GB2573276A

GB2573276A - An impact tracking system for tracking impacts to a body of a person and a strike tracking method for tracking strikes to a body in a combat sport

Info

Publication number: GB2573276A
Application number: GB1806603.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mohammed Deen Asif
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-04-24
Filing date: 2018-04-24
Publication date: 2019-11-06
Also published as: GB201806603D0

Abstract

An impact tracking system comprising a sensor 111, 112, a first wireless communication module 140 to transmit a signal upon impact to said sensor, and a second wireless module 150 to receive said signal connected to a processing unit 160 configured to count the impact detection signals received. Preferably (turning now to figures 3-5) the sensing means are pressure sensors 111 such as carbon-particle infused foam, the sensors being mounted on protective garments (e.g. a helmet, head guard, or torso protector) for contact sport such as boxing or other martial arts, the processing unit (fig. 5) comprising a display for showing the number of hits to various sensors, such that a referee can use it to assist in assessing the winner or an audience can see real time statistics of the hits landed successfully in the fight. The system might also contain sensors in positions not permitted to be struck in order to administer penalties. Also claimed is a method of use.

Description

An impact tracking system for tracking impacts to a body of a person and a strike tracking method for tracking strikes to a body in a combat sport

The invention relates to an impact tracking system for tracking impacts to a body of a person and to a strike tracking method for tracking strikes to a body in a combat sport such as boxing, for example.

In boxing matches, there is a need to assign a respective score to competing fighters. The existing concepts in this field involve two or three judges and a referee normally assigned to evaluate a boxing match by recording their decisions manually at the end of each stage of the match and the official scorecards are then totalled at the end of the event.

Typically, there are four criteria used for scoring: effective aggressiveness, command of the ring, defense and number of strikes or punches landed on each fighter. With regards to number of strikes landed, at least three factors make it difficult for judges to accurately and consistently perform this task. Firstly, the speed of the matches makes it relatively easy to miscount the number of strikes. Secondly, a judge may not be able to see some of the action clearly because of obstruction by the bodies of the fighters or the referee. Thirdly, even when strikes are clearly seen, it is difficult to judge from the angle and distance of the judges whether the strike is of sufficient impact to be scored. As a result, the scoring by different judges, as well as by the press and other observers can vary, resulting in controversy over the outcome of a match.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technical solution to the issues outlined above.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an impact tracking system for tracking impacts to a body of a person, the system comprising:

a first wireless communication module, a second wireless communication module, a sensing means, a processing unit, wherein the sensing means is configured to detect an impact force upon the body of a person, and to communicate at least one impact detection signal to the first wireless communication module upon detection of the impact force, and wherein the first wireless communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate the at least one impact detection signal to the second wireless communication module, wherein the processing unit is configured to count the impact detection signals received from the second wireless communication module.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises: at least one item of clothing to be worn by the person, wherein the sensing means and the first wireless communication module are attached to the item of clothing.

In an embodiment, the sensing means and the first wireless communication module are embedded within the item of clothing.

In an embodiment, the sensing means is communicatively coupled with the first communication module by at least one wire, the wire being embedded within the material of the item of clothing.

In an embodiment, the sensing means comprises at least one pressure sensor comprising first and second electrically conductive elements separated by foam having carbon particles, the at least one sensor being configured to communicate the at least one impact detection signal upon a change in electrical resistance resulting from compression of the foam.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a strike tracking system for tracking strikes to a body in a combat sport, the system comprising: impact tracking system according to the first aspect, wherein the at least one item of clothing comprises an item of protective clothing adapted to protect the body of a person from injury, and wherein the sensing means comprise a plurality of sensors, and wherein the processing unit comprises a display module configured to display the number of counted impact detection signals.

In an embodiment, a first group of the plurality of sensors is attached to the item of protective clothing at locations corresponding to regions of the body of a person which in use are allowed to be hit in the combat sport.

In an embodiment, a second group of the plurality of sensors is attached to the item of protective clothing at locations corresponding to regions of the body of a person which in use are prohibited from being hit in the combat sport.

In an embodiment, the item of protective clothing comprises a headguard and wherein the first group of sensors is attached to the headguard at locations proximate to the face of a person.

In an embodiment, the first group comprises a first and second sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are attached to the headguard at locations corresponding to respective first and second cheek of a person.

In an embodiment, the first group comprises a third and fourth sensor, wherein the third and fourth sensors are attached to the headguard at locations respectively corresponding to the forehead and chin of a person.

In an embodiment, the second group of sensors is attached to the headguard at locations proximate to the back of the head of a person.

In an embodiment, the first communication module is attached to the headguard at location proximate to the back of the head of a person.

