Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices, systems, and methods for measuring values obtained from one or more sensors installed on a player's tennis racket and/or worn on the player's body, and using those values to calculate various parameters, such as the physical position and motion of the tennis racket. Embodiments may translate the parameters and derive one or more occurrences corresponding to phases of a tennis point or drill and then generate real-time audible, visual, and/or haptic coaching prompts and other related commands and signals, for the purpose of improving a player's motor skills. Embodiments may also send and receive messages to/from other embodiments, thereby permitting a player to interact with other players, coaches, or devices, such as ball machines and cameras.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices, systems, and methods for measuring values obtained from one or more sensors installed on a player's tennis racket and/or worn on the player's body, and using those values to calculate various parameters, such as the physical position and motion of the tennis racket. Embodiments may translate the parameters and derive one or more occurrences corresponding to phases of a tennis point or drill and then generate real-time audible, visual, and/or haptic coaching prompts and other related commands and signals, for the purpose of improving a player's motor skills. Embodiments may also send and receive messages to/from other embodiments, thereby permitting a player to interact with other players, coaches, or devices, such as ball machines and cameras.

The nature of the invention enables the same backboard to be used in any of the three standard backboard positions; vertical, sloped, or curved. Furthermore, the design allows for the angle of slope, and the curvature of the board, to be made at the location where the board is mounted. The material used is a paper/resin composite product that is durable, dense, flexible, and not affected by adverse weather conditions. The invention incorporates flex technology allowing the board to flex upon impact from a ball. The same frame can be used to mount the backboard to an existing chain-link fence, concrete wall, brick wall, stud wall, portable platform, or other sturdy structure.

Methods and apparatus relating to predicting outcome in a sporting environment are described. The methods and apparatus are used to relate trajectory performance of an object to body motions and body orientation associated with a generating the trajectory of the object. When equipment is utilized to generate the trajectory of an object, than the effects of equipment motions and equipment orientation can be also related to trajectory performance. The method and apparatus can be used to predict body motions and body orientations that increase the likelihood of achieving a desired outcome including specifying optimum motions and orientations for a particular individual. The method and apparatus may be used in training, coaching and broadcasting environments.

A swing path training apparatus includes a support structure and a path member supported on the support structure. The path member includes an inner guide and an outer guide defining a path therebetween. The path tracks the geometry of a swing path. The path member also includes a closed end connecting the inner guide and the outer guide and an opening configured to allow a racquet to be inserted into or removed from the path. A method of training a swing path apparatus is also disclosed.

A swing path training apparatus includes a support structure and a path member supported on the support structure. The path member includes an inner guide and an outer guide defining a path therebetween. The path tracks the geometry of a swing path. The path member also includes a closed end connecting the inner guide and the outer guide and an opening configured to allow a racquet to be inserted into or removed from the path. A method of training a swing path apparatus is also disclosed.

A method can include determining physical characteristics of a trainee, adjusting a target zone based on the physical characteristics, adjusting one or more parameters of a delivery device based on the physical characteristics, projecting an object toward the target zone along a trajectory, and scoring a performance score of the trainee to track the object along a portion of the trajectory. A method can include projecting an object toward a target zone along a trajectory, a trainee attempting to impact the object at an appropriate location with a desired impact location of a sport tool, capturing imagery that contains the object at the appropriate location and the desired impact location of the sport tool, determining horizontal and vertical distances between the desired impact location and the object arriving at the appropriate location, and scoring a performance based on the horizontal and vertical distances.

A method can include projecting one or more objects along one or more pre-determined trajectories toward a target zone, with each having a diameter less than a diameter of a regulation table tennis ball, the trainee attempting to prevent the one or more objects from entering the target zone and scoring the ability of the trainee. A method can include displaying a first video to a trainee that explains setup for a delivery device, setting up the delivery device based on the first video, projecting an object along a pre-determined trajectory toward a target zone proximate the trainee, wherein the object has a diameter that is less than a diameter of a regulation table tennis ball, and scoring an ability of the trainee to interact with the object at the target zone.

An intelligent ball passing system is provided, including: a ball passing robot configured for carrying out a ball passing action according to human body postures, including: a video capture device configured for acquiring human body posture data, a movement mechanism configured for driving the ball passing robot to move according to a ball passing instruction, and a central processing module connected to the movement mechanism and the video capture device respectively; and a software system configured for controlling the ball passing robot to carry out the ball passing action, the central processing module recognizing and classifying the human body postures by using the software system that uses a BP neural network.

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.