Golf Launch Calculator
Problem
When people buy golf-clubs, they have to test whether they suit them or not. Usually it is done in the following way - when people strike a ball they have to measure the ball's flight angle and the speed of flight at the moment of strike (initial velocity). There are similar solutions in the market. They involve special equipment - hardware and software that are too expensive. One client had a bright solution idea based on usual web-cameras but not expensive equipment in order to measure the ball's flight angle. Our client came to us with this idea, but he has got neither plan how to put it into practice nor possibilities to draw up a technical task just basing on his idea.
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Our solution
As we couldn't even approximately evaluate this project we decided to investigate this idea. We had to solve this problem in a week, i.e. to define its technical realization and to determine in what points this solution differs from other possible ones. Our architect who led the investigation wrote a small prototype - a program that traced the moment of strike with the help of a microphone and then web-camera turned on and directly shot the whole process of strike. Then we had to divide it into picture areas, mark out the ball's scent, mark its trajectory and do it automatically, but not manually.
Accordingly the project was divided into parts. Firstly, it was in the half-automatic rate (it defined how the ball flew) and then the whole process atomized gradually, and we made a resolve that this problem can be solved and we even could evaluate the time we need to carry out this task. On this phase investigation came to an end and we proceeded to the accomplishment of this project.
After that we started stepwise work on the project. First, we managed to discover the ball in fence in the half-automatic rate, then in the whole picture areas roll. Also several different algorithms of the ball's location discovery on the picture were tested and finally the best and the quickest was selected.
During the project we constantly communicated with our client, who equipped a gymnasium where he executed strikes, recorded ball flight picture areas with the help of special program designed by our specialists and send us picture areas for work. We constantly improved the program, produced new versions, our client conducted real researches, send us the results back for work, analysis and improvement.
Finally, we got commercial variant of the program that operated in accordance with the initial request and needs of our client.
Experience we used during the development process:
- Algorithms of pattern recognition
- Video and audio analysis
- Microsoft Visual C++
- Research experience during the investigation phase
Experience we obtained during the development process:
On the basis of this project we formed up several essential moments concerning the organization of workflow on the projects that require initial investigation and subsequent development that make us able to carry out projects that are unattainable applying classical schemes for example with the application of Rational Rose diagram and etc.
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