GB2269288A

GB2269288A - Simulated projectile vision

Info

Publication number: GB2269288A
Application number: GB9216375A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Alexander Courtney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-31
Filing date: 1992-07-31
Publication date: 1994-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-31
Also published as: GB9216375D0; GB2269288B

Abstract

In order to improve television coverage of sports which involve the flight of a projectile over long distances, such as golf or archery, a simulated view of the projectile's landing zone, as seen from the projectile, is produced in real time. Microwave radars or sonars 3, 4, 5 measure the distance to projectile 2 at two instants. From these the trajectory 1 of projectile 2 may be calculated, ignoring wind, spin and air resistance, and hence the estimated landing zone may be determined. This is then combined with either a real-time image produced from a camera located external to the projectile, or with a map or pre-recorded image of the landscape, to provide the simulated view. Thus the viewer will be shown a dramatic view of the game. <IMAGE>

Description

Simulated Projectile Vision This invention is related to television presentations of sport which involve the long distance movement of projectiles for example golf balls or archers arrows.

Golf is a sport which attracts considerable media interest but television viewers are denied the most dramatic view of the game, that seen by a hypothetical camera placed inside the golf ball.

This invention computes and displays an image of the anticipated landing zone.

The appropriate image is determined by combining a real time computation of the predicted landing point of the golf ball or other projectile and a computation of the size and shape of the area of the landing zone which would be seen by a hypothetical camera placed inside the golf ball.

The formulae used to caiculate the trajectory of the projectile can be those commonly used for calculations concerning the parabolic motion of a particle moving in a uniform gravitational field.

In reality factors such as projectile spin, wind and thermal currents will affect the shape of the true trajectory and be a factor which must be allowed for in predicting the actual landing point.

However by ignoring these complications and producing a visual display which based on particle movement in still, non viscous air the viewer will be offered a more dramatic, simulated golf ball view. This will be a real time view which will alter throughout the flight, as the data is up-dated. It will capture the sensation that the wind etc are affecting the flight of the projectile after it has left the tee.

The invention will be illustrated by reference to a specific example.

Figure 1 shows the still air trajectory, 1 of a golf ball, 2 which has been teed off towards the green.

Three or more position detecting devices, 3, 4 and 5, are placed on or near the fairway and are used to detect the position in space of the golf ball, using the principles of triangulation. The detectors could for example be microwave transmitterlreceivers similar to those used for existing radar systems. If the position in space of the golf ball is determined at two instances of time early in the flight and the time interval between the instances is known then the still-air particle trajectory can be computed. If information concerning the teeing off point is included in the calculation and the teeing off time is known by virtue of having a transmitting sensor in the tee then the particle trajectory can be computed at a very early stage in the flight.

6 is a straight line from the current position of the golf ball to the computed landing point. The length of this line is d. The line is inclined at an angle e to the horizontal. The position of the landing point, the length and direction of d and 6 can all be calculated by those with a knowledge the science of the motion of projectiles. is the assumed solid angle of view of the fictional camera mounted inside the golf ball. The shaded area 7, having area A is the area around the landing point that can be seen for the given value of",. The size and shape of this shaded area can be calculated from a knowledge of", 6 and d.

Figure 2 shows a view of the landscape in the region between the tee and the green. This view may be a map, a prerecorded image of the landscape or a real time image of the landscape, taken using a camera held high above the fairway. Those with a knowledge of outdoor television coverage will be aware of the possible mechanisms for obtaining such a view.

1 is the fairway, 2 the green and 3 the tee. 4, 5 and 6 are the sensors. The positions of the sensors are the fixed positions that can be used to calculate the coordinates of any point in the (approximately) horizontal field of view. x, and Yi are the cartesian coordinates of the calculated landing point, 7 of the ball, measured from sensor 5. The elliptical area, 8 is the computed field of view of the hypothetical camera in the golf ball at the current instant of time. The computed field of view decreases in size and increases in magnification during the flight, providing the sensation of movement.

A knowledge of the area of the computed field of view and the position x1, y1, determined by computation enables the area of the golf course that would be seen by the hypothetical camera to be identified and then displayed for viewing by an audience. A pair of drawn cross wires or other marker could be shown on the display to indicate the computed landing point.

If spin, wind or other factors cause on-going deviation from the previously computed landing point this would show up as a movement of the marker relative to the background image of the green or fairway. This dynamic change would add to the visual impact and interest of the display seen by the television viewer.

Claims

1 Asystem for simulating the view of the anticipated landing zone seen by a projectile based on a prediction of the end point of the trajectory combined with a related selection from an image of the possible landing zones produced by a camera or other image producing and recording device which is external to the projectile.

2 As for 1 but with the final image being a real time image, selected from a currently accurate image of the possible landing zones.

3 A system for simulating the view of the anticipated landing zone seen by a projectile based on a prediction of the end point of the trajectory combined with a related selection from a plan or constructed image of the possible landing zones.

4 As for claims 1, 2 or 3 but specifically including electromagnetic or acoustic sensors which are able to detect the position in space at successive, known intervals of time of the projectile.

5 As for claim 1, 2 or 3 but specifically including electromagnetic or acoustic sensors which are able to detect the velocity at successive, known intervals of time of the projectile.

6 As for any of the above claims but including a sensor at the beginning of the flight path which is able to transmit signals relating to the time and/or position of the beginning of the flight.

7 As for any of the above claims but specifically including a digital processing device for performing the necessary computations and selections.