In an embodiment, the display module is configured to display the number of impact detection signals associated with each respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

In an embodiment, the display module comprises a scoreboard configured to display score corresponding to the number of impact detection signals resulting from strikes upon the person.

In an embodiment, the at least one impact detection signal is communicated by the sensing means when the impact force is greater than an impact force threshold.

In an embodiment, each of the at least one impact detection signals comprises impact force value and the processing unit is configured to count the impact detection signals which comprise the impact force value which is greater than an impact force threshold.

In an embodiment, the first wireless communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate the at least one impact detection signal to the second wireless communication module in a datagram of fixed length using an ISM band in the frequency range of substantially 433 MHz, at a data rate of substantially 4.7kbps.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a strike tracking method for tracking strikes to a body of a person in a combat sport, the method comprising:

detecting an impact force upon the body of a person by a sensing means, communicating at least one impact detection signal from the sensing means to the first wireless communication module upon detection of the impact force by the sensing means, wirelessly communicating the at least one impact detection signal from the first wireless communication module to the second wireless communication module, counting the impact detection signals received by a processing unit from the second wireless communication module. Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a diagram of a strike tracking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of steps of a strike tracking method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2a illustrates a structure of a datagram used in communication between wireless communication modules in the system of figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a headguard for use in a system of figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of a headguard for use in a system of figure 1.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a scoreboard for use in a system of figure 1.

Figure 1 illustrates a diagram of an impact tracking system 100 which may be implemented as a strike tracking system 100 configured to monitor and process information about strikes delivered to the bodies of two athletes in a boxing match or sparring, for example. The system 100 comprises a sensing means 110 configured to detect an impact force upon the body of a person. The strike may be a result of a punch or kick delivered by a partner in a match or sparring.

The sensing means 110 may further comprise at least one sensor 111, 112, which may be attached to an item 130 of clothing, and in particular protective clothing used in combat sports and adapted to protect the body of a person from injury. The at least one sensor 111, 112 may be a 3axis analogue accelerometer, in which case the impact would be determined by detecting a peak from one of the accelerometers or a steeper rise time or envelope of the acceleration signal.

Alternatively, the sensor 112 may comprise a pressure sensor 112 formed of at least two conductive members 112a, 112c separated by foam 112b comprising carbon particles. In this implementation, the impact is determined by detecting a change in resistance resulting from proximity of the carbon particles in the foam 112b. The more carbon particles come into contact with each other, the lower the resistance.

The sensor 111, 112 may also be a digital micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) sensor which may be programmable and low-power, i.e. can enter a sleep-mode until acceleration threshold had been met, at which time the sensor 111,112 sets an output pun which can then be detected by the module 140 or unit 160. For example, the item 130 may comprise a headgear, bodyguard or an item of clothing for protecting other parts of the body. The at least one sensor 111, 112 may be embedded within the material of the item 130 of clothing so as to isolate the at least one sensor 111, 112 from the exterior to minimise a risk of damage to the at least one sensor 111, 112, and to allow the sensor to continue working effectively at the same time. The at least one impact detection signal 120 may be communicated by the sensing means 110 when the impact force is greater than an impact force threshold.

In particular, the accelerometer, pressure sensor or any other type of suitable sensor may have a configured sensitivity value so as to detect only a strike of sufficient force and to exclude accidental triggering of the sensors not resulting from the strikes. Each of the at least one impact detection signals 120 may further comprise data including an impact force value and the processing unit 160 may be configured to count the impact detection signals 120 which comprise the impact force value which is greater than an impact force threshold.

The system 100 further comprises a first wireless communication module 140 which is configured to receive the at least one impact detection signal 120 from the sensing means 110 upon detection of the impact force. In particular, the at least one sensor 111, 112 may be communicatively coupled with the first communication module 140 by at least one wire (not shown), the wire being embedded within the material of the item 130 of clothing such that the at least one wire is isolated from the exterior to minimise a risk of damage to the at least one wire or an injury to the athlete. The wireless communication module 140 may be attached to or embedded into the item of clothing 130, or may be disposed onto the body of a person in some other convenient way.

The system 100 further comprises a second wireless communication module 150. The first wireless communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate the at least one impact detection signal 120 to the second wireless communication module 150. The first and second wireless communication modules may be implemented as wireless transmitters/receivers which operate according to a suitable radio communication protocol, such as Bluetooth (RTM), for example. In particular, the system 100 may utilise an ISM band radio in the 433MHz frequency range. The headguard 130 may comprise a transmitter 140 and the unit 160 may comprise a receiver 150.

