Hybrid Athletic Performance Prediction Model Using Conditional Probabilistic Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for evaluating and predicting athletic performance are limited by their reliance on either statistical associations that fail to account for mechanistic cause-and-effect relationships or deterministic models that neglect underlying randomness and are impractical to incorporate all relevant variables, leading to inaccurate predictions and inability to interpolate or extrapolate effectively.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid system that combines deterministic physical and biomechanical analytics with non-deterministic data from sensors to create a conditional probabilistic model, using methods like maximum entropy filtering, neural networks, and nonlinear regression to produce accurate predictions of athletic performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If statistical methods are used to evaluate athletic performance, then predictions can be made based on observed data, but the methods fail to account for mechanistic cause-and-effect relationships and cannot reliably interpolate or extrapolate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidmodel complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines statistical methods with deterministic physical models to create a hybrid approach. Statistical methods provide probabilistic predictions from observed data, while deterministic models provide mechanistic cause-and-effect relationships. By merging these approaches, the system achieves both prediction accuracy and physical interpretability, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer that translates between statistical observations and deterministic physical models. This intermediary allows the system to leverage statistical data for prediction while maintaining deterministic models for physical understanding, enabling both accurate predictions and reliable interpolation/extrapolation without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If deterministic models are used to evaluate athletic performance, then mechanistic cause-and-effect relationships can be captured, but the models neglect underlying randomness and are impractical to incorporate all relevant variables

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictive reliabilityVSAvoidmodel complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges deterministic physical models with statistical methods to create a hybrid system. The deterministic component captures mechanistic cause-and-effect relationships for reliability, while the statistical component accounts for randomness and uncertainty. This combination resolves the contradiction between reliability and complexity by using statistical methods to manage the practicality issues of deterministic models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the model by introducing probabilistic elements into the deterministic framework. Instead of using fixed deterministic parameters that are difficult to estimate, the system uses statistical parameters that can be inferred from data, making the model more practical while maintaining the benefits of deterministic physics-based reasoning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If all relevant variables are incorporated into a deterministic model, then comprehensive analysis is achieved, but the model becomes impractical and computationally intractable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis comprehensivenessVSAvoidmodel implementability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential deterministic physics from the complex system and separates it from the statistical variability. By taking out only the critical deterministic components and representing the rest through statistical methods, the system achieves comprehensive analysis without the impracticality of modeling all variables deterministically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the athletic performance model into deterministic physical components and statistical probabilistic components. This segmentation allows the system to handle different aspects of the problem with appropriate methods, making the overall model implementable while maintaining comprehensive analysis capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of information

If statistical methods are used, then associations between variables can be identified, but the methods cannot provide mechanistic understanding or interpolate for unobserved conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinterpolation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges statistical association-based methods with deterministic mechanistic models. The statistical component provides complete information from observed data, while the deterministic component provides mechanistic understanding and enables interpolation for unobserved conditions through physical principles, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20240419861A1Hybrid method of assessing and predicting athletic performance
Publication Date: 2024.12.19 NFL PLAYERS INC
  • US20240419861A1 patent drawing
  • US20240419861A1 patent drawing
  • US20240419861A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Exemplary systems, apparatus, and methods for evaluating and predicting athletic performance are described. Systems may include a receiver that gathers non-deterministic data on one or more aspects of athletic performance, a deterministic model of the athletic performance, a hybrid processor that creates a conditional probabilistic model from these elements, and a display presenting the evaluated or predicted performance. The system may include sensors affixed to an athlete or their equipment to convey position, acceleration, heart rate, respiration, biomechanical attributes, and detached sensors to record video, audio, and other ambient conditions. Apparatus may include a hybridization processor that communicates the output of conditional probabilistic models directly to athletes, coaches, and trainers using sound, light, or haptic signals, or to spectators using audiovisual enhancements to broadcasts. The methods enable more accurate evaluations and predictions of athletic performance than are possible with either statistical or deterministic methods alone.