U.S. patent application number 14/661422 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-22 for smart athletic training system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Telemetrio LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Telemetrio LLC. Invention is credited to Marco Cucco.
Application Number | 20160271447 14/661422 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56924649 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160271447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cucco; Marco |
September 22, 2016 |
SMART ATHLETIC TRAINING SYSTEM
Abstract
A system for evaluating and/or improving the performance
characteristics of an athlete, such as speed, agility and
quickness, includes a plurality of training objects that can be
arranged on a drill circuit, wherein each training object includes
a radio frequency transceiver for communicating with another
training object, a visual display for signaling an athlete, a
sensor for detecting the athlete's position relative to the
training object, and a battery with required conductors for
powering the radio frequency transceiver, visual display and
sensor.
Inventors: |
Cucco; Marco; (Lathrup
Village, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Telemetrio LLC |
Lathrup Village |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Telemetrio LLC
Lathrup Village
MI
|
Family ID: |
56924649 |
Appl. No.: |
14/661422 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 69/0028 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201; A63B 2220/62 20130101;
A63B 69/002 20130101; A63B 2024/0025 20130101; A63B 69/0053
20130101; A63B 2225/54 20130101; A63B 2225/74 20200801; A63B
2220/801 20130101; A63B 2225/10 20130101; H04W 4/023 20130101; A63B
24/0021 20130101; A63B 2220/806 20130101; G06K 9/00342 20130101;
A63B 24/0075 20130101; A63B 2220/12 20130101; H04W 4/025 20130101;
A63B 2220/803 20130101; A63B 23/0464 20130101; A63B 5/22 20130101;
A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 2220/13 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
[0001] This invention was not made under contract with an agency of
the U.S. Government, nor by any agency of the U.S. Government.
Claims
1. A training system for evaluating and improving athletic skills,
comprising: at least two training objects, each training object
having a radio frequency transmitter/receiver for communicating
with another training object, a visual display, a sensor for
detecting an athlete's position relative to the training object,
and a battery and electrical conductors for powering the radio
frequency transmitter/receiver, visual display, and sensor.
2. The system of claim 1, in which the radio frequency
transmitter/receiver is a Bluetooth device.
3. The system of claim 1, in which the radio frequency
transmitter/receiver is a Wi-Fi device.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile computing
device executing an application enabling communication with the
training objects.
5. The system of claim 1, in which the training objects are
cones.
6. The system of claim 1, in which the sensor is a proximity
sensor.
7. The system of claim 6, in which the proximity sensor is an
infrared radiation proximity sensor.
8. The system of claim 1, in which the sensor is a motion
detector.
9. The system of claim 8, in which the motion sensor is an optical
sensor.
10. The system of claim 1, in which the sensor is a tactile
sensor.
11. The system of claim 1, in which the training objects are
nestable.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a charger for
recharging the battery.
13. The system of claim 12, in which the training objects are
nestable and include electrical contacts that facilitate concurrent
electrical charging of a plurality of nested training objects.
14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile computing
device executing an application enabling communication with the
training objects and with a computer vision system.
15. The system of claim 1, in which the visual display on the
training object is a dot matrix display.
16. The system of claim 15, in which the dot matrix display
comprises a sufficient number of dots arranged in rows and columns
to facilitate display of at least any one alphabetical or numeric
character.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] This disclosure relates to systems comprising training
objects used for improving and/or evaluating athletic skills such
as speed, agility and/or quickness.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] Cones and various other elements or training objects have
been used to evaluate and improve athletic skills such as speed,
agility, quickness and team work. These systems have not been
interactive, are subject to error due to improper placement of the
training objects and/or stopwatch errors, and cannot automatically
catalog performance milestones and improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Disclosed is a smart training system that employs
transmitters/receivers, sensors and display screens to facilitate
accurate placement of training objects for a particular drill that
can be selected from a plurality of catalogued drills, to allow
interactive drills with unpredictable direction changes in a drill
circuit to evaluate reaction time, and/or accurate timing of
circuit completion and the time for completing various segments of
the drill circuit.
