A TOOL MOVEMENT ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

One of the most important factors affecting the performance of athletes in club, bat or racket based sports is the athlete's swing or sporting action with their club, bat or racket. Minor changes in swing path and speed can have a significant impact on the outcome of a shot or other sporting action. As there are many factors affecting shot outcomes and small changes in the athlete's swing can have a large impact on the shot outcome, it is difficult for inexperienced athletes and coaches to correctly diagnose and fix grip faults. The present disclosure provides a tool movement analysis system 10 comprising a tool sensor positionable on a tool, a body sensor positionable on a user, and a processor configured and operable to collect and analyse data related to the user's movement with the tool and provide relevant feedback to the user.

Claims

1. A tool movement analysis system comprising: a tool sensor positionable, in use, on a tool configured and arranged for movement by a user; a body sensor positionable, in use, on a user; and a processor configured and operable to: detect, with the tool sensor, an arrangement of the tool; compare the detected arrangement of the tool with a predetermined position of the tool; determine if the detected arrangement of the tool matches the predetermined position of the tool; receive movement data related to an action of the user with the tool for a time period following the determination of the detected arrangement of the tool matching the predetermined position of the tool, wherein the movement data includes tool sensor data from the tool sensor and body sensor data from the body sensor; analyse the movement data and determine a predetermined event of interest has occurred; and, output, to a feedback device, a feedback output related to the movement data.

2. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation and a displacement of the tool sensor and an orientation and a displacement of the body sensor during the event of interest, and wherein the feedback output includes the orientations and displacements of the tool sensor and the body sensor.

3. The tool movement analysis system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to continuously determine the orientation and displacement of the tool sensor and the body sensor throughout a duration of the event of interest, and the feedback output includes a plurality of orientations and displacements for each of the tool sensor and the body sensor as a function of time.

4. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of body sensors, wherein each of the plurality of body sensors are positionable, in use, on a user at a position spaced from each of the other plurality of body sensors.

5. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, wherein the body sensors are positionable, in use, on a garment worn by a user, and the body sensor includes a stiffening member positionable on the garment adjacent to the body sensor and arranged to stiffen the garment adjacent to the body sensor.

6. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the detected arrangement of the tool falls within a predetermined threshold range of predetermined positions of the tool.

7. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, wherein the processor is a processing hub comprising a plurality of distributed processors, wherein each of the tool sensor and the body sensor is controlled by one or more of the plurality of distributed processors.

8. The tool movement analysis system of claim 7, wherein, if the processor determines the detected arrangement of the tool matches the predetermined position of the tool, the body sensor is switched from a power conservation mode to an active mode by the one or more distributed processors associated with the tool sensor.

9. The tool movement analysis system of claim 8, wherein the one or more distributed processors associated with the tool sensor is configured to switch the body sensor from the active mode to the power conservation mode if no occurrence of a predetermined event of interest is detected within a predetermined time of the body sensor being switched to the active mode.

10. The tool movement analysis system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of distributed processors are configured to locally calculate and store, in a memory, an orientation and displacement of the associated tool sensor or the body sensor.

11. The tool movement analysis system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of distributed processors are configured to analyse tool sensor data or body sensor 18 data from the associated sensor and determine the predetermined event of interest has occurred based on the tool sensor data or body sensor data from the associated sensor.

12. The tool movement analysis system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of distributed processors are configured to determine the predetermined event of interest has occurred by analysing the tool sensor data or body sensor data with a machine learning model.

13. The tool movement analysis system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to determine a predetermined event of interest has occurred if a predetermined threshold number of the plurality of distributed processors determine a predetermined event of interest has occurred.

14. The tool movement analysis system of claim 13, wherein the threshold number of the plurality of distributed processors is half the total number of distributed processors.

15. The tool movement analysis system of claim 13, wherein the processor is operable to delete at least a portion of stored movement data if less than the threshold number of the plurality of distributed processors determine a predetermined event of interest has occurred.

16. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to use a predictive model to identify the event of interest.

17. The tool movement analysis system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to continually store, in a memory, the movement data.