The first wireless communication module 140 and second wireless communication module 150 may communicate according to a communication protocol described below. The protocol and its datagram 300 have been designed such that, in the event of rapid strikes to the headguard 130, communication collisions of data frames relating to subsequent strikes are minimised. The resulting data exchange rate is of substantially 4.7kbps which corresponds to approximately 24ms for a complete transmission of one datagram 300. The communication protocol comprises the datagram 300 of fixed structure and length and may comprise fourteen bytes in total, for example. Each byte can be transmitted serially one bit at a time. The transmission begins with a pre-amble 310 of three bytes. This allows the receiver 150 to settle the data slicer internally, and uses the OxAA value which is 0101 0101 in binary, sucessive 0's and l's which serve to set a good average in the data slicer of the receiver 150. Following the pre-amble 310, two synchronisation bytes 320 are sent out which allow the receiver 150 to discover that data is being sent that is intended for its reception. After the two sync bytes 320, four bytes 330 of unique ID are sent out. The headguard 130 may have a unique ID which may either be programmed at build time or set with physical contacts on a printed circuit board (PCB). Only one ID can be used if there is only one system 100 in use. After the four byte ID 330, a single byte is sent out which contains the sensor strike information. This byte is condensed and each bit reports which sensor has been struck and therefore details which display 161 to update with a hit. The byte is broken down so that a '1' in any position means a strike has been made on its corresponding headguard sensor 111, 112. In particular, bit one corresponds to the left cheek sensor 111c, bit two corresponds to the the right cheek sensor llld and bit three corresponds to the foul sensor 112a at the back of the headguard 130. Two bytes 340 have been allowed which will enable up to 16 sensors.

There is also provided a byte 350 for battery level reporting. If the battery is near exhaustion, this can be reported on the display 161.

The following two bytes 360 are reserved for further expansion.

The last byte 370 is the CRC byte and is used to check the integrity of the data sent over the radio in case of any corruption. This comprises 8 bit XOR CRC which is simple and fast to process.

The system 100 further includes a processing unit 160 which is configured to count the impact detection signals 120 received from the second wireless communication module 150. The processing unit 160 may also comprise a display module 161 configured to display the number of counted impact detection signals 120. This number may then correspond to the actual score obtained by an athlete who delivered the strikes which generated the counted signals.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate front and rear views of a headguard 130 for use in a system 100. The headguard 130 may be adapted for use by an athlete in a combat sport such as boxing or kickboxing. A first group Illa, 111b, 111c, llld of the plurality of sensors may be attached to the item 130 of protective clothing at locations corresponding to regions of the body of a person which in use are allowed to be hit in the combat sport. As illustrated in figure 3, the region of the body of a person which, in use, is allowed to be hit may be a face of an athlete and the first group Illa, 111b, 111c, llld of sensors is attached to the headguard 130 at locations proximate to the face. The first group Illa, 111b, 111c, llld may comprise a first and second sensor 111c, llld attached to the headguard 130 at locations corresponding to respective first and second cheek of an athlete. The first group Illa, 111b, 111c, llld may further comprise a third and fourth sensor Illa, 111b, attached to the headguard 130 at locations respectively corresponding to the forehead and chin of an athlete. When a strike to this region is landed, the sensor in the group Illa, 111b, 111c, llld may trigger and generate an impact detection signal 120 corresponding to a scoring point.

A second group 112a of the plurality of sensors may be attached to the item 130 of protective clothing at locations corresponding to regions of the body of an athlete which in use are prohibited from being hit in the combat sport. In particular, the second group 112a of sensors may be attached to the headguard 130 at locations proximate to the back of the head of an athlete, which is prohibited from being hit in boxing, for example. When a strike to this region is landed, the sensor in the group 112a may trigger and generate an impact detection signal 120 corresponding to a foul.

The first communication module 140 may be attached to the headguard 130 at location proximate to the back of the head of a person, for example, which, in boxing, is the region of the headguard that is least exposed to strikes. In this way, the risk of damaging the module 140 is minimised. It is to be noted that other discrete locations for positioning the module 140 are also possible.

Figure 5 illustrates the display module 161 configured to display the number of impact detection signals 120 associated with each respective sensor of the plurality of sensors. The display module 161 may comprise a scoreboard 161 configured to display score corresponding to the number of impact detection signals 120 resulting from strikes of a person.

