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July 27 11:50 am

CP 10.1.5.8

New 1: Improved club face detection when striking the ball on the heel or toe of the cllub

New 2: Option to select either club path or club face co-ordinates to measure club speed

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July 26 2:00 pm

CP 10.1.5.7

New 1: Improved club face and club speed detection

Problems arise when the ball is struck on the heel or the toe of the club.

When this happens, it is difficult to measure the face angle and - as club speed is measured from the face angle co-ordinates between the frames -

the measured club speed will also be incorrect.

This version makes multiple tests to check for this. At the moment just for the top face angle co-ordinates that helps when striking the ball on the toe.

I'll make the same tests in tomorrow's CP update for ball strikes on the heel of the club.

New 2: Beta test version 5 of the new SCX ball spin detection method using spin dot balls

Ball spin detection in this version of the CP is the best yet.

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July 25 7:50 pm

Introducing the new SCX IR pro

Price $3,999

Especially developed for the more discerning player that only wants the best.

The SCX IR Pro features fixed precision mounted cameras with hi-definition lenses that require no manual adjustment

plus more intense 72 narrow beam IR LED lighting and precision alignment and ball placement laser.

System includes one year subscription to GSpro game software with over 250 courses

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July 25 11:50 am

CP 10.1.5.6

New: SCX Virtual spin dot mode now showing resulting spin rates seperate from the shot video frame rates

Click above image to read more about virtual spin dot mode

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July 24 1:00 pm

CP 10.1.5.5

New: Beta test version 4 of the new SCX ball spin detection method using spin dot balls

System automatically selects the best 2 frames of the ball in flight to measure ball spin

You can also re-calculate the spin with other frames of the ball in flight just by selecting the frame and clicking in the spin video box.

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July 23 12:40 pm

CP 10.1.5.4

Improved club data detection when ball strike is on the toe of the club

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July 22 5:52 pm

CP 10.1.5.3

New: Beta test version 3 of the new SCX ball spin detection method using spin dot balls

Fix: Global SCX calibration table height adjust not being saved

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July 21 11:52 am

CP 10.1.5.2

Second beta test version of the new ball spin detection method using spin dot balls

New ball spin detection method for SCX systems

Most development for the rest of this month will be dedicated to improving ball spin detection for the SCX and Eagle overhead camera systems.

In order to verify the ball spin rate accuracy of the VisTrak SCX system, we'll need a solid reference.

i.e. frames of a spinning ball with a known spin rate.

To do this, we used a variable speed DC motor with a marked golf ball on it.

Click the above image to read more about the test method.

Next CP update using the new ball spin detection method is due this coming week

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July 20 1:35 pm

CP 10.1.5.1

New SCX calibration method using real shots

You can now calibrate the SCX's stereo cameras with real shots.

The new Launch Angle Calculator is used to determine the real VLA of the shot and thus you can compare it to the CP's measured VLA.

You can then adjust the calibration table to match the CP's measured VLA to the real VLA .

Click the above image for instructions

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July 19 12:25 pm

CP 10.1.5.0

New ball spin detection method

First beta test of the new ball spin detection method using spin dot balls

Still some tweaking to do but a vast improvement over the previous method.

More details and test results coming tomorrow.

Fix: SCX calibration table page select not functioning

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July 17 2:15 pm

New ball spin detection method

I'll have a new ball spin detection method in tomorrow's CP update that is more reliable and consistent

The main issue with the current method is the pairing of the dots on the ball.

Ideally we only require one dot in each frame that is more in the center of the ball and not out on the ball's perimeter.

I have thus reduced the scan area in which dots on the ball are detected so that only one or two dots are detected per frame.

Today's tests showed a great improvement in accuracy and consistency in ball spin detection.

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July 15 5:45 pm

New club and ball tracking system comparison page

July 15 2:20 pm

New updates on the ball spin detection page

with comparisons between Protee VX, Uneekor QED, Trackman and VisTrak methods

July 15 11:45 am

CP 10.1.4.9

Fix 1: Sample videos sometimes causing system settings to be overwritten and change

Fix 2: Ball spin not being measured when using the new "Short Lag Time" feature

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July 14 4:15 pm

New updates on the club detection page

July 14 2:15 pm

CP 10.1.4.8

Reduced launch lag time development

Stage 1 of the reduced launch lag time development is now completed as a Beta test in this version of the CP.

Launch lag time is reduced to around 1 to 1.5 seconds now.

Switch this feature ON/OFF in the Setup panel.

If all tests work out okay, then this method will be made standard

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July 13 6:15 pm

Reduced launch lag time development

Come to think about it, as this feature will be of immediate benefit for all VisTrak users across the board,

I'll push this development up to the front and leave the ball and club tracking features of the new Swing Capture until afterwards.

