Abstract: A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of images.

Abstract: A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of images.

Abstract: A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of images.

Abstract: Methods and systems for use in automating or assisting umpiring of a baseball or softball game are described herein. A location of a strike zone is determined based on video images of a batter standing next to home plate captured by a camera. Locations of a ball traveling towards the batter, and locations of the bat being held by the batter, are autonomously tracked using computer vision based on video images captured by at least two cameras having different positions. Additionally, there are autonomous determinations of whether a location of the ball intersects with the strike zone, and whether the batter made a genuine attempt to swing the bat at the ball, and based one at least one of these determinations, there is an autonomous determination of whether a “strike” or a “ball” occurred. Additionally, an indication of whether a “strike” or a “ball” occurred is autonomously output.

Abstract: A plurality of high speed tracking cameras is pointed towards a routine hovering area of an in-the-field sports participant who routinely hovers about that area. Spots within the hovering area are registered relative to a predetermined multi-dimensional coordinates reference frame (e.g., Xw, Yw, Zw, Tw) such that two-dimensional coordinates of 2D images captured by the high speed tracking cameras can be converted to multi-dimensional coordinates of the reference frame. A body part recognizing unit recognizes 2D locations of a specific body part in the 2D captured images and a mapping unit maps them into the multi-dimensional coordinates of the reference frame. A multi-dimensional curve generator then generates a multi-dimensional motion curve describing motion of the body part based on the mapped coordinates (e.g., Xw, Yw, Zw, Tw).

Abstract: A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of video images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within video images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object is/are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of video images.

Abstract: Methods and systems for use in automating or assisting umpiring of a baseball or softball game are described herein. A location of a strike zone is determined based on video images of a batter standing next to home plate captured by a camera. Locations of a ball traveling towards the batter, and locations of the bat being held by the batter, are autonomously tracked using computer vision based on video images captured by at least two cameras having different positions. Additionally, there are autonomous determinations of whether a location of the ball intersects with the strike zone, and whether the batter made a genuine attempt to swing the bat at the ball, and based one at least one of these determinations, there is an autonomous determination of whether a “strike” or a “ball” occurred. Additionally, an indication of whether a “strike” or a “ball” occurred is autonomously output.

Abstract: A plurality of high speed tracking cameras are pointed towards a routine hovering area of an in-the-field sports participant who routinely hovers about that area. Spots within the hovering area are registered relative to a predetermined multi-dimensional coordinates reference frame (e.g., Xw, Yw, Zw, Tw) such that two-dimensional coordinates of 2D images captured by the high speed tracking cameras can be converted to multi-dimensional coordinates of the reference frame. A body part recognizing unit recognizes 2D locations of a specific body part in the 2D captured images and a mapping unit maps them into the multi-dimensional coordinates of the reference frame. A multi-dimensional curve generator then generates a multi-dimensional motion curve describing motion of the body part based on the mapped coordinates (e.g., Xw, Yw, Zw, Tw).

Abstract: A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of video images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within video images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object is/are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of video images.

Abstract: A path and/or orientation of at least a portion of a handheld sporting implement swung by an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of video images of the handheld sporting implement being swung are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within video images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of an identifiable portion (e.g., a head) of the handheld sporting implement is/are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the handheld sporting implement was swung. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion (e.g., the head) of the sporting implement is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the head for multiple instants during which the sporting implement was swung.

Abstract: Methods and systems for use in automating or assisting umpiring of a baseball or softball game are described herein. A location of a strike zone is determined based on video images of a batter standing next to home plate captured by a camera. Locations of a ball traveling towards the batter, and locations of the bat being held by the batter, are autonomously tracked using computer vision based on video images captured by at least two cameras having different positions. Additionally, there are autonomous determinations of whether a location of the ball intersects with the strike zone, and whether the batter made a genuine attempt to swing the bat at the ball, and based one at least one of these determinations, there is an autonomous determination of whether a “strike” or a “ball” occurred. Additionally, an indication of whether a “strike” or a “ball” occurred is autonomously output.

Abstract: A path and/or orientation of at least a portion of a handheld sporting implement swung by an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of video images of the handheld sporting implement being swung are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within video images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of an identifiable portion (e.g., a head) of the handheld sporting implement is/are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the handheld sporting implement was swung. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion (e.g., the head) of the sporting implement is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the head for multiple instants during which the sporting implement was swung.

Abstract: A plurality of high speed tracking cameras are pointed towards a routine hovering area of an in-the-field sports participant who routinely hovers about that area. Spots within the hovering area are registered relative to a predetermined multi-dimensional coordinates reference frame (e.g., Xw, Yw, Zw, Tw) such that two-dimensional coordinates of 2D images captured by the high speed tracking cameras can be converted to multi-dimensional coordinates of the reference frame. A body part recognizing unit recognizes 2D locations of a specific body part in the 2D captured images and a mapping unit maps them into the multi-dimensional coordinates of the reference frame. A multi-dimensional curve generator then generates a multi-dimensional motion curve describing motion of the body part based on the mapped coordinates (e.g., Xw, Yw, Zw, Tw).