The scoreboard 161 may be divided into two sections 162, 163. The first section 162 may display score achieved by a first athlete, and the second section 163 may display score achieved by a second athlete, in a combat sport sparring or match. In particular, the first section 162 may include an image of the item 130 of clothing showing locations of the sensors 111, 112 disposed thereon. At each of these locations, a score relating to a number of counted impact detection signals 120 originating from the sensor at respective location is displayed. In the example of figure 5, a first display element 162a informs that the first athlete scored 20 points or strikes to the forehead of his/her rival, second and third display elements 162b, 162c show 7 and 15 points or strikes to the respective first and second cheek of the rival, and a fourth display element 162d shows 5 points or strikes to the chin the rival. A fifth display element 162e may display the total score of a bout for the first athlete, sixth display element 162f may display a grand total score including scores of each bouts, and seventh display element 162g may display a number of fouls corresponding to strikes delivered to prohibited regions of the body of the rival. The second section 163 may comprise corresponding display elements associated with the second athlete. A button 164 at the top of the scoreboard 161 may be configured to reset the scores of the athletes or to control the processing unit 160 so as to pause the bout and retain the score without counting any further impact detection signals 120.

Figure 2 illustrates steps of a method 200 for tracking strikes to a body in a combat sport. At step 201, two athletes put on respective items of protective clothing before the beginning of a bout 5 or match. The items of clothing are equipped as described above. Once the athletes are ready and the system is switched on and the wireless connection established, the sparring or match can begin. At step 202, an impact force resulting from a strike to the body of an athlete is detected by a sensing means. At step 203, at least one impact detection signal is communicated from the sensing means to the first wireless communication module upon detection of the impact force by the sensing means.

At step 204, the at least one impact detection signal is wirelessly communicated from the first wireless communication module to the second wireless communication module. At step 205, a number of the impact detection signals received by a processing unit from the second wireless communication module is counted. At step 206, the number of counted signals is displayed on the scoreboard of the respective athlete.

Claims

1. An impact tracking system for tracking impacts to a body of a person, the system comprising:

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one item of clothing to be worn by the person, wherein the sensing means and the first wireless communication module are attached to the item of clothing.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the sensing means and the first wireless communication module are embedded within the item of clothing.

4. A system according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 3, wherein the sensing means is communicatively coupled with the first communication module by at least one wire, the wire being embedded within the material of the item of clothing.

5. A system according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein the sensing means comprises at least one pressure sensor comprising first and second electrically conductive elements separated by foam having carbon particles, the at least one sensor being configured to communicate the at least one impact detection signal upon a change in electrical resistance resulting from compression of the foam.

6. A strike tracking system for tracking strikes to a body in a combat sport, the system comprising:

the impact tracking system according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one item of clothing comprises an item of protective clothing adapted to protect the body of a person from injury, and wherein the sensing means comprise a plurality of sensors, and wherein the processing unit comprises a display module configured to display the number of counted impact detection signals.

7. A strike tracking system according to claim 6, wherein a first group of the plurality of sensors is attached to the item of protective clothing at locations corresponding to regions of the body of a person which in use are allowed to be hit in the combat sport.

8. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claims 6 to 7, wherein a second group of the plurality of sensors is attached to the item of protective clothing at locations corresponding to regions of the body of a person which in use are prohibited from being hit in the combat sport.

9. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claims 7 to 8, wherein the item of protective clothing comprises a headguard and wherein the first group of sensors is attached to the headguard at locations proximate to the face of a person.

10. A strike tracking system according to claim 9, wherein the first group comprises a first and second sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are attached to the headguard at locations corresponding to respective first and second cheek of a person.

11. A strike tracking system according to claim 10, wherein the first group comprises a third and fourth sensor, wherein the third and fourth sensors are attached to the headguard at locations respectively corresponding to the forehead and chin of a person.

12. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claim 9 to 11 when appended to claim 8, wherein the second group of sensors is attached to the headguard at locations proximate to the back of the head of a person.

13. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claims 9 to 12, wherein the first communication module is attached to the headguard at location proximate to the back of the head of a person.

14. A strike tracking system according to claims 6 to 13, wherein the display module is configured to display the number of impact detection signals associated with each respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

15. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claims 6 to 13, wherein the display module comprises a scoreboard configured to display score corresponding to the number of impact detection signals resulting from strikes upon the person.

16. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one impact detection signal is communicated by the sensing means when the impact force is greater than an impact force threshold.

17. A strike tracking system according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 15, wherein each of the at least one impact detection signals comprises impact force value and the processing unit is configured to count the impact detection signals which comprise the impact force value which is greater than an impact force threshold.

19. A strike tracking system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first wireless communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate the at least one impact detection signal to the second wireless communication module in a datagram of fixed length using an ISM band in the frequency range of substantially 433 MHz, at a data rate of substantially 4.7kbps.A strike tracking method for tracking strikes to a body of a person in a combat sport, the method comprising:

detecting an impact force upon the body of a person by a sensing means, communicating at least one impact detection signal from the sensing means to the first wireless communication module upon detection of the impact force by the sensing means, wirelessly communicating the at least one impact detection signal from the first wireless communication module to the second wireless communication module, counting the impact detection signals received by a processing unit from the second wireless communication module.