18. The tool movement analysis system of claim 17, wherein the processor is operable to delete data captured outside of a predetermined time preceding the determining of the detected arrangement of the tool matching the predetermined position of the tool.

19. The tool movement analysis system of claim 17, wherein the processor is operable to delete data captured outside of a predetermined time preceding the determining of the predetermined event of interest occurring.

20. A tool movement analysis method comprising the steps: detecting, with a tool sensor positionable, in use, on a tool configured and arranged for movement by a user, an arrangement of the tool; comparing the detected arrangement of the tool with a predetermined position of the tool; determining if the detected arrangement of the tool matches the predetermined position of the tool; receiving movement data related to an action of the user with the tool for a time period following the determination of the detected arrangement of the tool matching the predetermined position of the tool, wherein the movement data includes tool sensor data from the tool sensor and body sensor data from a body sensor positionable, in use, on a user; analysing the movement data and determining a predetermined event of interest has occurred; and, outputting, to a feedback device, a feedback output related to the movement data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a golf swing analysis system on a user;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a first step of a tool movement analysis method;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a second step of the tool movement analysis method;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of a third step of the tool movement analysis method;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a system block diagram of a fourth step of the tool movement analysis method; and

[0047] FIG. 6 is a system block diagram of a fifth step of the tool movement analysis method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a golf swing analysis system 10 in use by a user 20. The user 20 is a golfer and is shown to be in the follow through position after completing a golf swing with a golf club 30. The golf swing analysis system 10 includes a plurality of sensors, such as accelerometers or magnetometers, and associated processors which are arranged in positions such that movement data relevant to golf is captured. The movement of the golf club 30 has a significant effect on the outcome of the golf swing. As such, a sensor may be positioned on the golf club 30 to capture data related to the position and/or movement of the golf club 30. In golf, it is typically taught that a user's head should remain relatively still until after the ball has been hit. Accordingly, a sensor and associated processor may be placed on a user's cap 40 and/or glasses 50 to capture data related to the position and/or movement of the user's head. Furthermore, the twisting or opening of a user's body during a golf swing is typically considered to be important in a golf swing. Therefore, a sensor may be positioned on a user's shirt 60 and/or shorts 70 or trousers to capture data related to the position and/or movement of the user's body and legs. Furthermore, the position and movement, or lack thereof, of a user's feet during a golf swing is typically considered to be important. Accordingly, a sensor or sensors may be positioned on the user's shoe 80 or shoes to capture data related to the position and/or movement of the user's feet during the golf swing. The processors of the golf swing analysis system 10 are configured and arranged to analyse, share and feedback the captured data to the user 20. In particular, the golf swing analysis system may be configured to carry out the tool movement analysis system as described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a first step 100 of a tool movement analysis method. The first step 100 includes detecting, with sensors on the tool, if the tool is arranged in a predetermined arrangement. To activate the tool analysis system and initiate the tool analysis method, the user may press a button arranged on the system. Alternatively, the system may be arranged in a standby mode or a low-power mode, and the user may initialise sensor data collection by sending a wireless signal from a device such as a smart phone, smart watch, or any other suitable device. The device may be configured to collect sensor data at a low rate, and the user may arrange the tool, for example the golf club 30 shown in FIG. 1 or another piece of sports equipment, in the predetermined arrangement in order to trigger an increase in the sampling rate to that needed for analysis of a potential event. In golf, the predetermined arrangement may be an address position in which the golf club is arranged with the club head lowermost adjacent to the ground and wherein the user is stood still with their hands adjacent one another on the grip of the golf club. The tool sensors are initialised and the tool sensors may then capture, and store in an associated memory, data related to the orientation of the tool. The data is then analysed to determine if the tool is positioned in the predetermined arrangement. If it is determined that the tool is not arranged in the predetermined position, data captured more than T1 seconds ago is deleted from the associated memory in order to save memory space. The time T1 may be dependent on the tool and the movement being performed with the tool. For example, the time T1 may be 1, 5, 10 or 15 seconds or any other suitable length of time. If it is determined that the tool is arranged in the predetermined position, step 2 of the method is carried out, as described in relation to FIG. 3.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a second step 200 of the tool movement analysis method. Once it is determined that the tool is arranged in the predetermined position, the sensors on the user's body and the user's apparel are initialised. To initialise said sensors, a processor associated with the tool sensors send a signal to the sensors on the user's body and on the user's apparel. The sensors on the user's body and the user's apparel are then switched from a power conservation mode or a low power mode to an active mode. Then, step 3 is carried out, as described in relation to FIG. 4.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of a third step 300 of the tool movement analysis method. After the sensors on the user's body and apparel are switched to an active mode in step 2, they are ready and able to collect and store data. First, a timer is started on the processor associated with the sensor on the tool to count down a predetermined time in which an event of interest is expected to occur. Data is collected and stored by each of the sensors in use, and a predictive model is run locally at each sensor to identify an event of interest. Accordingly, the event of interest taking place is determined by each processor independently based only on the data captured by said processor.

