The present disclosure provides a wireless signal transmitting ball to be used in practice or gameplay of a sport and/or other entertainment activities. The ball of the disclosure comprises a microprocessor unit configured to record, process, and transmit data to a paired device. Further disclosed is a method of actuating the ball between different modes. The ball could be used by players during practice to record data about their performance. The ball could also be used by players or game officials or referees to keep score, adjudicate and decide the gameplay. For example, the information about location of the ball could be used to track balls that could potentially be lost. Additionally, data about spin, trajectory, speed, force applied and the like could be used by players or broadcasters for gaining insights to add to viewing pleasure.

The present invention provides system and method for tracking and analyzing golf shot, the method comprising: turning on a light source; a capturing a pair of images of the golf shot using a pair of stereo cameras having a same focal length and triggered by single signal; a analyzing a disparity between the pair of images; a producing a disparity map, a three dimension simulation, and a first motion analysis data; a capturing an image of the golf shot from before to after contact between a golf club and a golf ball using a single camera; a analyzing image sequences captured by the single camera; a producing a second motion analysis data including at least one of ball spinning, club face angle, and swing, and displaying the three dimension simulation, the image sequence, and the first and the second motion analysis data.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for 3D flight tracking of objects include a method including determining a three dimensional trajectory based on initial observations, extrapolating the three dimensional trajectory backward in time to generate an extrapolated trajectory, calculating distance measures between the extrapolated trajectory and defined physical locations, waiting for additional observations when none of the distance measures satisfy a threshold distance, identifying one of the defined physical locations as an origin when only one of the distance measures satisfies the threshold distance and an error measure satisfies a predefined criteria, identifying one of the defined physical locations as the origin when two of the distance measures satisfy the threshold distance and only one of first and second error measures satisfies the predefined criteria, and waiting for additional observations when neither the first error measure nor the second error measure satisfies the predefined criteria.

The present invention comprises a unique system and method for providing adaptable ball delivery and tracking, including appropriate sensor hardware, interactive gameplay user interfaces and point of sales systems. The system and method of the present invention are especially relevant to baseball and softball as, among other components, the system comprises a vertical, ground-up soft toss ball delivery mechanism, automated player and ball-tracking devices, and ball-collection and transport systems. The ball collection and return components eliminate the need for “fielders” and enable the creation of the first “batting range”. The vertical, ground-up soft-toss pitch machine further enables the first multi-story batting facility with player batting bays that open onto a sports field. Further, certain embodiments of the present invention integrate hitting screens, augmented reality display and simultaneous coordination of gameplay and communication between players, regardless of the players' physical location.

Provided is an analysis apparatus for analyzing a behavior of a ball that has a center of gravity and in which an acceleration sensor is installed at a position shifted from the center of gravity by a predetermined shift amount, the analysis apparatus including a control unit configured to derive a centrifugal acceleration that is applied to the acceleration sensor, based on acceleration data that is output by the acceleration sensor, and derive at least one of a direction of a rotation axis and a rotation speed of a spin of the ball, based on the predetermined shift amount and the centrifugal acceleration.

Methods for determining performance information for an object located within an area include obtaining magnetic field information for the area, measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at a first position within the area, and determining performance information for the object within the area based on the magnetic field information for the area and the first magnetic field data.

A golf aid system for assisting a user with a golf shot on a golf course includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of the user on the golf course, a portable electronic device with a display screen, and a processor. The processor, which is operable to communicate with the user tracking system and the portable electronic device, is configured to determine one or more target locations on the golf course, with each of the target locations representing a recommended target for a respective one of the golf clubs. The processor directs the portable electronic device to display an indicator of the respective golf club proximate the corresponding target location via the display screen, such that the user perceives at least a portion of the indicator to be coincident with the corresponding one of the target locations.

Disclosed herein are a device and method for sensing a moving ball configured to analyze continuously acquired images of the moving ball and to calculate information about the spin of the moving ball based on the analysis result. It is possible to calculate the spin of the moving ball without providing a specific marker on the ball. In the case in which a logo or a brand mark is present on the ball, or in which dimples or cracks, which are feature portions in an image, are also present on the ball, it is possible to easily, rapidly, and accurately calculate the spin of the moving ball using the same.

A system for illustrating the flight of a sports ball includes a radar, an imager, and a controller. The imager is configured to image a moving sports ball. The controller is configured to (i) receive, from the imager, an image including the moving sports ball, (ii) receive, from the radar, radar data associated with the moving sports ball, (iii) determine, from the radar data, a portion of a trajectory of the moving sports ball, (iv) alter the image to illustrate the portion of the trajectory relative to the moving sports ball, and (v) output the altered image.

A system for illustrating the flight of a sports ball includes a radar, an imager, and a controller. The imager is configured to image a moving sports ball. The controller is configured to (i) receive, from the imager, an image including the moving sports ball, (ii) receive, from the radar, radar data associated with the moving sports ball, (iii) determine, from the radar data, a portion of a trajectory of the moving sports ball, (iv) alter the image to illustrate the portion of the trajectory relative to the moving sports ball, and (v) output the altered image.