Smart baseball first base or home plate

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a smart base for a baseball system or a softball system comprises a sensor to detect a first time at which a runner has touched the smart base, a radio-frequency (RF) receiver to receive a signal from a smart baseball that indicates a second time at which the smart baseball was caught, timing circuitry to detect if the second time occurs before or after the first time; and indicator circuitry to indicate a force out if the second time occurs before the first time.

BACKGROUND

Having a smart/connected baseball base and home plate, accompanied with a smart baseball, can help solve two common problems in baseball and/or softball. One of the most controversial calls in baseball is the force out at first base. In the last couple years, the Major League Baseball (MLB) and some colleges have instituted video replay to help the umpire determine if the runner touched the base before the first baseman caught the ball. The problems with video replay are that it is time-consuming since the umpire has to go over and watch the replay on a screen, and is not practical for baseball stadiums that do not have video recording systems such as at high schools and most colleges. Having an inexpensive and faster solution to determine force-outs would be very valuable to casual leagues or clubs, little league, or high school leagues.

When playing casual baseball, it may be difficult to determine whether a pitch was a strike or ball. Most of the time the catcher or pitcher just guesses, which can often lead to contention. Having an automated, instantaneous solution to determine whether a pitched ball is a strike, defined as above the plate and between the batter's knees and mid-torso, or a ball, defined as outside that area, would be valuable to casual players.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, if considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding and/or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and/or circuits have not been described in detail.

In the following description and/or claims, the terms coupled and/or connected, along with their derivatives, may be used. In particular embodiments, connected may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical and/or electrical contact with each other. Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical and/or electrical contact. Coupled, however, may also mean that two or more elements may not be in direct contact with each other, but yet may still cooperate and/or interact with each other. For example, “coupled” may mean that two or more elements do not contact each other but are indirectly joined together via another element or intermediate elements. Finally, the terms “on,” “overlying,” and “over” may be used in the following description and claims. “On,” “overlying,” and “over” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical contact with each other. “Over”, however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other. For example, “over” may mean that one element is above another element but not contact each other and may have another element or elements in between the two elements. Furthermore, the term “and/or” may mean “and”, it may mean “or”, it may mean “exclusive-or”, it may mean “one”, it may mean “some, but not all”, it may mean “neither”, and/or it may mean “both”, although the scope of claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. In the following description and/or claims, the terms “comprise” and “include,” along with their derivatives, may be used and are intended as synonyms for each other.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a diagram of a smart baseball system showing a smart base to determine a force out in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. It should be noted that smart baseball system100may include all of the components shown inFIG. 1working together, or may include fewer or more components, for example to provide a subset or a superset of the features that are illustrated, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. Furthermore, although the game of baseball is used herein as an example, the principles of smart baseball system100and its constituent components also may be applicable to other sports similar to baseball such as softball, and/or to other sports such as football, soccer, or lacrosse, and some of many examples, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

As shown inFIG. 1, a smart baseball system100may include a smart base110such as first base to be utilized in a baseball game to detect whether or not a player running to first base is forced out after successfully hitting the smart baseball112into the field of play. It should be noted that the term smart as used herein may refer to an item or device that may include one or more sensors and/or one or more circuitry to detect, measure, receive, transmit, and/or process information detected from one or more sensors, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. After hitting the smart baseball112into the field of play, player122attempts to run to smart base110and touch or tag smart base110. If another player (not shown) throws the smart baseball112to player124, for example first baseman, and player124is touching smart base110when the smart baseball112is caught prior to player122touching or tagging smart base110, then a force out will occur. In accordance with one or more embodiments, smart base110may include one or more sensors to detect when player122has tagged smart base110. Furthermore, smart baseball112may include one or more sensors to determine when player124has successfully caught the smart baseball112, and may include a mechanism to transmit the timing information for the catch to the smart base110. Circuitry in smart base110may compare the timing at which player tagged smart base100to the timing at which smart baseball112was caught by player124to determine whether or not a force out occurred, or whether player110was otherwise safe by tagging smart base110prior to the catch event.

In the event a force out occurs or if player122is safe, smart base110may include one or more indicators to indicate to the players and/or to umpire126if present, which event occurred. For example if a force out occurs, smart base110may indicate this event by illuminating or flashing first light or lamp of a first color, and/or may play an audible sound of a first tone or a first pattern. If player is safe, either no indication may occur wherein an indication occurs only if a force out occurs, or smart base110may indicate this event by illuminating or flashing a second light or lamp of a second color, and/or may play an audible sound of a second tone or a second pattern.

