A multiple object tracking system has a system controller with a placement block placing target objects and distractor objects within a 3D display space upon a representation of a solid ground, an assignment block assigning respective trajectories for movement of each of the objects, and an animation block defining an animated sequence of images showing the ground and the objects following the respective trajectories. A visual display presents images to a user including the animated sequence of images and a ground representation. A manual input device is adapted to respond to manual input from the user to select objects believed to be the target objects after presentation of the animated sequence. Preferably, the animation block incorporates a plurality of 3D cues applied to each of the objects, such as 3D perspective, parallax, 3D illumination, binocular disparity, and differing occlusion.

A basketball training device for mounting on a basketball hoop. The basketball training device includes a blocking body that is dimensioned so as to block shot attempts that are at an undesirable shooting angle or will result in an undesirable bank angle. The basketball training device may be a part of a kit which includes a placement apparatus that can be used to grab and place the basketball training device onto the rim of a basketball hoop.

A throwing mechanism is provided. A basketball holder is located at a first portion of a catapult arm at a first side of a pivot, and a spring is attached to a second portion of said catapult arm located at a second side of the pivot. A motor is cycled to cause a ram mounted to one or more linkages connected to the motor to contact the second portion of said catapult arm for pivoting the catapult arm into a second position where the first portion is secured by an engagement arm located rearward of the catapult arm, and subsequently contact the engagement arm to release the catapult arm for pivoting movement into a first position by forces exerted by the spring to launch the basketball located at the first portion of said catapult arm.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a basketball backboard. The basketball backboard includes a display screen, a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor data regarding a shot attempt of a user, imaging devices configured to generate image data of the shot attempt, a speaker, and a control unit. The control unit can receive (i) the sensor data from the plurality of sensors and (ii) the image data from the imaging devices. Based on the received sensor data, the control unit can determine whether the shot attempt was successful. Based on the received image data and whether the shot attempt was successful, the control unit can generate analytics that indicate characteristics of the user and the shot attempt and recommendations for improving the shot attempt for subsequent shot attempts. The control unit can provide output data representing the analytics.

The methods as described herein relate to methods with a hollow hoop with a ball enclosed inside, where the methods keep the ball moving in a circumferential path while the body is in various positions and movement paths for uses in entertainment, training, and therapy.

A system for creating and viewing indexed video snippets of a series of shots toward a goal comprising at least one sensor directly connected to a microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to trigger responsive to a ball-shooting detection of at least one of the series of shots toward the goal; electronic times that represent the accurate timing of a triggering event related to the ball-shooting detection; one or more video recordings captured by at least one recording source; wherein the electronic times are utilized to associate portions of the one or more video recordings with corresponding shots toward the goal; the associated portions are stored as separate video snippets; and the video snippets are indexed by the corresponding shots toward the goal.

A basketball shooting apparatus having adjustable rim members varying the opening through the basketball rim. The basketball shooting apparatus may include one or more portions of a rim portion and/or one or more portions of a floor portion of the apparatus for developing a basketball shooter's form. The rim portion may include the adjustable rim members attached to the basketball rim. The rim members of the rim portion may be combined with one or more other portions of the rim portion to connect to the basketball rim such as at least one of one or more portions of funnel, a lower ring, or a body. The rim portion may also have attachments for a basketball return chute to the floor portion. The floor portion may include a pair of uprights. The floor portion may include one or more alignment guide panels, an abutment member, ball ramp, and/or ball rack.

An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a camera coupled to a processor; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor. Blockchain smart contracts can be used with the device to facilitate secure operation.

This document provides a computer-implemented method that includes placing an athletic ball containing a battery on an inductive charging device; generating an electric or magnetic field, or both with the inductive charging device; receiving energy from the field or fields via a receptor located inside the athletic ball; and charging a battery inside the athletic ball using the received energy. This document also provides devices and methods for detecting events with an instrumented player-controllable game device, such as an event of a basketball or soccer ball passing through a goal.

A training apparatus for ball-playing sports comprising a tether having a first end affixed to a connector module and a second end affixed to a ball securing device. The ball securing device is configured to secure a ball therein. A belt may be configured to have the connector module engaged therewith where the belt is to be worn around a waist of a user. The connector module operable to traverse a length of the belt in response to a throwing force applied to the ball.