Meeting with Benoit and Lorcan (12/06)

At this meeting we looked forward at the coming four weeks and discussed the following work plan:



Week 1:

Get pool table in position, camera set up and Shimmer in (or on) cue.

Sort runtime errors with Shimmer and try and get and interpret accelerometer data

Decide on (and maybe order projector)


Week 2:


Analyze data from camera - edges, ball colour, distance etc.

Translate into data that can be used.



Week 3:

Plan formulas, methods to implement on matlab to calculate best shot. (I reckon this will take a while as it is important i get this right)


Week 4:


Implement on matlab.

Generate results, graphs etc.



While waiting for a resolution to problems with Shimmer software, we decided it would be best to get started with using matlab to detect a networked camera
and to get it to display data as a matix. Possibly using TWAIN? I will research this further.

With regards to a projector, one can be ordered. Or a potential work around would be to use one already on 3rd floor and imitate pool surface on a desk underneath it.

The projector will not be in use for another few weeks so ideas can still be trashed out on this subject! (comments welcome)

The positioning of the Shimmer is also interesting as we could strap it to the cue or to the hand of the player (it must be at easy access for recharging). Also in our meeting I was made aware of the complications the shimmer has with identifying each axis as its relative to the downward force of gravity although this could also be used to calculate the angle of the cue to the table, which would prove useful.

Other things discussed identified more areas of experimentation/research such as elasticity of table and quality of camera (i.e. would even one pixel out create a large enough error on a shot to miss it, especially on a long pot?)
The spin on the ball was also identified as an even more complicating factor so to begin with, I'll work with straight on shots to reduce spin.

Even more food for thought from this meeting included: painting the cue with a bright colour to identify it easily by camera.


I hope to have some coding and clear output by the end of this period; this may be too ambitious but I'll try!