Rollable Neck Robotic Batting Tee for Dynamic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional batting tees promote muscle memory by repeatedly hitting the ball at the same spot, limiting flexibility and fluidity in the swing path, which can inhibit hand-eye coordination and prevent batters from making contact outside their 'hot zone'.
Innovation Solution
A robotic batting tee system with a rollable neck and actuation system that randomly adjusts the height and position of the ball holder, using a control system to prevent consecutive hits at the same spot, incorporating sensors to detect ball presence and automate movement, promoting flexibility and fluidity in the swing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball holder is fixed at a constant position for repeated batting practice, then muscle memory is developed through repetition, but the batter's swing flexibility and hand-eye coordination are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ball holder is made dynamically adjustable through a robotic arm mechanism that can change its position in three-dimensional space. The system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic reconfigurable position, allowing the ball holder to be moved to different locations automatically, thereby preventing the batter from developing a fixed swing groove while maintaining swing form consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect when a ball has been hit and automatically trigger the robotic arm to reposition the ball holder to a new random position within the strike zone. This self-service automation eliminates the need for manual intervention, continuously randomizing the ball position to enhance adaptability while maintaining training effectiveness
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ball holder position is randomized to improve swing flexibility, then hand-eye coordination and contact ability across the strike zone are enhanced, but the simplicity and ease of operation of traditional tees is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical adjustment of ball holder position is replaced with an automated robotic arm system controlled by microprocessors and sensors. This substitution transforms the simple manual operation into an automated intelligent system that randomly positions the ball holder, enhancing adaptability while requiring minimal user intervention beyond initial setup
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acting as an intermediary between the batter and the ball holder introduces randomization logic. The control system receives signals from sensors, processes the positioning requirements, and commands the robotic arm to move the ball holder to appropriate random positions, thereby mediating between the need for simplicity and the need for enhanced adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If a robotic arm with actuation system is added to enable random positioning, then swing flexibility and contextual interference are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system is designed to perform multiple functions: positioning the ball holder in three-dimensional space, randomizing position within the strike zone, and automatically responding to ball hit detection. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate mechanisms into a single integrated system, managing complexity while maximizing adaptability benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a nested structure where the ball holder is integrated into the robotic arm, which is controlled by an actuation system with motors and sensors. This nesting allows compact integration of multiple components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the capability for random positioning and enhanced swing flexibility
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
Enhances long-term learning patterns by forcing batters to adapt to different hitting positions, improving contact across the strike zone and reducing the reliance on pre-programmed swing paths, thus fostering better hand-eye coordination and consistent form.
Implementation Method 1
a spool positioned within the arm and configured to rotate... The rollable neck is configured to be wound around the spool when the spool rotates in a first direction and is further configured to be unwound from the spool when the spool rotates in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
an actuator coupled to the spool and configured to rotate the spool in first and second directions. The actuation system is configured to extend and retract the distal end of the rollable neck out of the arm along a vertical axis
Data Source
AI summary
According to one example, a batting tee system includes a housing, an arm coupled to the housing, and an actuation system. The actuation system includes a spool, a rollable neck, and an actuator. The rollable neck is configured to be wound around the spool when the spool rotates in a first direction and is further configured to be unwound from the spool when the spool rotates in a second direction. The rollable neck is configured to have a flat form when wound around the spool and is further configured to transition from the flat form to a hollow tube form when unwound from the spool. The actuator is configured to rotate the spool. The actuation system is configured to extend and retract the distal end of the rollable neck out of the arm. The distal end of the rollable neck is configured to hold a ball.