System and method for launching a ball onto the ground of a playing field. The system includes an outlet chamber configured to receive the ball therein; an outlet conduit or frame configured to contain the outlet chamber and allow the same to move through the outlet conduit towards a second position on the ground; movement capability of the outlet chamber, connected to and configured to move the outlet chamber between at least the first position and the second position, where the outlet chamber includes an outlet mouth and launching means for launching the ball arranged in the outlet chamber. A field including the system is also described.

A sphere-launching apparatus includes a launching tube defining a launching passage, a push unit having a push rod and a first driving device, and a pneumatic unit having a valve mechanism, a pneumatic cylinder and an air container. The push rod, to protrude axially into the launching passage, has a third axial end and an opposing fourth axial end for contacting a sphere in the launching tube. The first driving device, connected with the third axial end, controls the push rod to move the sphere along the launching passage to a predetermined position. The valve mechanism has an air-emitting end connected spatially with the launching passage. The pneumatic cylinder drives the valve mechanism to block or open the air-emitting end. When the valve mechanism opens the air-emitting end, a compressed air in the air container is discharged into the launching passage to eject the sphere out of the launching tube.

A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.

A sphere-launching apparatus includes a launching tube defining a launching passage, a push unit having a push rod and a first driving device, and a pneumatic unit having a valve mechanism, a pneumatic cylinder and an air container. The push rod, to protrude axially into the launching passage, has a third axial end and an opposing fourth axial end for contacting a sphere in the launching tube. The first driving device, connected with the third axial end, controls the push rod to move the sphere along the launching passage to a predetermined position. The valve mechanism has an air-emitting end connected spatially with the launching passage. The pneumatic cylinder drives the valve mechanism to block or open the air-emitting end. When the valve mechanism opens the air-emitting end, a compressed air in the air container is discharged into the launching passage to eject the sphere out of the launching tube.

Projectile launchers have an elongated cylindrical body defining a projectile bore having a bore axis, the body having an open forward exit end, the body having a gas inlet facility at an opposed rear end, a movable latch element connected to the body and having a latch portion movable between a retention position in which the latch portion protrudes into the bore and a release position, and the latch element being biased to the retention position such that a projectile in the bore rearward of the latch is retained by the latch portion except until a gas pressure above a selected amount builds up behind the projectile to overcome the biasing of the latch and launch the projectile. The latch element may be clear of the bore when in the release position.

A firing device is provided for launching and retrieving projectiles as well as firing laser weapons from a robotic platform. In robotic games or competitions the projectiles and laser weapons are fired at targets to score points. In a game of laser tag the laser and/or infrared weapons are fired at targets on competing robots to score points and/or to disable the targeted robot. The firing device has one, two, or three rotating launch wheels for launching spherical projectiles illustratively including ping pong balls, where the revolution speed of launch wheels may be varied to control projectile velocity and distance of travel. A deflector plate is used to change the trajectory of the projectile and/or the laser beam.

A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.

Projectile launchers have an elongated cylindrical body defining a projectile bore having a bore axis, the body having an open forward exit end, the body having a gas inlet facility at an opposed rear end, a movable latch element connected to the body and having a latch portion movable between a retention position in which the latch portion protrudes into the bore and a release position, and the latch element being biased to the retention position such that a projectile in the bore rearward of the latch is retained by the latch portion except until a gas pressure above a selected amount builds up behind the projectile to overcome the biasing of the latch and launch the projectile. The latch element may be clear of the bore when in the release position.

A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.