Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for autonomous tennis ball retrieval robots. Example robots include a housing comprising a ball inlet, a first wheel coupled to the housing, a ball collection portion coupled to the housing and configured to receive a plurality of balls, a first arm and a second arm removably coupled to the housing, where the first arm and the second arm together guide balls towards the ball inlet, a ball direction device configured to direct balls from the ball inlet to the ball collection portion, and a first sensor coupled to the first arm, where the autonomous tennis ball retrieval robot is configured to detect obstacles using the first sensor. The autonomous tennis ball retrieval robot may be configured to retrieve balls disposed in an ambient environment, and may be configured to be transported in a rolling mode using the first wheel.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for autonomous tennis ball retrieval robots. Example robots include a housing comprising a ball inlet, a first wheel coupled to the housing, a ball collection portion coupled to the housing and configured to receive a plurality of balls, a first arm and a second arm removably coupled to the housing, where the first arm and the second arm together guide balls towards the ball inlet, a ball direction device configured to direct balls from the ball inlet to the ball collection portion, and a first sensor coupled to the first arm, where the autonomous tennis ball retrieval robot is configured to detect obstacles using the first sensor. The autonomous tennis ball retrieval robot may be configured to retrieve balls disposed in an ambient environment, and may be configured to be transported in a rolling mode using the first wheel.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for autonomous tennis assistant systems having autonomous ball machines such as an autonomous and interactive tennis ball ejection robot. Example methods include determining, by a device, the position of a first player on a tennis court, determining a first target location for a first tennis ball to be ejected toward the first player, generating a trajectory for the first tennis ball to reach the first target location, and causing ejection of the first tennis ball from the tennis ball ejection robot along the generated trajectory toward the first target location. A base station may be used to provide image data for use by the tennis ball ejection robot from one or more additional vantage points.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for autonomous tennis assistant systems having autonomous ball machines such as an autonomous and interactive tennis ball ejection robot. Example methods include determining, by a device, the position of a first player on a tennis court, determining a first target location for a first tennis ball to be ejected toward the first player, generating a trajectory for the first tennis ball to reach the first target location, and causing ejection of the first tennis ball from the tennis ball ejection robot along the generated trajectory toward the first target location. A base station may be used to provide image data for use by the tennis ball ejection robot from one or more additional vantage points.

A ball launcher turning device external to the ball launcher comprises a base, a platform movably connected to said base and externally securable to the ball launcher, and a turning mechanism housed within the turning device that is configured to cause the platform and the ball launcher to undergo angular displacement relative to the base, in response to a force transmitted to the turning mechanism by a controlled force generator, to facilitate propulsion of balls ejected from the ball launcher in varying directions.

Described herein are devices and systems relating to sports training equipment, for example, for baseball. These devices and systems can comprise a mat with markers identifying a plurality of positions on the mat. In some embodiments, the system can comprise removably attachable footpads to identify ideal foot positions for an athletic performance. In some embodiments, the footpads comprise one or more pressure sensors. The system can comprise one or more position sensors on a ball, and one or more position sensors removably attachable to a hand-held sports instrument. In some embodiments, the system can comprise a memory, communicatively coupled to a processor and a camera, with executable instructions to implement a set-up component, a user recognition component, a practice component, and instructional component, and a play component.

A method can include providing an object having a size smaller than a size of a known regulation object, projecting the object, via a delivery device, toward a trainee, and training the trainee to follow the object. A method can include determining a game parameter of a game trajectory of a sports object that was projected along the game trajectory in a real-time sports event, and based on the game parameters, adapting a delivery device to deliver a training object along a training trajectory that mimics at least a portion of the game trajectory, with the training object being smaller than the sports object.

A method can include providing an object having a size smaller than a size of a known regulation object, projecting the object, via a delivery device, toward a trainee, and training the trainee to follow the object. A method can include determining a game parameter of a game trajectory of a sports object that was projected along the game trajectory in a real-time sports event, and based on the game parameters, adapting a delivery device to deliver a training object along a training trajectory that mimics at least a portion of the game trajectory, with the training object being smaller than the sports object.

A method can include projecting an object toward an impact device along a trajectory, receiving the object at a target zone of the impact device, a trainee striking the impact device at an impact zone with a sports tool, and scoring a performance score of the trainee to impact the impact zone at an appropriate time compared to an arrival time of the object at the target zone. A method can include projecting an object toward a target along a trajectory, receiving the object at an actual arrival position at the target, wherein the actual arrival position is either inside a target zone or outside the target zone, and where a trainee is configured to send an indication when the trainee expects the object to arrive inside the target zone, comparing the indication to the actual arrival position, and determining a performance score based on the comparing.

Ball return devices may include a body having a front surface configured to return a ball incident thereon and a back surface. The body may be configured to be positioned at an angle to, and coincident with, an underlying surface, the angle between the ground surface and the body being variable. The ball return devices may also include an attachment mechanism coupled to the body and adapted to attach the body to an external anchoring mechanism.