563 research outputs found
Developing an intelligent assistant for table tennis umpires
This paper outlines the idea and plan of developing an intelligent assistant for table tennis umpire in evaluating services. Table tennis is a fast sport. A service usually takes a few second to complete but there are many observations an umpire needs to take and makes a judgment before or soon after the service is complete. This is a complex task and the author believes the employment of videography, image processing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies could help evaluating the service. The aim of this research is to develop an intelligent system which is able to track the location of the ball from live video images and evaluate the service according to the service rules. This is a pilot study and the focus is on the development of the techniques, rather than building a complete system. Various videography, image processing and artificial intelligence techniques will be experimented and evaluated. When a prototype system is built, it will be compared and tested against the judgements of a human umpire. Both the accuracy and rate of responses will be concerned. Furthermore, as well as aiding umpire, the system could also benefit players who want to have their services evaluated in real time without the need of having a human umpire present
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Developing an intelligent table tennis umpiring system
The aim of this research is to develop an intelligent system which is able to evaluate table tennis services independently and aid the umpire to make a more accurate decision. Table tennis is a fast sport. A service usually takes one to a few seconds to complete but there are many observations an umpire needs to take and makes a judgment before or soon after the service is complete. This is a complex and time-critical task and the author believes the employment of videography, image processing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies could help evaluating the service. This paper outlines the idea and the plan of developing an intelligent assistant for table tennis umpire in evaluating services. The system is expected to be able to track the location of the ball from live video images and evaluate the service according to the service rules. In this pilot study, however, the focus is on the development of the techniques, rather than building a complete system. Various videography, image processing and artificial intelligence techniques will be experimented and evaluated. A prototype system is to be built. The system will be compared and tested against the judgements of a human umpire. Both the accuracy and rate of responses will be concerned. The ultimate goal is to further develop the system so that it can umpire and score table tennis matches autonomously. The system may also benefit players who want to have their services evaluated in real time without the need of having a human umpire present
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Developing an Intelligent Table Tennis Umpiring System: Identifying the ball from the scene
This paper reports further development of an intelligent table tennis umpiring system, of which the idea and plan was previously published at this conference in 2007. Briefly, table tennis is a fast sport. A service usually takes a few seconds to complete but an umpire needs to make many observations and makes a judgment before or soon after the service is complete. This is a complex task and the author believes the employment of videography, image processing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies could help evaluating the service. The aim of this research is to develop an intelligent system which is able to identify and track the location of the ball from live video images and evaluate the service according to the service rules.
In this paper, the techniques of identifying a table tennis ball from the scene is described and discussed. A number of image processing techniques have been employed to identify and measure the characteristics of the ball. Artificial neural networks have been applied as a classifier. It classifies whether the detected object is not-a- ball, a ball on the palm or a ball in mid air. The system has been tested on 21 still images which contain pictures of ball-like objects, balls on the palm and in mid air. The preliminary results are very promising. Out of 83 objects, 82 have been correctly classified. The system will be further tested on video images once the video is captured and processed.
This paper also discusses the idea of implementing the final system as a multi-agent system, which the author believes it is appropriate for this application because multiple cameras will have to be employed to obtain accurate results
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A Novel Multi-View Table Tennis Umpiring Framework
This research investigates the development of a low-cost multi-view umpiring framework, as an alternative to the current expensive systems that are almost exclusively restricted to elite professional sports. Table tennis has been selected as the testbed because, while automating the process is challenging, it has many different complex match elements including the service, return and rallies, which are governed by a strict set of regulations. The focus is mainly on the rally element rather than the whole match. Ball detection and tracking in video frames are undertaken to determine reliably the ball position relative to key reference objects like the table surface and net, and the ball’s flight path is used to determine the rally’s status.
While a low-cost option has benefits, it is technically challenging due to the limited number of cameras and generally low video resolution used. This thesis presents a portable multi-view umpiring framework that identifies each state change in a rally. It makes three significant contributions to knowledge: i) a reliable ball detection strategy that accurately detects the location of the ball in low-resolution sequences; ii) a novel framework for ball tracking using a multi-view system, and iii) a new state-machine based evaluation system for analysing table tennis rallies.
In a series of ten different test scenarios, the system achieved an average of 94% system detection rate and 100% accurate decisions. A test sequence of duration 1 s can be processed in 8 s, leading to a delay of only 7 s, which is considered acceptable for practical purposes. This solution has the potential to reform the way matches are umpired, providing objectivity in resolving disputed decisions. It affords an economic technology for amateur players, while the multi-view facility is extendible to other relevant ball-based sports. Finally, the ball flight path analysis mechanism can be a valuable training tool for skills development
Prediction of Ball Placement Using Computer Simulation for Wheelchair Players in Table Tennis Singles
Because wheelchair table tennis players are physically limited by their handicap, they have to be trained efficiently for acquiring excellent skills and remarkable performance. Two integral skills they must possess are the control of ball placement and t
Exploring Different Experience Modalities of Tennis Electronic Line Calling
New technologies have made sports more entertaining, safe, and fair in recent years. This study focuses on electronic line calling, a technology that is revolutionizing tennis.