I'll do this development in two stages:

Stage 1. Reducing the lag time to around 1 second using the current full ball detection but only for the first 3 or 4 frames after ball strike.

Stage 2. Reducing the lag time to essentially zero by only detecting the front of the ball pixel in the frames for the first 3 or 4 frames after ball strike.

Stage 1 should be completed by the end this week ( or far earlier )

Stage 2 should be completed by the week after

July 13 2:45 pm

Zero launch lag time - immediate launch after ball strike

For those that like the idea of a zero launch lag time after ball strike (like the ProTee VX),

then you'll be pleased to know that I have an easy update for the VisTrak systems that will accomplish this.

The solution is to - instead of the time consuming process of searching for complete balls (and verifying that it is a ball) in all frames -

we simply search for the front tip of the ball in flight - i.e. essentially just one pixel.

Club data (i.e. face angle, path and speed) is fast anyway, so lag time for the shot will effectively be reduced to zero (i.e. only a few Milli-seconds).

Even though I'm still working on the ball and club tracking feature for the new Swing Capture system, I'll squeeze in this development for August too.

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July 11 3:50 pm

CP 10.1.4.7

Fix: Marginal error in club speed calculations

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July 10 5:00 pm

Swing Capture / Close-up club tracking combo

You can also combine close-up frames from the overhead camera (as shown above)

with swing capture frames from the side mounted camera

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July 10 1:30 pm

Ball and Club Tracking for the Swing Capture system

The final phase of the Swing Capture system development is the ball tracking feature.

Essentially this feature converts the basic Swing Capture system into an EVi system.

The only difference being that the overhead and side mounted cameras capture the entire players body swing and not just the ball and club.

While basic ball tracking (i.e. ball speed, horizontal and vertical launch angles) will be relatively easy to code,

club tracking will probably be a challenge due to the fact that the club images will be quite small.

Expected release date for this feature is sometime in August

July 10 8:30 am

Swing Capture development

Basics Done!

Just a couple more tweaks on the new basic Swing Capture feature of the CP software and I'll call it day for now.

I must say, this project was really fun to code ( a great summer project ) but I need to move on to other more pressing issues now.

CP 10.1.4.6

Swing Capture Finale Release

Final full release of the new Swing Capture system with this CP update

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July 9 2:45 pm

CP 10.1.4.5

Swing Capture Auto Swing detection

The auto swing detection feature is now ready with this version.

The auto swing detection feature allows you to record swings automatically.

To use, select the "Ball on Mat" stop cam mode and place a ball on the mat in the small SC launch area.

The swing capture automatically stops after 75 frames after ball strike.

You then get 75 frames before and 75 frames after ball strike.

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July 8 2:00 pm

CP 10.1.4.4

Swing Capture development

Second Alpha test release of the new Swing Capture system

Just manual frame capture today for both mono and color cameras.

Auto swing detection Start/Stop recording will be ready later this week.

The above image shows the new exposure, gain, frame rate and capture time controls.

Camera exposure and gain settings are made in real-time with the cameras running so you can immediately see the results.

Total frames captured is currently 150. i.e. 75 frames before and 75 frames after ball strike.

I think this should be plenty but can increase to 300 or 600 frames if required.

In order to test, switch to SC1 (if using one camera) or SC2 (if using 2 cameras) in the Setup panel

Manual Start/Stop with Timer

For those that would prefer to manually start the swing capture cameras,

you can set a timer that will indicate (with a series of slow and faster beeps) when the system is ready to capture the swing .

The system will then automatically stop recording after a few seconds.

You can then review your swing captured in all cameras with the video playback features.

Swing Capture Auto Swing detection

The auto swing detection feature should be ready later this week (probably tomorrow)

Swing Capture ball speed, path and LA detection

This feature should be ready later this month

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July 6 12:00 pm

Swing Capture development

Main advantages over other swing capture systems

1. Super high speed up to 800 FPS

2. Cameras measure ball speed, path and vertical launch angle

3. Cameras interface with all major golf simulator game software systems

GSpro, TGC, CG, E6 etc

4. Cameras can be converted to a regular hi-resolution ball and club tracking system like the SCX and EVi systems

just by swapping out the lenses and repositioning the cameras

5. Auto Start and Stop

because the cameras detect a swing

6. Option to use Color or IR cameras

The advantage of using IR mono cameras is that you don't have to use visible light in the enclosure.

i.e. the enclosure can remain nice and dark

while color cameras require bright visible lighting that will brighten up the enclosure area

7. System can be used with any other launch monitor

e.g. GC3, SkyTrak, Protee VX, Trackman etc

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July 5 12:00 pm

Swing Capture development

First Alpha release due on Monday

New 1: Cameras can be positioned for 3 views: Front, Side and Top

New 2: There will be 3 Stop/Start recording methods. 1: Auto Ball on Mat, 2: Auto Ball in Flight, 3: Manual

Auto Methods 1 and 2 detect ball strikes in order to stop recording after a set number of frames

The Ball on Mat method is used when one or more cameras can view the ball on the mat prior to ball strike.

