JARZYNA ANDRZEJ (PL)
WICHNIEWICZ MARIUSZ (PL)
| US20090046152A1 | 2009-02-19 | |||
| US20080125896A1 | 2008-05-29 | |||
| US20080100622A1 | 2008-05-01 | |||
| US20070207873A1 | 2007-09-06 |
| Claims 1. The video-based system for the analysis of the sports' playground data for the purpose of statistical analysis, training and tactics development, making use of the cameras placed around the playground, with recording capabilities, characterised in that it makes use of infrared markers to mark the players, the ball and the most important elements on the playground, the markers being followed by cameras through the Motion Capture infrared technology, ensuring real-time, on-line localisation of the players and the ball, thus allowing for simultaneous analysis of the playground events and generation of appropriate statistical data that supports the decision-making process of the coach. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the parameters of the markers, such as the size and shape are adjusted to the supervised area of the playground, in order to ensure the correct identification of the objects by the system's cameras. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the markers form a group that clearly identifies the object and their position in a particular part of the player's clothes informs about the movement of this part of the body, ensuring the individual treatment of an object and assigning to it the functional features related to the situation on the playground. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the number of cameras used depends on the need of tracing the objects over the entire space the ball. 5. The system according to claim 4, characterised in that the number of cameras used on the playground is not smaller than 4. 6. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that it can be used in any sports' discipline, especially in the basketball. |
The object of the invention is the video-based system for the analysis of the sports' playground data for the purpose of statistical analysis, training and tactics development, especially in the basketball, commonly known as VideoStat.
The functionality of the VideoStat system is based on the Motion Capture technology system for the optoelectronic imaging of the ball motion as well as all the players present on the playground, especially in the game of basketball. The VideoStat system localises in time and space the positions of all the players and the ball and enables full analysis of the basketball game, including the reports to be used by the coach team.
The system is based on four cameras and makes use of special markers in configurations that allow for full identification of ail the players working on the playground.
The system uses groups of markers placed on each player's clothes as well as on the ball in such a way so as to allow for individual discrimination of each group of markers.
The connection of the markers with player's clothes allows for full identification of the telemetric parameters of the player's motion in the 3D space as well as for generation of the statistical data. Thanks to such imaging, it is possible to analyse the motion with regards to the following parameters:
• The speed of motion on the playground
• The acceleration of the motion ® Comparison of reaction times of the players to the events on the playground
© Getting the information on the parameters of ball's motion, trajectory and speed
© Getting the information on the ball's position in the areas close to the end lines of the playground.
The groups of markers used are characterised by appropriate stiffness, so that the spatial distribution of the markers should not be deformed that makes it impossible to recognise the shape of a solid. The way in which the markers are placed allows for maximum visibility for the system's imaging cameras and minimises the probability of covering the marks during the system's operation.
The system, as described in the invention has been presented on the following exemplary figures: Fig. 1. The Prime 41 Optitractype camera. Fig. 2. Field of view covered by all four cameras. Fig. 3. Passive markers used on player's clothes as well as on the ball. Fig. 4. Exemplary distribution of the passive markers on a player. Fig. 5. Exemplary distribution of the passive markers on the ball. Fig. 6. System functionality diagram.
The Prime 41 Optitrac type cameras have been equipped with infra- redlight lamps that have been selected to be compatible with the camera's array characteristics. In order to cover the entire basketball playground, it is necessary to place the cameras at the height of 12 m and higher. The illumination with the IR lamps does not influence the visual side of the game, nor does in interfere with the TV cameras. The markers have been made with highly reflective fabric within the radiation range generated by the camera's lamps. The positions of the markers in space are calculated with the use of algorithms dedicated for the spatial localisation of objects.
Each player is assigned with a well-defined group of markers that identifies the player in a unique way. The group of markers is foremost defined body. This approach has been made in order to avoid accidental losing of an object in the system because of covering a mark, e.g. during serving the ball. Secondly, placement of the markers in specific points gives to each object a characteristic distribution, that within the system shall be linked to the specific player each and every time. The distances between the individual markers and the size of the markers depend on the installation height of the system cameras. The optimum system that guarantees covering the entire playground from the height of 12 m requires use of at least 3 markers placed at the distance not smaller than 1 cm, with the marker's size of 5 mm of the circle diameter, with the shape of a semi- spheres. Additionally, in order to initiate additional functionalities, it is possible to equip the players with additional marker groups placed on wristbands, shoes and shorts. In such a case, the system is enriched with additional parameters that monitor the player's motion. Marker groups are fixed to the player's t- shirt and placed on shoulders (epaulets) and the neck.
The markers that form the groups assigned to the players are prepared in the form of truncated spheres that enliances the visibility. At the same time, in order to ensure both comfort and safety of the player, the markers are made of rubber. It is optimal to make use of truncated spheres with the heights of a few millimetres and such a radius so as to ensure the visibility over the entire playground.
The markers for the ball's group are flat. Their size ensures the visibility of the group within the entire playground. The markers are place uniformly on the ball's surface. The minimum number of markers is 3. Because the system is capable of identifying the group based on incomplete number of markers, it is advisable to use larger groups, in which any two freely selected patterns are alternated at least every two markers. The size of the markers must ensure the possibility of creating the required number of unique patterns. The minimum number of visible markers must exceed the solid's marker scheme constant by the value of one.
The system's functionality is as follows:
n subsequently transfers the relevant data to the base computer, while the computer analyses the movements and through the analysis and comparison to the previously recorded data (e.g. from the lat 50 games) presents the report on the player's performance during all these games, which will be analysed by the coach, especially of the opponent's team.
The functionality of the system based on the invention relies on the Motion Capture technology system for the optoelectronic imaging of the ball motion as well as all the players present on the playground in the game of basketball and enables full analysis of the basketball game, including the reports to be used by the coach team.