Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A wearable device is described that is configured to alert a subject prior to encountering an obstacle. The subject may be visually-impaired. The device includes: a mobile transceiver tag adapted to be worn by a subject within a designated area (e.g., a swimming pool); three or more stationary transceiver beacons in spaced apart, fixed positions; a wearable signal output device (e.g., headset); and a processor with software that can calculate the subject's position relative to one or more obstacles (e.g., end of swimming lane) and sends a left, right, or reverse signal to the signal output device.

There is provided a method and apparatus for tracking a device. The tracked device may be a wearable device worn by a user participating in an athletic activity. An anchor device is positioned with respect to a playing area and receives signals from the tracked device. The anchor device estimates the position of the tracked device by measuring a distance and direction of the signal, and decodes the signal to obtain measurements taken by the tracked device. The position and the measurements are combined to produce tracking data for the device.

The prediction control part 204 predicts a three-dimensional position and a three-dimensional velocity of the world coordinate system of the flying ball at a specific time after the initial time as a predicted position and a predicted velocity based on initial position and initial velocity of flying ball, and an equation indicating a parabolic shape of the flying ball. The conversion control part 205 converts the predicted position into a two-dimensional position of a camera coordinate system as a temporary position. The acquisition control part 206 specifies a flying ball image and acquires a two-dimensional position of the camera coordinate system of the flying ball image as an observation position. The correction control part 207 corrects the predicted position and the predicted velocity as a corrected position and a corrected velocity based on the predicted position and the predicted velocity, the observation position, and a Kalman filter.

The prediction control part 204 predicts a three-dimensional position and a three-dimensional velocity of the world coordinate system of the flying ball at a specific time after the initial time as a predicted position and a predicted velocity based on initial position and initial velocity of flying ball, and an equation indicating a parabolic shape of the flying ball. The conversion control part 205 converts the predicted position into a two-dimensional position of a camera coordinate system as a temporary position. The acquisition control part 206 specifies a flying ball image and acquires a two-dimensional position of the camera coordinate system of the flying ball image as an observation position. The correction control part 207 corrects the predicted position and the predicted velocity as a corrected position and a corrected velocity based on the predicted position and the predicted velocity, the observation position, and a Kalman filter.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for tracking an object in motion includes, in at least one aspect, a method including: detecting a launch of a ball based on initial data obtained by one or more sensors, sending initial control signals that begin changing at least one of pan, tilt, or zoom for a camera based on a predicted future position of the ball, determining a trajectory of the ball in three-dimensional space based on additional data obtained by the one or more sensors after the launch, and sending additional control signals that control each of the pan, tilt, and zoom for the camera based on an expected future position of the ball along the trajectory.

Methods, systems and computer program products for radionavigation for swimmers are described. A mobile device configured to estimate a location using radio frequency signals can estimate a position of the swimmer when the mobile device is worn on a limb of the swimmer and periodically submerged. The mobile device can supply auxiliary information to a radionavigation subsystem to correct a navigation solution affected by limb motion of the swimmer and affected by the periodic submersion of the mobile device.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A system and method for continuously tracking a competitor on an athletics track, including: a wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly submit a query provided with a timestamp, a wearable transponder attachable to the competitor, and configured to receive the query, to generate a transponder specific response and to wirelessly transmit the response, stationary receivers distributed across or around the athletics track. Each of the stationary receivers is configured to receive the transponder specific response and to determine a runtime, which is indicative of a point in time relative to the timestamp at which the transponder specific response has been received by the respective stationary receiver. A processor is connected to the stationary receivers and is configured to determine a position of the wearable transponder relative to the athletics track or relative to the stationary receivers on the basis of the runtimes received from the stationary receivers.