[0006] The training system includes a plurality of training objects
that can be positioned at predetermined or arbitrary locations on
an athletic field, athletic court, or other training area to
evaluate and/or improve athletic skills, such as speed, agility,
quickness, and team work. Each training object includes a radio
frequency transmitter/receiver for communicating with another
training object, a visual display for signaling an athlete, a
sensor for detecting the athlete's position relative to the
training object, and a battery and electrical conductors for
supplying power to the radio frequency transmitter/receiver, visual
display, and sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single cone-shaped
training object in accordance with this disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of nested
cone-shaped training objects positioned on a charger for recharging
batteries contained in the training objects.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross section of a cone-shaped training object
in accordance with this invention showing the battery,
transmitter/receiver, and sensor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Shown in FIG. 1 is a single cone-shaped training object or
training cone 10 having a conical portion 12 and a base 14. A
plurality of such cones 10 can be arranged on an athletic field,
athletic court, or other athletic training or athletic performance
evaluation facility to allow athletes to perform timed drills that
test their athletic skills such as agility, speed, quickness and/or
team work.
[0011] A smart training system or kit in accordance with this
disclosure includes a plurality of training objects (at least two),
such as cones 10, and may further comprise a charger 16 for
simultaneously recharging a battery in each of a plurality of
nested cones 10, as shown in FIG. 2. The disclosed training systems
or kits are smart in the sense that the training objects can
communicate and/or sense each other and/or the athlete using the
system.
[0012] Examples of drills that can be performed include X-drill,
123 Back Drill, 3 Cone Drill (also known as L-drill), Pro Agility
Drill, Run-Shuffle-Run Drill, Cone Alley Drills, etc.
[0013] Each training object includes a visual display 20, a radio
frequency transmitter and receiver (transceiver) 22 (as shown in
FIG. 3), a battery 24, and a sensor 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the
battery 24, sensor 26, transmitter 22 and display 20 can be
embedded within a wall 30 of training object 10 to facilitate
nesting for recharging and/or storage. Each cone 10 can be provided
with contacts 32, 33 that have upper surfaces that project above
the top 34 of cone 10 and that extend downwardly through the top to
engage either the upwardly facing surface of contacts 32, 33 of
another underlying nested cone or contacts 35, 36 extending
upwardly from charger 16. The combination of displays, sensors and
transmitters/receivers facilitates automation, sensing,
visualization and feedback to provide a smart system.
[0014] As used herein, a proximity sensor can be any type of sensor
that is able to detect the presence of a nearby object (e.g.,
person) without physical contact, and includes various sensors that
emit an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic
radiation and detects changes in the field or return signal (e.g.,
infrared radiation proximity sensors).
[0015] As used herein, a motion sensor can be any device that
detects moving objects, such as a person, and includes passive
infrared sensors, active infrared sensors, optical sensors (e.g., a
camera or optical imaging device coupled to a processor executing
an algorithm to detect differences between frame images), and
ultrasonic sensors.
[0016] As used herein a touch sensor can be any device that detects
objects, such as a person, by physical contact with the object.
Such devices are also referred to as tactile sensors. Examples of
touch or tactile sensors include piezoresistive sensors,
piezoelectric sensors, capacitive sensors, and elastoresistive
sensors.
[0017] The term "computer vision system" refers to a system
comprising one or more video cameras or video imaging devices that
are linked to a processor that analyzes the images to generate
numerical or symbolic data to evaluate and/or quantify events
captured by the imaging devices. Computer vision can be used to
detect events, recognize objects, track objects and catalogue
movement or position as a function of time. Computer vision systems
include facility based systems including many video cameras imaging
activities in the facility from multiple perspectives, as well as
more compact or portable systems employing one, two or only a few
imaging devices.
[0018] The disclosed Speed and Agility Kits or systems are
sensor-enhanced and communicating physical objects used to advance
the agility and speed of individuals or teams. While these Speed
and Agility Training Kits will be of particular interest to
coaches, trainers and professional athletes, the systems can also
be used for interacting games and activities by children and/or
families. In addition the disclosed Speed and Agility Training Kits
can be used for animal training and exercising.
[0019] The disclosed Speed and Agility Training Kits or systems are
comprised of sensors, low-energy networking hardware and client
software that allow interaction of users with the physical elements
as well as with the configuration and analysis interface.
[0020] The disclosed Speed and Agility Training Kits or systems can
include any combination of training objects such as cones, poles,
steps, posts sleeves, goals, score sensors, strips, nets, hurdles,
speed ladders, rings, passing arcs, charging stations, or other
objects that can be positioned on a surface, hung or suspended from
other objects, or otherwise located in an athletic skill evaluation
or training facility. The objects can be impact, hack, tamper
and/or weather resistant.
