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical/radar sensing systems with optical imaging and software processing, significantly reducing cost and improving accessibility. The solution uses standard cameras and computational methods that are widely available and easy to operate, enabling spin measurement in consumer-grade golf simulation systems.
3Measurement precision
If complete feature portion is visible in image, then spin calculation accuracy is improved, but reliability worsens when ball rotates and feature becomes partially hidden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acknowledges that complete feature portion visibility cannot be guaranteed during ball rotation, so it designs the system to work with partial visibility. The algorithm can calculate spin accurately even when only a portion of the feature (trademark or logo) is visible in the image, by tracking the movement and rotation of the visible portion to infer the overall spin characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-identifies and tracks specific feature portions (trademarks, logos, or surface patterns) on the ball before rotation occurs. By establishing the initial configuration and characteristics of these features, the system can reliably track their movement and calculate spin even as they rotate and become partially hidden, maintaining calculation stability throughout the motion.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an apparatus and method for sensing a moving ball, which extract a feature portion such as a trademark, a logo, etc. indicated on a ball from consecutive images of a moving ball, acquired by an image acquisition unit embodied by a predetermined camera device, and rapidly, and accurately calculate spin of the ball, specifically, even when only a portion of the feature portion indicated on the image remains due to rotation of the ball so as to calculate a spin axis and spin amount of rotation the moving ball based on the feature portion and thus spin of the ball is rapidly and accurately calculated, thereby achieving rapid and stable calculation of the ball in a relatively low performance system. The apparatus includes an image acquisition unit for acquiring consecutive images of a ball, an image processing unit for extracting a feature portion of the ball from the acquired images, and a spin calculation unit for performing any one of forward operation analysis and inverse operation analysis to calculate spin of the ball.