Automated Table Tennis Serving and Scoring System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The game of table tennis is hindered by delays due to retrieving balls between rallies, losing track of the serve-turn, and keeping score, which are not efficiently addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
An automated ball serving system with serving guns and an automated scoring device that allows for rapid ball placement, tracks serve-turn, and announces scores, using propulsion devices, sensors, and stepper motors to vary serve locations and calibrate serving guns, while integrating audio and visual displays for scorekeeping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual ball retrieval is used between rallies, then players can control the game flow, but game delays increase and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated ball serving system serves itself by automatically retrieving balls and delivering them to the server without human intervention. The system monitors ball availability and autonomously manages the ball retrieval process, eliminating the need for players to manually retrieve balls between rallies and thus eliminating game delays while maintaining smooth game flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical action of players retrieving and handing balls with an automated mechanical serving system. The system uses motors, sensors, and control mechanisms to automatically deliver balls to the server, substituting human manual operations with an automated mechanical system that operates continuously without interruption.
2Loss of information
If manual score tracking is performed, then players can understand the game state, but mental strain increases and time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual cognitive score tracking with an automated electronic scoring system. The system uses sensors to detect ball serves and points, processes this information through a control unit, and displays the score automatically. This substitutes human cognitive processing with an automated electronic system that continuously monitors and displays the game state without consuming player time or mental resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The scoring system serves itself by automatically detecting, processing, and displaying scores without requiring player intervention. The system monitors serve events and point changes autonomously, maintaining accurate score tracking while eliminating the time and mental strain associated with manual scorekeeping.
3Loss of information
If manual serve tracking is performed, then players can know who should serve, but game delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual serve-turn tracking with an automated electronic tracking system. The system uses sensors and control logic to automatically determine which player should serve based on the current game state, and this information is displayed immediately. This substitutes human cognitive tracking with an automated system that continuously monitors and updates serve-turn information without causing game delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback to players about who should serve by displaying this information in real-time. The automated tracking system continuously monitors the game state and provides updated serve-turn information through visual displays, ensuring players are always aware of the current server without needing to ask or calculate, thus eliminating delays.
4Productivity
If automated serving guns are used, then ball delivery speed increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the automated serving system into separate functional modules: ball storage containers, propulsion mechanisms, direction control systems, and serve delivery units. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently controlled and maintained. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by making each component simpler and more manageable while still achieving high ball delivery speed through coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated serving system is designed to serve multiple players and handle various serve scenarios through a unified control system. The same basic serving mechanism can be directed to different players and positions through electronic control, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices and thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high 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
Eliminates game delays by automating ball retrieval, serve tracking, and scoring, enabling faster gameplay and reducing mental strain on players by providing immediate score updates and randomizing serve locations for enhanced gameplay experience.
Implementation Method 1
The serving guns may each include a propulsion device that directs the ball to an appropriate serve receiving area
Implementation Method 2
The sensing device may be a phototransistor that includes a light emitting diode (LED), whose light may be reflected off a mirror affixed to the wheel and detected by the phototransistor
Implementation Method 3
The sensing device may be a phototransistor that includes a light emitting diode (LED), whose light may be reflected off a mirror affixed to the wheel and detected by the phototransistor
Implementation Method 4
The rotation of the serving gun, and hence location of the serve, may be controlled by the ball serving system
Data Source
AI summary
A table tennis game table may include one or more automated ball serving guns and an automated score announcing system. Remote control actuators may be provided for one or more users to operate the features of the table. The system may be adjusted manually or remotely to correct mistakes, and may be used in multiple modes. Alternatively, the automated ball serving guns and automated score announcing system may be adapted to a standard after market table.