[0052] If no data indicates an event of interest has occurred, data captured more than T2 seconds ago is deleted, to save memory space. T1 and T2 may be separate and independent, alternatively T1 and T2 may comprise the same counter. The timer is then consulted and if the timer has expired, the timer is stopped and the body and apparel sensors are switched back to the power conservation mode, and step 1 of the method is started. If the timer has not expired, further data is collected and processed as described above until an event of interest is identified or the timer expires.

[0053] If some data indicates an event of interest has occurred, the relevant sensor and associated processor sends a message to the processor associated with the sensor on the tool. If messages are received indicating an event of interest has occurred from a number of sensors that exceeds a predetermined threshold number, step 4 as described with reference to FIG. 5 is carried out. The threshold number may be any suitable number, such as half of the total number of sensors, and may be selectable by the user. If messages are received indicating an event of interest has occurred from a number of sensors that does not exceed the predetermined threshold number, data captured more than T2 seconds ago is deleted, to save memory space. The timer is then consulted and if the timer has expired, the timer is stopped and the body and apparel sensors are switched back to the power conservation mode, and step 1 of the method is started. If the timer has not expired, further data is collected and processed as described above until an event of interest is identified or the timer expires.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a system block diagram of a fourth step 400 of the tool movement analysis method. The fourth step 400 includes determining and calculating the orientation and displacement of the tool sensors and the sensors positioned on the user. Once the probability threshold for an event of interest is determined in step 3, the orientation and displacement priors based on the tool orientation are initialised for all sensors from the beginning of the event of interest. The orientation and displacement for each of the sensors for the duration of the event of interest may therefore be obtained. These results may then be passed onward to step 5, as described with reference to FIG. 6. Furthermore, the method may restart from step 1, as described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a system block diagram of a fifth step 500 of the tool movement analysis method. After the orientation and displacement of the sensors, and therefore the tool and the user's body, are calculated, relevant results are obtained. The results may be shown to the user. In particular, the results may be transmitted to a feedback device to give feedback to the user. The feedback device may comprise a display to give visual feedback to the user. Alternatively, or additionally, the feedback device may comprise a haptic feedback device to give haptic feedback to the user. Furthermore, the results may be transmitted and stored in the cloud or some other accessible storage system. The user may then access their results, both recent and historic, to track their progress and view any improvements in their movement with the tool.

[0056] Although golf has been used as an example of an application of the system and method described herein, the system and method may also be applied to any user movement involving a tool. For example, another type of sporting action, such as a tennis serve, or a crafting action, such as the use of a crafting knife, may be analysed. The associated predetermined arrangement and timings may be adjusted and selected appropriately. Additionally, although FIG. 1 shows sensors positioned on the user's cap, glasses, shirt, shorts and shoe, not all of these are necessary. Only one, or more than one but less than the total number, sensor may be provided. Other positions for sensors are envisaged. For example, a sensor may be positioned on a belt to capture data related to the movement of a user's hips, or on a glove to capture data related to the movement of a user's hand. The selection of a position for a sensor may be dependent on the movement expected from the user. The positions described herein in relation to golf may not be appropriate for another movement, such as a crafting movement. Furthermore, several steps described in FIGS. 2 to 6 are optional, as will be clear from the disclosure of the claimed disclosure, and are included for clarity purposes only.