The Ball in Flight method is used when no camera can view the ball on the mat prior to ball strike.

The Manual method requires that the user manually stop the recording with a mouse click or foot switch

New 3: Ball tracking can be switched OFF so that the Swing Capture cameras can be used with other tracking systems (GC3, SkyTrak, ProTee VX etc)

New 4: New product naming. 2 versions will be available SC1 and SC2.

New 5: Users can draw into the frame images to determine club data: i.e. Club face angle, club speed and path

Single camera SC1. SC1 can be used for either Top, Side or front views

Dual camera SC2. SC2 can be used to add a second view to the SC1 view

New 5: Users can draw into the frame images to determine club data: i.e. Club face angle, club speed and path

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July 1 12:45 pm

LX LR and LX C name changes to SCS and SCT

As the Swing Capture feature of these two new systems will dominate, I've changed the names to more represent their functions.

SCS = Swing Capture Side camera

SCT = Swing Capture Top camera

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June 30 8:00 pm

DIY prices listed

You can now see what price you'd pay if sourcing your own cameras, cables and lights compared to ready assembled product prices.

e.g.

VisTrak SCS and SCT

GSA Golf CP camera control and image processing software : $199

Camera : $300 (available on Amazon)

CM Vision IR light : $90 (available on Amazon)

DIY price : $589

Regular price : $999

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June 30 2:00 pm

VisTrak SCS Specs

1. Frame rate:

Variable from 200 to 800 fps but usually around 200 to 300 fps

The frame rate shouldn't be too high as the system has to capture the back swing and swing follow through.

Also, increasing the frame rate to 800 fps will require a huge increase in the number of frame buffers and require additional lighting

2. Frame buffers: Variable from 150 to 1500

3. Lens: wide angle 2.8mm

3. Resolution: 640 w x 480 h

4. Camera Exposure Time; Currently 5ms.

i.e. 5000 us which is vastly greater than the usual 300 us used with the SCX, EVi and other LX systems

The Exposure time can be shortened but then considerable more lighting will be required to illuminate the player

If the exposure is reduced enough, then the ball in flight will appear round and not as a motion blur trace.

5. Camera type: The usual 790 /1500 fps 640x480 Hauteng camera used in all other VisTrak systems

6. Color cameras:

Color cameras can be used but bare in mind that color cameras don't work with IR light, so you'd have to use visible lighting

which will make the enclosure bright and may cause glare in the players eyes

7. Lighting

Either 24 LED CM Vision IR Illuminators for monochrome IR cameras or visible light LED track lighting for both Color and IR monochrome cameras

8. Proof of concept

For those that have been following me over the years, you may notice that the below image was actually taken from one of the older CX systems.

Back then (10 - 15 years ago) I used a single frame camera that was triggered by a (self developed) line scan camera.

i.e. when the ball passed within the FOV if the very fast line scan camera, it triggered the main camera to grab one frame.

The camera had a 10 ms exposure so produced the motion blur ball trace you see above.

Back then, affordable high speed cameras were not available so this was the only way to capture high speed moving balls.

The concept was used successfully for many years until the CX range was discontinued due to the availability of lower cost high speed cameras.

The SC cameras use the same concept but instead of just capturing one frame, we now capture multiple (i.e. hundreds) of hi-speed frames.

9. Video capture Start / Stop method

1. Manual start/stop

2. Auto Ball on Mat method

3. Auto Ball in Flight method

10. Conversion Compatibility:

As all VisTrak systems use the exact same cameras, users can easily convert their current systems (i.e. LX1 or 2, SCX or EVi) to an SCST

simply by changing out the lenses to low cost ($10) 2.8 mm lenses and setting up new lighting ($90)

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June 30 7:50 am

VisTrak SCS

Swing Capture Side

camera with ball tracking

The world's first single camera system that combines swing capture with ball and club tracking for use in a golf simulator

The SCS hi-speed camera - with wide angle lens and longer exposure time -

captures 150 frames of the ball and player before and after ball strike.

So you not only see how the ball flies, but also how you struck it with your back swing and swing follow through.

The longer exposure time shows the ball in each frame as a bright motion blur trace whereby the length of the streak

and spacing between ball traces in each frame is directly proportional to the ball speed.

Another big advantage of using longer camera exposure times is that the player is illuminated without the requirement to add more lighting.

