Session: 06-14-01: Biotechnology and General Applications

Paper Number: 112592

112592 - Pitcherview: Using Computational Biomechanics to Optimize the Baseball Pitching Motion 

Pitcherview is a technology that uses full spectrum kinematics & computational mechanics to analyze the baseball pitching motion.  This will aid in the evaluation of players and baseball techniques.  The purpose is to increase the efficiency of the pitching motion, which leads to fewer player injuries.

Pitcherview uses full spectrum kinematics.  This is the study of motion using translation + deformation, rather than translation only as in most current animation software suites.  When using traditional animation prediction software such as Renderman, only translation is considered.  No matter how small the elements are made, the rigid body motion prediction does not capture the change in size of anything.  This paper presents using either a custom FEA solver or an off-the-shelf product like ANSYS.  It is also different from methodologies used in AI, which typically use Gaussian distributions to statistically describe physical systems.

Pitcherview uses Computational Biomechanics.  This is the application of Sir Isaac Newton’s principals and high-performance computing techniques to describe the motion of living things like the human body.  By discretizing the player’s geometry as well as the player’s motion over time, we can build an accurate real-time map of pitching power, pitching effort, percent damage, and other useful quantities.  By leveraging FEA, we can also produce an accurate real time map of the strain on any piece of anatomy in a pitcher’s arm.

 

 

 

 

1.02      Research Methodology:

 

This research will follow several steps.  They are: 

·        Obtain player motion video from time-of-flight camera.  If image data exists already, mine that data for player pitching motion.

·        Get real time cad geometry.

·        Develop constitutive model of the pitcher’s motion based on power, energy etc.

·        Automate into software routine

·        Make database of the motion of a player while pitching

·        Data science project for red curves in database

·        Run a series of finite element and CFD simulations.

·        Design & Run DOE

·        Record results in database

 

 

1.03      Anticipated Results:

 

There are three anticipated results.  The first is a piece of research that evaluates the player pitching motion in a new way.  This new way is based on physics and computational methods instead of the current AI or Big Data methods.

The second is a piece of software.  In order to realize benefit from this technology, it must be deployed in  a usable fashion by baseball personnel.

The third result is a change in game strategy due to an increase in knowledge about the players.

 

 

1.04      Expected Contribution:

 

Sabermetricians will be able to calculate a more accurate WAR for each pitcher.  Increased WAR leads to greater production from your pitching staff at a more efficient cost.

It also gives the field manager a real time tool that they didn’t have before.  The technology finally exists to analyze real time high-definition video.  Pitcherview leverages that.

Presenting Author: James O'Flanagan O'Flanagan All-Purpose Services LLC

Presenting Author Biography: I am an engineer who was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. I have 22 years’ experience in a variety of industries: tires, automotive, naval nuclear, oil & gas, medical devices, and consumer products. I am currently the President of my engineering agency business. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have two kids and two dogs.

I attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, where I received a BS in computer engineering in 2002. I graduated from The University of Akron in 2010 with an MS in Engineering Management, specializing in Finite Element Analysis.

Authors:

James O'Flanagan O'Flanagan All-Purpose Services LLC