Authors:
Yoshinari Takegawa
1
;
Noa Sasaki
1
;
Shimpei Aihara
2
and
Fumito Masui
2
Affiliations:
1
School of Systems Information Science, Future University Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
;
2
Department of Sport Science and Research, Japan Institute of Sport Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
Keyword(s):
Curling, Position Measurement, Infrared LED, Image Processing, Measurement Software.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is the design and implementation of a real-time position measurement system for use on curling stones. Often called ‘chess on ice’, curling is a sport that requires a high level of strategy. Accordingly, how the stones move around the vast 40m curling rink constitutes important data. However, in the unique environment of the icy and vast rink, it is difficult to monitor the position of the stones by a simple method without hindering the players. Therefore, in our research, we proposed a system using infrared LEDs and an infrared camera. Infrared LED modules are installed on the stones and the rink, and infrared cameras installed around the edge of the rink film the LED modules and perform calibration. Then, using four coordinates of the LED modules on the rink, the system employs perspective transformation technology, which is a type of image processing. In so doing, it is possible both to measure the position of the stones, and solve problems. Through exper
iments, performance evaluation was conducted to asses what degree of error occurs in position measurement when the proposed system is used. Experiments were conducted on a curling rink. The average error was 0.189m in the experiment at the curling rink.
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