$ 1,299 cased version

$ 999 non-cased version

$ 590 DIY price

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June 29 1:30 pm

VisTrak SCT

Swing Captuture Top camera

$ 1,699 cased version

$ 1,299 non-cased version

The SCT hi-speed camera - with wide angle lens and long exposure time -

captures 150 frames of the ball and club with the players club swing before and after ball strike.

The combo SCS and SCT ( known as the SCST is - to the best of our knowledge at least - the only hi-speed camera tracking system that combines

both ball and club tracking with swing capture video playback.

The SCS captures the player and ball viewed from the side while the SCT captures ball and club viewed from overhead.

The post shot video playback contains 32 frames from both cameras.

VisTrak fully modular cameras

Note that all GSA Golf VisTrak systems use the exact same cameras so you can convert one system to the other just by changing out the lenses

a repositioning the cameras. Lighting may also have to modified.

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June 27 3:00 pm

CP 10.1.4.2

New customer camera registrations

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June 27 12:00 pm

LX CL development terminated

After some 160 hours of development of the LX CL, I've decided to call it quits.

Main reasons are:

1. First and fore most, discussions with prospective purchasers strongly indicated that they don't want a unit that is placed and sticking up in the middle of the enclosure.

2. The accuracy of the system won't be anywhere as near good as with the other LX models.

3. The post shot video playback won't show any useful data.

4. No simple method of adding a club tracking camera to the unit.

The LXCL replacement

As the main point of the LXCL was to produce a floor mounted camera tracking system that functions for both LH and RH players without having to move the unit,

the simple solution would be to mount the unit - out of the way - on the side wall of the enclosure.

The unit is placed 3 ft or so ahead of the player so that - no matter if the player is LH or RH - the ball in flight will always be in the FOV of the camera.

Introducing the new

VisTrak SCS

The SCS is a floor side mounted hi-speed camera system that can be used for both Left and Right handed players

without having to move the unit.

$ 1,299 cased version

$ 999 non-cased version

As 99% development of this unit is being taken from the regular LX1,

it will only take a day or two to modify the trigger method so that it triggers from the ball in flight 3ft ahead of the player instead of from the ball position on the mat.

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June 26 1:00 pm

CP 10.1.4.1

Due to a report that the system stops functioning after approx 30min of play requiring a CP restart,

I've added more system info in the event log files and - to check that there's not a memory leak - the current memory usage is being displayed and recorded in the log files.

The usual cause of such an issue is a camera is going off-line though.

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June 25 2:30 pm

CP 10.1.4.0

1. Numerous smaller improvemts

2. Ability to switch ON system event logging.

Switch on or off in the Setup panel (top right corner)

Event logs are used to trace possible issues and are stored in C:GSAgolf / GSAGolfSystemLogs folder.

The files are dated and are named "SystemLogDDMMYY"

for example "SystemLog250624"

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June 24 3:00 pm

Excellent IR light spread and intensity using the new IR Lights with 15 degree lenses

Using just 2 of these new IR lights negates the requirement to use visible track lights with the SCX, EVi and Eagle systems

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June 23 3:30 pm

New lower priced LX1 Lite

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June 22 12:50 pm

LX2 case options

Cased versions

Non cased versions

As I can't decide which LX2 casing looks best, I'll offer them all and leave it up to the purchaser to decide

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June 21 3:10 pm

New long distance Vcam for the EVi system

The short distance Vcam is placed around 12 inches away from the ball

The long distance Vcam is placed 4 to 8ft away from the ball

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June 16 2:15 pm

CP 10.1.3.9

New 2: New customer camera registrations

New 3: A number of smaller improvements

e.g.

Beep not always sounding when ball is detected on mat.

Smoother Green LED strip pulsing

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June 14 4:50 pm

1. New LX CLS calibration completed

CP update due tomorrow

2. GSA Golf AI

Currently looking into integrating AI technology into GSA Golf tracking systems

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June 13 3:40 pm

New LX 2 carry case version overhang IR LED light

This is really looking good now. New IR LED 90 degree lenses are producing far brighter ball and club images too.

LX2 with optional overhang IR lighting

The LX2 comes complete with the overhang lighting, however, it can be removed.

 

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June 9 4:30 pm

New LX system carry cases

Manufacturing and assembly details of the new LX Carry Case range worked out and tested today.

Systems have built in IR lights, cameras, power supplies and electronics.

Biggest issue was the new LX2 overhang IR Light (not shown here). Problems worked out okay now though.

Compared to the previous LX case designs (or lack of them), these carry case versions look really great.

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New carry cased versions of the LX1 and LX2

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June 7 12:30 pm

CP 10.1.3.8

Creative Golf integration with GSA Golf producrts now completed in this version of the CP

Click above image to read more about Creative Golf

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