In some embodiments, smart base110may detect whether or not player124it touching smart base110at the time at which smart baseball is caught, for example by detecting the presence or pressure of the player's foot on smart base110. In some embodiments, the shoe or cleat of player124may include a sensor or a transponder to assist with detecting whether or not player124is touching smart base110at the time at which smart baseball112is caught, and/or whether player124touches smart base110after catching smart baseball112and prior to player122tags smart base110. Similarly, the shoe or cleat of player122may include a sensor or transponder to assist smart base110to detect the timing of when player110touches smart base110.

In one or more embodiments, an auxiliary device such as a smart umpire114may be connected with smart base110that includes the indictors such as lights and/or speakers to make appropriate indications for smart base110. Such a smart umpire114may be connected to smart base110via a wired connection or via a wireless connection. Furthermore, in some embodiments smart umpire114may include more advance circuitry to provide the ability to indicate the detected events using spoken words such as “Out!” or “Safe!”. In addition, smart umpire114may include a user interface that is capable of detecting voice commands or the spoken input to control the functions of smart umpire114and/or smart base110, and also may include circuitry to connect smart umpire114to a local area network or a wide area network. Such networking circuitry may allow smart umpire114to connect with other smart umpires or other smart bases such as second base and third base, and/or home plate, to work together for more control over the baseball game, to help record game statistics and scoring, and/or to provide software updates or the like.

In one or more embodiments, a human umpire126may be assisted with making a force out determination via an assist device120that may indicate to umpire126indication of a force out event or a safe event. For example, assist device120may comprise a headset that is may couple with smart base110. Smart base110may transmit a signal to assist device120in response to a detected event, and the assist device120may play a sound in the ear of umpire126indicating to umpire which event occurred such a force out. If umpire126hears a tone or sound indicating a force out event, then umpire may signal or speak that an out has occurred. Assist device120may be a simple device such as a headset that produces sounds indicating the detected event, or more by a more advance device such as a hand held device, and/or may comprise an application running on a smart device such as a smart phone or smart band or watch, or headwear that includes a head up display (HUD), as some of many examples. Assist device120may have a similar architecture to the architecture of smart baseball112as discussed, below, or a subset thereof. These are merely example embodiments for assist device120, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. Example architectures for the individual components are discussed below. An example architecture of smart base110is shown in and described with respect toFIG. 2, below.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a diagram of an example architecture for a smart base in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. It should be noted that smart base110may include all of the components shown inFIG. 2, or may include fewer or more components, for example to provide a subset or a superset of the features that are illustrated, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. Smart base110may include a processor or logic circuitry210, referred to herein as processor for purposes of discussion, to provide the control functions for smart base110, for example to receive the inputs from various sensors and/or other external devices, and to make a timing decision regarding the events to determine if a force out or other event has occurred. Such sensors may include, for example, one or more top sensors214to detect if and/or when either player122or player124touches the top of smart base110, and/or a one or more side sensors216to detect if and/or when player124touches a side of smart base110wherein the side of first base is a typical location to be touched by a first baseman during a force out event.

Input/output (I/O) circuitry212may provide a mechanism by which inputs from various sensors or communication circuitry is provided to processor210, and/or to provide outputs such as control outputs or other signals to provide an indication of a determined event, and/or to send information regarding a determined event to an external device. Smart base110may include a display218to indicate an event wherein the display218may be a simple display such as lights or light emitting diodes (LEDs) that may be used to provide indications of a event, and/or as user interface to control the operation of smart base110. In some embodiments, display218may be a more advance display such as an LED and/or an organic LED (OLED) panel, array, or strip. Audio circuitry220may include audio processing circuitry, audio amplifiers and/or one or more speakers, for example to provide audible indications of a determined event, and/or may be part of the user interface to control the operation of smart base110. Radio-frequency (RF) circuitry may include wireless communication circuitry such as one or more Bluetooth™ radios, ZigBee radios, wireless local area network (WLAN) radios, wireless wide area network (WWAN) radios, personal area network (PAN) radios, one or more receives to detect wireless signals transmitted from other devices such as smart baseball112and/or sensor116and/or sensor122or the like. RF circuitry may operate in compliance with an Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEEE) standard such as the IEEE 802.15 standard and/or a Third Generation Partnership (3GPP) standard, or other wireless communication standards, the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. A wired port224may be used to couple with smart base110, for example to couple smart base110with smart umpire114. One or more actuators226may include buttons or switches to control the operation of smart base110. Smart base110also may include a battery222to provide power for the components of smart base110.

