Project
# | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Safe And Sound: A Precision First Base Umpire (updated) |
Quentin Klingler Ryan Plyman Timothy Press |
Thomas Furlong | design_document2.pdf final_paper1.pdf presentation1.pdf proposal1.pdf |
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(updated to include use of both RFID and pressure sensors) Anyone familiar with baseball is aware that all umpires -- regardless of experience -- are prone to human error. There is a lot of precision required to make a correct safe or out call, and an incorrect call can jeopardize the entire game. Our group will solve this issue by designing a base that “knows” with perfect precision whether a runner is safe or out. Safe And Sound will utilize a smart base, shoe and glove system to correctly call a runner as safe or out based on feedback from RFID and pressure sensors. Two RFID scanners and two pressure sensors will be located in the base (one for the runner and one for the baseman). RFID cards/chips will be placed in the shoes of both the runner and baseman, and pressure sensors will be placed in the baseman's glove. Either player's foot will be detected on the base when both their corresponding RFID reader and base pressure sensor are triggered from contact made with the base. When the runner’s foot is detected on the base, Safe and Sound will utilize a two factor verification process to make the correct call. The baseman’s foot must already be touching the base, and a “catch” event must have been detected from the pressure sensors in the baseman’s glove. If both events have happened, a red LED will turn on indicating the runner is out. Otherwise, a green LED will indicate the runner is safe. All pressure and RFID sensors in the glove and base will communicate with a microcontroller (ie Raspberry Pi, Arduino, etc) to indicate that an event has occurred at that base. It will compare the timestamps of each event, and make a correct judgement based on the information it receives; sending the call decision back to the base. Upon receiving the decision, the base will light up the proper LED to call the runner as either safe or out. The base will be able to distinguish between the runner and baseman's feet by utilizing it's built in RFID readers. One reader will only accept a signal from the runner, and the other will only accept a signal from the baseman. So far, we think this has been our strongest idea because it would be relatively easy to test and cheap to develop. We'll be happy to address any feedback that hasn't already been brought to our attention. |