Patents Assigned to Robosport Technologies LLC
  • Patent number: 11027185
    Abstract: A batting tee system includes a base, a first carriage moveably coupled to the base, and a second carriage moveably coupled to the first carriage. The second carriage may hold an external system having a neck and a ball holder. The batting tee system further includes a first actuator attached to the base, and a second actuator attached to the first carriage. The first actuator may move the first carriage and the second carriage along a first horizontal axis relative to the base. The second actuator may move the second carriage along a second horizontal axis relative to the base and the first carriage. The batting tee system further includes a control system that may cause the first carriage and the second carriage to move to random positions along the first horizontal axis and the second horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore LoDuca, Ted Larson, Zack Alban
  • Patent number: 10497278
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for providing feedback regarding an impact between a sporting implement and a ball, an example system comprising a ring attachable to the sporting implement, the ring including a sensor for detecting vibrations caused by an impact between the sporting implement and the ball and determining whether a level of the vibrations is within a predetermined range, and a speaker within audible range of the player, the speaker configured to emit an audible tone in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the level of the vibrations is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20190262687
    Abstract: According to one example, a batting tee system includes a housing, an arm coupled to the housing, and an actuation system. The actuation system includes a spool, a rollable neck, and an actuator. The rollable neck is configured to be wound around the spool when the spool rotates in a first direction and is further configured to be unwound from the spool when the spool rotates in a second direction. The rollable neck is configured to have a flat form when wound around the spool and is further configured to transition from the flat form to a hollow tube form when unwound from the spool. The actuator is configured to rotate the spool. The actuation system is configured to extend and retract the distal end of the rollable neck out of the arm. The distal end of the rollable neck is configured to hold a ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore LoDuca, John Boucard
  • Patent number: 10118080
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for training a player to hit a ball at a target using a virtual or augmented reality display device, an exemplary method including detecting a position of a real ball, determining a trajectory for a virtual ball, the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by the virtual or augmented reality display device, a virtual pitch of the virtual ball along the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by the virtual or augmented reality display device, a target towards which the player should hit the real ball, determining whether the real ball is hit at the target, and providing an indication of whether the real ball is hit at the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Patent number: 10112097
    Abstract: A batting tee system includes a housing, a ball holder for holding a ball, a neck coupled between the housing and the ball holder, an actuator, and a control system. The actuator may be positioned in the housing and operable to actuate the neck along the axis to extend and retract the neck from the housing thereby increasing and decreasing a distance between the ball holder and the housing. The control system may be operable to cause the actuator to actuate the neck to a first random position along the axis. The control system may be further operable to cause the actuator to actuate the neck to a second random position along the axis, different than the first, after a ball is hit from the ball holder when the neck is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore LoDuca, Michael R. LaLuna, Nicholas J. Derba
  • Patent number: 10071281
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for using virtual or augmented reality in sports training, an exemplary method including detecting a position of a real ball, determining a trajectory for a virtual ball, the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by a virtual or augmented reality display device, a virtual pitch of the virtual ball along the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, detecting, by a sensor included in a glove worn by the player, vibrations caused by an impact between a bat held by the player and the real ball, determining whether a level of the vibrations is within a predetermined range, sending a signal, to a speaker, when the level of the vibrations is within the predetermined range, to cause the speaker to emit an audible tone, and emitting, by the speaker, the audible tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20180236334
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for training a player to hit a ball at a target, an exemplary net for use in such a system includes one or more display elements configured to display a target towards which the player should hit the ball, and one or more sensors configured to detect an impact between the ball and the net, and determine whether the detected impact between the ball and the net is at the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20180236335
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for training a player to hit a ball at a target using a virtual or augmented reality display device, an exemplary method including detecting a position of a real ball, determining a trajectory for a virtual ball, the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by the virtual or augmented reality display device, a virtual pitch of the virtual ball along the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by the virtual or augmented reality display device, a target towards which the player should hit the real ball, determining whether the real ball is hit at the target, and providing an indication of whether the real ball is hit at the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20180236333
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for providing feedback regarding an impact between a sporting implement and a ball, an example system comprising a ring attachable to the sporting implement, the ring including a sensor for detecting vibrations caused by an impact between the sporting implement and the ball and determining whether a level of the vibrations is within a predetermined range, and a speaker within audible range of the player, the speaker configured to emit an audible tone in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the level of the vibrations is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20180236302
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for using virtual or augmented reality in sports training, an exemplary method including detecting a position of a real ball, determining a trajectory for a virtual ball, the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by a virtual or augmented reality display device, a virtual pitch of the virtual ball along the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, detecting, by a sensor included in a glove worn by the player, vibrations caused by an impact between a bat held by the player and the real ball, determining whether a level of the vibrations is within a predetermined range, sending a signal, to a speaker, when the level of the vibrations is within the predetermined range, to cause the speaker to emit an audible tone, and emitting, by the speaker, the audible tone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20180236305
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for providing feedback regarding an impact between a sporting implement and a ball, an example system comprising a glove worn by a player, the glove including a sensor for detecting vibrations caused by an impact between the sporting implement and the ball and determining whether a level of the vibrations is within a predetermined range, and a speaker within audible range of the player, the speaker configured to emit an audible tone in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the level of the vibrations is determined to be within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Loduca
  • Publication number: 20180056160
    Abstract: A batting tee system includes a housing, a ball holder for holding a ball, a neck coupled between the housing and the ball holder, an actuator, and a control system. The actuator may be positioned in the housing and operable to actuate the neck along the axis to extend and retract the neck from the housing thereby increasing and decreasing a distance between the ball holder and the housing. The control system may be operable to cause the actuator to actuate the neck to a first random position along the axis. The control system may be further operable to cause the actuator to actuate the neck to a second random position along the axis, different than the first, after a ball is hit from the ball holder when the neck is in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Robosport Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore LoDuca, Michael R. LaLuna, Nicholas J. Derba
  • Patent number: 9033828
    Abstract: A ball hitting training device for batting practice including a stand, a moveable ball holder supported by the stand, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller can move the ball holder side-to-side horizontally, in a swinging motion vertically, inward and outward horizontally, and/or up and down. A vacuum pump and a suction line can support a ball via a suction cup which is part of the ball holder. A computer including memory and a program are included to determine a three dimensional baseball strike zone for a player based on inputs as to at least the player's height and shoulder location. The electronic controller directs the ball holder to move the ball through the determined three-dimensional strike zone at various heights during a batting training session to train the hand-eye movement of a batter to hit the ball at varying locations within the determined three-dimensional strike zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore LoDuca, Michael Richard LaLuna, Nicholas J. Derba
  • Patent number: 8425352
    Abstract: A hitting training aid is provided, such as a mechanical tee for batting practice. The mechanical tee may present a ball to a batter at various heights, positions, speeds, and angles to simulate real game conditions. The mechanical tee may include a vertical stand with a variable position, retractable post that supports flexible tubing with a suction cup at the end to hold a ball in a suspended manner for striking. The mechanical tee may have a motor and vacuum pump configuration to provide suction, and may automatically feed balls to a batter. The vertical stand may additionally have an air compressor and an attachment for pneumatically tossing or propelling a ball upward for striking. The mechanical tee may move, or toss, a ball to variable and/or random placements within a three dimensional strike zone. A portable stand may have several telescopic pistons for lifting a ball at various placements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Robosport Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore Loduca, Michael Richard Laluna