In some embodiments, smart base110may comprise a smart home plate such as shown in and described with respect toFIG. 6orFIG. 7, below, in which case smart base110optionally may include one or more cameras228and/or one or more micropower impulse radar (MIR) devices230, alternately referred to as a micropower ultra-wideband impulse radar (MUIR), although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. In one or more embodiments, MIR devices230may utilize ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse sensors to emit and detect very low amplitude radar impulses and the reflections of those impulses. Such devices may include a short range or window in which objects passing through the window may be detected as the reflected radar impulses, for example by detecting a change in the return time of the reflected impulses. It should be noted that this is an example description of the operation of MIR devices230, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. Information regarding a smart baseball112may be received via RF circuitry222for example, and/or smart baseball112may be detected via cameras128and/or MIR devices230. An example diagram of a smart baseball is shown in and described with respect toFIG. 3, below.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a diagram of an example architecture of a smart baseball in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. It should be noted that smart baseball112may include all of the components shown inFIG. 3, or may include fewer or more components, for example to provide a subset or a superset of the features that are illustrated, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. As shown inFIG. 3, smart baseball112may may include a processor or logic circuitry210, referred to herein as processor for purposes of discussion, to provide the control functions for smart baseball112, for example to receive the inputs from one or more sensors such as accelerometer312, and to provide one or more outputs to one or more other devices. Accelerometer312may be utilized to detect deceleration of smart baseball312, for example to detect when smart baseball112is caught by player124. In some embodiments, deceleration information detected by accelerometer312may be sent to smart plate110via RF circuitry324and one or more antennas316, wherein the smart plate110analyzes the deceleration information to determine the timing at which smart baseball112has been caught. In other embodiments, processor310may analyze the deceleration information and determine the timing at which smart baseball112has been caught. In such embodiments, smart baseball112may transmit the timing information to smart base110which in turn compares the timing information of when smart baseball was caught to timing information of when player122has touched smart base110so that smart base110may make a force out determination. RF circuitry314may include circuitry similar to the circuitry of RF circuitry222of smart base110, for example so that smart baseball112may communicate with smart base110using the same communication protocol, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. Smart baseball112may include a battery318to power the components of smart baseball112. Smart baseball112may communicate with smart base110and/or may communicate with smart umpire114. An example architecture for smart umpire114is shown in and described with respect toFIG. 4, below.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a diagram an example architecture of a smart umpire accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. It should be noted that smart umpire114may include all of the components shown inFIG. 4, or may include fewer or more components, for example to provide a subset or a superset of the features that are illustrated, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. As shown inFIG. 4, smart umpire114may include a processor or logic circuitry410, referred to herein as processor for purposes of discussion, to provide the control functions for smart umpire114. Processor410may couple to I/O circuitry412to receive and/or send information from and/or to the various devices. Smart umpire114may provide some or all of the functions of smart plate110, and/or may work in conjunction with smart plate110to provide a more comprehensive system, and/or further may include additional functions that smart plate110may not provide.

