Range-Gated Imaging Using STCW Radar for Long-Range Ball Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball tracking systems using cameras lose accuracy as the ball travels further from the camera, leading to significant inaccuracies in trajectory determination.
Innovation Solution
A range-gated imager system utilizing single-tone continuous wave (STCW) radar combined with flash operations to determine the range of a projectile, enabling precise imaging and trajectory tracking by counting non-ambiguity periods and triggering the imager at specific intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional camera-based ball tracking is used, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the tracking accuracy drops significantly as the ball travels further from the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar technology with camera-based imaging to create a hybrid tracking system. The radar provides accurate range measurements independent of distance, while the camera captures visual information. By merging these two sensing modalities, the system achieves high tracking accuracy at long distances without sacrificing the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of camera-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar acts as an intermediary that provides distance information to compensate for the camera's limitation. The radar measurements serve as a mediator that enables accurate trajectory determination even when the ball is far from the camera, effectively bridging the gap between the camera's visual field and the actual ball position.
2Measurement precision
If LiDAR or FMCW radar is used to improve range measurement accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive single-tone continuous wave (STCW) radar technology instead of complex LiDAR or FMCW radar systems. The STCW radar provides sufficient range measurement accuracy for ball tracking applications at a fraction of the cost and complexity of alternative technologies, effectively using a simpler, cheaper solution that meets the performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the radar system by using single-tone continuous wave signals instead of more complex modulation schemes. This parameter change simplifies the hardware requirements and reduces device complexity while maintaining adequate measurement precision for tracking applications.
3Productivity
If high-frame-rate imaging is used to capture fast-moving projectiles, then the productivity increases, but the data transfer bandwidth and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential trajectory information from the imaging data by using radar-gated triggering. Instead of processing continuous high-frame-rate video data, the system selectively captures and processes only the frames where the ball is present, as determined by radar detection. This extraction approach maintains high tracking productivity while significantly reducing data transfer bandwidth requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic radar pulses to trigger image capture at appropriate moments. This periodic action allows the system to operate at lower effective frame rates while still capturing all necessary trajectory points, thereby reducing data bandwidth requirements while maintaining tracking productivity.
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
Improves accuracy and cost-effectiveness by providing precise range estimation and trajectory reconstruction of projectiles, outperforming LiDAR, FMCW radar, and stereo camera-based systems with a lower data transfer bandwidth and reduced hardware requirements.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting, with a single-tone continuous wave (STCW) radar, a radar signal; receiving, with the STCW radar, a return signal from a projectile impinged by the radar signal
Implementation Method 2
counting, with a measuring apparatus, a specified number of periods of non-ambiguity range based on the return signal
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are disclosed for a range-gated imager. In some embodiments, a method comprises: transmitting, with a single-tone continuous wave (STCW) radar, a signal; receiving, with the STCW radar, a return signal from a projectile impinged by the radar signal; counting, with a measuring apparatus, a specified number of periods of non-ambiguity range based on the return signal, performing a flashing operation; and gating or triggering, by the measuring apparatus, an imager to capture an image of the projectile in response to the count reaching the specified number of periods.