An apparatus for launching a ball is disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a ball launching unit including a port for ejecting a ball and a support for supporting the ball launching unit. The ball launching unit is pivotably coupled to the support to permit angular adjustment of the ball launching unit about a horizontal axis of rotation to vary a launch angle of an ejected ball, and wherein the horizontal axis of rotation intersects the port.

Disclosed is a self-driving-golf-cart driving path central controlling device comprising a self-driving-golf-cart driving path determining module, a self-driving-golf-cart driving path excluding module and a central controlling module, the self-driving-golf-cart driving path central controlling device determines, from a plurality of self-driving-golf-cart driving paths, an individual self-driving-golf-cart driving path for each self-driving-golf-cart and controls each self-driving-golf-cart to drive, in a self-driving manner, on the individual self-driving-golf-cart driving path which is determined for said each self-driving golf-cart.

An automatic ball launcher includes a ball feed control system that includes a meter wheel with radially-spaced ribs or grooves to selectively block and pass balls to the flywheels of the launcher. The meter wheel rotates to selectively block and release a single ball to pass at a time. The controller of the launcher can be programmed to stop the meter wheel when a ball has been metered by monitoring the current at peak of the motor driving the meter wheel. A meter-event can be determined to have occurred when the current of the drive motor drops to a trough by a pre-set magnitude following a rise to a peak value. A remote control can be provided for the user to operate the launching machine and adjust a plurality of parameters.

The sports ball catapult driven by mechanical means disclosed herein may comprise a main body, an arming mechanism, a drive mechanism, a cradle mechanism, and a firing mechanism. The system is designed to operate by purely mechanical means and without power, and is launch speed and launch angle adjustable. The action of the system is such that the arming mechanism may be engaged by a user to apply tension on the cradle mechanism and drive mechanism. The user may then place a ball into the cradle mechanism, and may launch the ball from the system by engaging the firing mechanism. The engaging of the firing mechanism releases the tension in the system, causing the cradle mechanism to accelerate the ball into the air. The entire system is contained within the main body, which is designed to provide an easily moveable, lightweight, and low maintenance solution for achieving such a purpose.

An automatic ball launcher includes a ball feed control system that includes a meter wheel with radially-spaced ribs or grooves to selectively block and pass balls to the flywheels of the launcher. The meter wheel rotates to selectively block and release a single ball to pass at a time. The controller of the launcher can be programmed to stop the meter wheel when a ball has been metered by monitoring the current at peak of the motor driving the meter wheel. A meter-event can be determined to have occurred when the current of the drive motor drops to a trough by a pre-set magnitude following a rise to a peak value. A remote control can be provided for the user to operate the launching machine and adjust a plurality of parameters.

A monitoring device performs a method of detecting a need for maintenance of an exercise machine comprising a time-of-flight, ToF, sensor. The method comprises obtaining a measurement signal from the ToF sensor at a predefined operating condition of the exercise machine. Based on the measurement signal, the method determines a measured distance between the ToF sensor and a reflective element in the exercise machine. The measured distance has been found to be responsive to accumulation of deposits on the ToF sensor and is thus evaluated by the method to detect a need for cleaning. The method thereby enables preventive maintenance.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to retrofitting existing exercise equipment to make it into a “smart” exercise machine. Many existing exercise equipment (e.g., “selectorized” machines and “free weight” exercise equipment) use a number of set weights, which can be selected by mechanical or electronical means in order to attain a certain amount of resistance. In some embodiments, an existing piece of exercise equipment is transformed into a smart, sophisticated and electronically advanced machine, by means of replacing the resistance generated by the weights (gravity resistance) with a resistance force generated by an electronically controlled component, for example an electric motor and/or gear assembly (electric resistance). For example, this may give the existing machine advantages of an electronically controlled resistance system.

A mobile exercise apparatus includes a plurality of modular exercise components. The plurality of modular exercise components include a platform, a modular stair portion including a plurality of stairs, and a modular slide portion including a slide. The modular stair portion and the modular slide portion are removably coupled to the platform. The mobile exercise apparatus may include a mobile support unit that supports the plurality of modular exercise components, the mobile support unit may be coupled to a vehicle to transport the plurality of modular exercise components.

The present invention provides a system and method for sport training by providing an illuminated representation of a base runner or other runner that is programmable or controllable by electronic means to simulate the movement of a specific runner or ideal runner to provide instruction to a team.

A monitoring device performs a method of detecting a need for maintenance of an exercise machine comprising a time-of-flight, ToF, sensor. The method comprises obtaining a measurement signal from the ToF sensor at a predefined operating condition of the exercise machine. Based on the measurement signal, the method determines a measured distance between the ToF sensor and a reflective element in the exercise machine. The measured distance has been found to be responsive to accumulation of deposits on the ToF sensor and is thus evaluated by the method to detect a need for cleaning. The method thereby enables preventive maintenance.