In one or more embodiments, display416may be similar to display218ofFIG. 2and may include one or more lights or a display panel to control smart umpire114, and/or to provide an indication of a detected event such as a force out or a safe runner. Audio circuitry418, RF circuitry420, wired port422, and actuators424, also may be similar to audio circuitry220and RF circuitry222, wired port224, and actuators226respectively, of smart base110. Smart umpire114may couple with smart base110via wired port422and/or RF circuitry420. In addition, smart umpire may include one or more microphones as part of audio circuitry418, for example to receive voice commands or spoken input to control the operation of smart umpire114. In such embodiments, the players or other operators may speak to and interact with smart umpire using natural language commands, and smart umpire may speak back to the users to provide feedback confirmation, status updates, to repeat the last call, and so on. RF circuitry420may communicate with smart baseball112and/or assist device120in addition to smart base110, and may communicate via a network, for example to communicate with a remote information handling system to collect game statistics, and/or to display detected events on a larger display or scoreboard, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. Furthermore, smart umpire114may couple with multiple smart bases110such as first base, second base, and/or third base, and or optionally home plate. An example of a smart base110embodied as a home plate is shown in and described with respect toFIG. 5, below.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a diagram of an example smart home plate to detect a strike zone using a three-dimensional (3D) camera in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. As shown inFIG. 5, strike zone system500includes a home plate as an embodiment of smart base110. A strike zone512may be defined as a region bounded by the area of home plate and extending between the knees and mid-torso region of the batter510. In the embodiment shown, the strike zone512may be detected by a three-dimensional (3D) camera228disposed in home plate. In one or more embodiments, 3D camera228may comprise a RealSense™ camera provided by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif., USA, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. The 3D camera228may have a field of view516covering the region in which strike zone512is located, and appropriate image processing may be performed by processor210of smart plate110to detect whether smart baseball112passes through strike zone512during a pitch, in which case a strike may be indicated and/or signaled by smart plate110, smart umpire114, or assist device120, or whether smart baseball112passes outside of strike zone512, in which case a ball may be indicated and/or signaled by smart plate, smart umpire114, or assist device120. In the event that smart baseball110passes through strike zone512, a determination may be made whether or not the bat514comes in contact with smart baseball110when swung by batter510. For example, accelerometer312may detect a change in acceleration of smart baseball110when smart baseball110comes in contact with bat514, in which case a ball may be indicated and/or signaled instead of a strike. An alternative approach to detecting strike zone512is shown in and described with respect toFIG. 6, below.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a diagram of an example smart home plate to detect a strike zone using impulse radar sensors in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. It should be noted that the strike zone system600ofFIG. 6is substantially similar to the strike zone system500ofFIG. 5except that strike zone system600utilizes a micropower impulse radar (MIR) system comprising one or more MIR devices230to detect strike zone512. In such an embodiment, the batter510may wear reflectors610on his or her clothing, for example on the knees and on the mid-torso, to provide radar reflectivity to MIR sensors230to assist with detection of the boundaries of strike zone512. Various other types of systems to detect strike zone512may be similarly deployed, for example using infrared sensors and infrared reflectors, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. An example application of strike zone system500and/or strike zone system600using a home plate as a smart base110is shown in and described with respect toFIG. 7, below.

Referring now toFIG. 7, a diagram of an example home plate to detect a strike zone wherein the strike zone is electronically visualized for an umpire in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed.FIG. 7shows an example of how strike zone system500and/or strike zone system600may be deployed in a baseball game. When smart baseball110is pitched to batter510, strike zone system500and/or strike zone system600may detect a strike zone512for batter510. Smart base110embodied as a home plate may generate image data to graphically represent the strike zone512. Smart plate110may then transmit the image data representing strike zone512to assist device120worn by umpire126. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 7, assist device120may comprise glasses, goggles, lenses, or in general a headset that includes a head up display (HUD) or similar display. The umpire126may see the graphical representation of strike zone512wherein the image of strike zone512may appear overlaid in the appropriate visual space of umpire126. Such a system, for example, may include a HoloLens™ system provided by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., USA, for example to project strike zone512in an augmented realty field of view of umpire126, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

Referring now toFIG. 8, a diagram of an example smart sport system adapted for detecting a field goal in a football game in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. The field goal system800ofFIG. 8may be substantially similar to smart baseball system100ofFIG. 1, with appropriate components selected and/or adapted to detect whether or not a smart baseball112, embodied a smart football, passes through the field goal uprights810. Such a field goal system800may include, for example 3D camera228to detect the uprights810in the field of view516of 3D camera228, and/or may include one or more MIR detectors230with one or more reflectors610placed at the corners of the uprights810.

Referring now toFIG. 9, a diagram of an example smart sport system adapted for detecting a goal in a soccer game or a lacrosse game in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed. The smart goal system900ofFIG. 9may be substantially similar to smart baseball system100ofFIG. 1, with appropriate components selected and/or adapted to detect whether or not a smart baseball112, embodied as a smart soccer ball, entered into goal910. Alternatively, smart baseball112may be embodied as a smart lacrosse ball, and goal910may comprise a lacrosse goal. Such a smart goal system900may include one or more 3D cameras228having respective fields of view516pointed to detect the front area of goal910to detect whether or not the soccer ball has entered the goal. Alternatively or in combination with 3D cameras228, one or more MIR detectors228may operation in conjunction with one or more reflectors610placed on the corners of the goal910and/or at other positions on goal910to detect a goal event. Optionally, smart umpire114may be utilized to process the inputs from the devices of the smart goal system900, and to indicate or otherwise signal whether or not a goal has been scored. It should be noted that although the sports of baseball, softball, football, soccer, and lacrosse have been mentioned as example sports, the systems described herein may be applied to various other sports such as basketball, volleyball, golf, cricket, tennis, and so on, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

Processor210, processor310, and/or processor410may include one or more application processors and/or application circuitry. For example, such processor and/or application circuitry may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The one or more processors may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors, for example graphics processors, application processors, and so on. The processors may be coupled with and/or may include memory and/or storage and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory and/or storage to enable various applications and/or operating systems to run on the system. The executions may be stored on one or more computer or machine readable media, which may comprise non-transitory media, to cause the processor and/or application circuitry to execute the instructions to result in the operation of the devices and/or systems described herein, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

