Position Tracking Devices

[KenWittlief]

A couple years back the team I was on used the laser diode sensor with the retro tape. You are right about the 2 to3 seconds to acquire the target (using an ultra sound range finder), but once you have detected the player on the field you can have the servo sweep back and forth on a smaller angle, maybe 20 or 30 degrees or so. That way you get quicker updates on position (instead of sweeping the whole court, when you already know where the player is.

You could also do a little bit of target-lead prediction - from consecutive readings you would know which way the player is moving, and toss the ball infront of them.

I am curious about the rest of the system. How will you retrieve balls? will there be a ball hopper that the player has to fill? When the ball is shot will the system indicate a ball is being fired so the player can anticipate it?

Also, if the system is going to retreive loose balls, how will you stop it from trying to pick up the family pet, or the players little brother when he runs across the court?