[0021] The physical elements or training objects of the system can
have any combination of the following features: tripwire, touch
sensitive, proximity detection, auto-calibration, range, pressure
activated start/end/milestone triggers, mesh networking in router
or node mode, GPS sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors,
accelerometer, compass, light sensor, BLE connectivity, Wi-Fi
low-energy connectivity, active/passive RFID capabilities,
stackable charging, smart charging and maintenance station,
ultra-bright, multicolor, multi intensity light emitting diodes,
flexible LED matrices, on-element displays LED, and
lithium-battery.
[0022] The disclosed Speed and Agility Training Kits or systems can
communicate with each other and a mobile device via Bluetooth LE
and/or with a Computer Vision Engine (CVE) via active/passive RFID
and optic beacons, to users (outbound) via visual displays and
sounds and inbound via proximity sensors and RFIDs.
[0023] The training objects can communicate with a server for
patches and updates via the internet-connected charging
station.
[0024] The disclosed Speed and Agility Training systems can sense,
catalogue and compute the movement of users and the milestones they
achieve. Users can select from a master list of drills. Users
select the drill and upon selection, those Speed and Agility
Training elements necessary can light up and await to be picked
up.
[0025] A display shows the user where each Speed and Agility
Training element goes in the sequence or set up. The user can rely
on a camera of her mobile device to confirm that the set up of the
path or pattern has been properly configured. The user will rely
for this on a mobile app, that is part of the kit, and that will
allow detection of the shape, size, color and relative position of
each one of the elements using computer vision as well as the
sensors available on the phone (compass, GPS and accelerometer) to
determine location, orientation, and position. The mobile app will
evaluate this information to calibrate the drill profile and
configure the kit elements in use over a network. Each element will
be individually configured and it will confirm its proper
configuration both on the mobile app as well as with the light up
of an ultra bright LED.
[0026] The application can allow the user to play a demonstration
version of the path or pattern that was configured to show the user
how the drill is performed.
[0027] The system software allows mobile and desktop clients to
analyze and visualize data in real-time and near-real-time mode, as
well as in replay mode. Processing of data is distributed between
the mobile and desktop clients as well as between the core servers
for the service. Data can be encrypted between elements, devices
and systems to enhance privacy and avoid data, identifier and key
collisions.
[0028] Users of the system can be allowed to edit, update, add,
configure and remove drills and profiles from the mobile and
desktop clients. The server can also automatically provide them, as
well as the elements and sensors, with relevant updates either to
the core software (like those for bug fixes and improvements) as
well as for new drills, patterns, paths and activities. For
updates, the charging stations can be connected to the internet and
provide conduit for simple and reliable firmware patches and
updates as well as for automated maintenance and remote
support.
[0029] Speed and Agility Training Kits can simply show the way or
perform decisions based on logic, events or random behavior.
[0030] For instance, a soccer player could be directed to the left
or to the right of a Speed and Agility Training system based on an
arrow signal. A proximity sensor detects that a player has passed
by and can relay that information to the following Smart Speed and
Agility Training Kits.
[0031] Smart Speed and Agility Training Kits can record times,
process players' passages and communicate that information to the
APP. Further information can be detected by a Computer Vision
Engine via on-board visual beacons.
[0032] Score sensors can be placed in either targets and balls. The
sensor can be optical, magnetic or ultrasound and may be
complemented with computer vision which will be used both for the
mobile application, recognizing obstacles, users and fixtures as
well as for location and stats calculation.
[0033] The system also considers software for user devices to
acquire data from the system as well as to configure and manage set
up and sequences.
[0034] The system also considers the use of computer vision in
several ways. First it will rely on computer vision on the user
device for the detection of a sequence, path or pattern created by
the user using the elements from the kit. The system can detect
color, shape and relative position of the sequence, path of
pattern.
[0035] GPS, differential GPS and RFIDs, Active RFID real-time
locations systems (RTLS) or ultra wide band (UWB) geolocating
technology can be used to aid relative location of each training
object relative to other training objects and to general
coordinates. Compass and other sensors (such as gyroscopes) on the
user phone will be used to further aid location and directions, to
overlay information and calibration.
[0036] Start/End mats will be used to open and close the circuit
the users will be in. They might include pressure sensors, RFID
readers and displays. RFID might be embedded in shoes, balls and/or
shin guards.
[0037] Multiple on-board Multicolor High Intensity LED arrays as
well as flexible LED matrices and/or on-element display screens on
the elements or training objects of the system can be used to
display sequences, directions, connection to network, connecting to
network, low battery, and/or charging, and to provide input to and
connection with a Computer Vision Engine (CVE).
[0038] This disclosure is provided to allow practice of the
invention by those skilled in the art without undue
experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and
the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is
to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is
susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended
claims.
* * * * *