Sports simulator and simulation method

摘要

A sports simulator calculates spin of a sports object using image analysis. A velocity vector is also calculated. These are combined to produce a predicted future trajectory of the sports object. In one embodiment, the sports object is a golf ball and the sports simulator simulates golf.

主权项

1. An apparatus for simulating a sports activity where the future trajectory of a sports object is predicted, the apparatus comprising:
infrared strobe lights; a strobe controller coupled to said infrared strobe lights; a triggering device coupled to said strobe controller to flash said infrared strobe lights; a camera that captures images viewed by said infrared strobe lights, wherein said images comprise said sports object and are captured by said camera in a single exposure by flashing said infrared strobe lights multiple times during said single exposure; a display that shows a predicted trajectory of said sports object, wherein said display is located in a launch path for the sports object; at least one position sensor, separate from the camera and comprising two predetermined planes located between an initial launch position for the sports object and said display, and configured to determine a time and position where the sports object passes through each predetermined plane; and a computer that takes the captured images and computes a spin of said sports object based on edge detection analysis of the images and that takes the determined times and positions and computes a translational velocity of the sports object, wherein the computer further determines a predicted trajectory of the sports object based on the spin and the translational velocity.