A set of sensors and complex algorithms enable umpires and players to determine with a certain degree of precision whether the ball has bounced inside or outside the court. Numerous technological solutions have been developed in this ambit, but little research has been conducted on the interaction between players and the system during a match. The research follows the Research trough Design approach and the Double-Diamond design process. I collaborated with the company PlayReplay AB, that has developed an electronic judging system. At first, I used research methods such as interviews with experts to understand the user needs and narrow down the problem. Secondly, I explored different modalities and iterated on several user interfaces to generate a final design proposal for PlayReplay's system.
The findings demonstrate that the player experience with an electronic line call system depends on various elements. First, the system must adhere to certain requirements like discretion, punctuality, and reliability, otherwise will feel unreliable or disturbing. Second, the interaction modalities should comply with some specifics: the output should be easily identifiable but not obtrusive, and the input must be easy to use but also well incorporated into the game
Executive functions and sport agents
El objetivo de la presente revisión es investigar la producción científica de artículos que relacionen a los agentes deportivos (deportistas, entrenadores, árbitros) con las funciones ejecutivas (FE). Para ello, se realizó una búsqueda en WoS que arrojó 703 resultados. Un cribado de las referencias siguiendo las directrices PRISMA dejó 94 artículos con los que se llevó a cabo un análisis bibliométrico y revisión de los temas subyacentes que son FE de dominio general y específico en relación con el deportista, FE y tipo de deporte, detección de talentos, relación entre FE y habilidades específicas en el deporte, FE y posición en el terreno de juego, paradigma del experto/deportista de élite y las FE, FE y otros agentes deportivos y deportistas de élite con discapacidad y FE. En vista de los resultados, si bien parece haber un consenso sobre la importancia de las FE en el deporte, se requieren más estudios longitudinales que certifiquen su valor. Estudios recientes parecen indicar que no es trascendental en la detección de talentos. De la misma manera, existen indicios sobre su rol en deportistas que practican disciplinas abiertas y de oposición y sobre las diferencias existentes entre deportistas y no deportistas o expertos y noveles. Junto con lo expuesto anteriormente, se requieren pruebas que evalúen las FE con validez ecológica y de constructo y es necesario que el valor de las FE se traslade a la investigación con otros agentes deportivos como entrenadores o árbitros.The present review aims at investigating the scientific production with respect to the link between executive functions (EF) and sport agents (athletes, players, coaches, umpires). For that purpose, a series of searches were carried out on WoS that yielded 703 references. Upon a screening process following the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 94 papers were used to complete a bibliometric analysis together with a scoping review. Some underlying themes were detected, namely, domain-general vs domain-specific EF tests in sport, EF and type of sport, talent detection, EF and sport-specific skills, EF and position on the field/court, expert/elite paradigm and EF, EF and other sport agents and high-performance athletes with disabilities and the role of EF. In light of results, more longitudinal studies are required to confirm their value in athlete´s development, albeit the consensus with regard to their importance. Recent studies indicate the lack of predictive value of EF in talent detection. Likewise, there some indicators that point out to their role in open-skills, strategic sports as well as in the difference found between athletes and non-athletes and experts versus amateurs. In addition, domain-specific tasks are required to assess EF with both ecological and construct validity and EF should also be used to test other sport agents, such as coaches and referees/umpires
Analysis of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football
Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Information Systems and Technologies ManagementTechnology has long been part of sports and recently football has also started to modernize,
with the introduction of goal line technology and VAR, International Football Association Board
(IFAB) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) finally opened the way for
technology to help referees make in-game decisions.
This paper aims to analyze the impact of VAR in football, the analysis will include VAR’s
weaknesses, research regarding if it is the most appropriate technology to correct human error,
football’s fans perception of VAR and finally if AI could one day be introduced in order to help
referees evaluate subjective in-game controversial situations.
For the purpose of this paper to be achieved, surveys regarding football fans’ opinion on the
VAR and openness to the introduction of new technologies in football will be performed and
statistics and factual data regarding VAR will have to be obtained.
Finally, by adding new research concerning a very recent topic, new technologies and
opportunities can be proposed in order to make football fairer and future studies regarding this
subject will be able to expand on this topi
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