The following are example implementations of the subject matter described herein. It should be noted that any of the examples and the variations thereof described herein may be used in any permutation or combination of any other one or more examples or variations, although the scope of the claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. In example one, a smart base for a baseball system or a softball system comprises a sensor to detect a first time at which a runner has touched the smart base, a radio-frequency (RF) receiver to receive a signal from a smart baseball that indicates a second time at which the smart baseball was caught, timing circuitry to detect if the second time occurs before or after the first time, and indicator circuitry to indicate a force out if the second time occurs before the first time. In example two, the smart base may include the subject matter of example one or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise a side sensor disposed on a side of the smart base to detect if a baseman is touching the smart base at first time, wherein the indicator circuitry indicates a force out if the second time occurs before the first time, and the smart base detect that the baseman is touching the smart base at the first time. In example three, the smart base may include the subject matter of example one or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a speaker to audibly indicate the force out occurrence, or to indicate a safe runner if the second time occurs after the first time. In example four, the smart base may include the subject matter of example one or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a first light to indicate the force out occurrence, and second light to indicate a safe runner if the second time occurs after the first time. In example five, the smart base may include the subject matter of example one or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise an RF transmitter to transmit an output of the indicator to a remote device, wherein the remote device comprises a smart umpire or an assist device, or a combination thereof. In example six, the smart base may include the subject matter of example one or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise a port to connect to a remote device via a hard wire link.

In example seven, a smart baseball for a baseball system comprises an accelerometer to detect an acceleration of the smart baseball, processing circuitry to process a deceleration event based on the acceleration of the smart baseball, wherein the deceleration event indicates that the smart baseball has been caught, and radio-frequency (RF) circuitry to transmit information regarding the deceleration event to a remote device. In example eight, the smart baseball may include the subject matter of example seven or any of the examples described herein, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to analyze the acceleration of the smart baseball to determine the deceleration event. In example nine, the smart baseball may include the subject matter of example seven or any of the examples described herein, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit the acceleration information relating to the deceleration event to a remote device that is capable determining the deceleration event based on the acceleration information.

In example ten, a smart home plate comprises sensor circuitry to sense a strike zone of a batter, processing circuitry to determine if a baseball has passed through the strike zone, and indicator circuitry to indicate a strike if the processing circuitry determines that the baseball has passed through the strike zone. In example eleven, the smart home plate may include the subject matter of example ten or any of the examples described herein, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a three-dimensional (3D) camera to sense the strike zone in a field of view of the 3D camera. In example twelve, the smart home plate may include the subject matter of example ten or any of the examples described herein, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a micropower impulse radar (MIR) to sense the strike zone via radar reflections. In example thirteen, the smart home plate may include the subject matter of example ten or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a speaker to audibly indicate the strike, or to indicate a ball if the processing circuitry determines that the baseball has not passed through the strike zone. In example fourteen, the smart home plate may include the subject matter of example ten or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a first light to indicate the strike, and second light to indicate a ball. In example fifteen, the smart home plate may include the subject matter of example ten or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise an RF transmitter to transmit an output of the indicator circuitry to a remote device, wherein the remote device comprises a smart umpire or an assist device, or a combination thereof. In example sixteen, the smart home plate may include the subject matter of example ten or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise a port to connect to a remote device via a hard wire link.

In example seventeen, a smart field goal system comprises sensor circuitry to sense an area in between uprights of a goal post, processing circuitry to determine if a football has passed through the uprights, and indicator circuitry to indicate a goal if the processing circuitry determines that the football has passed through the strike zone. In example eighteen, the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a three-dimensional (3D) camera to sense the area between the uprights. In example nineteen, the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a micropower impulse radar (MIR) to sense the area between the uprights via radar reflections. In example twenty, the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a speaker to audibly indicate a successful goal, or to indicate a failed goal if the processing circuitry determines that the football has not passed through the uprights. In example twenty-one, the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a first light to indicate the goal, and second light to indicate a failed goal. In example twenty-two the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise an RF transmitter to transmit an output of the indicator circuitry to a remote device, wherein the remote device comprises a smart umpire or an assist device, or a combination thereof. In example twenty-three a smart goal system for soccer or lacrosse, comprises sensor circuitry to sense an area in front of a goal, processing circuitry to determine if a ball has passed through the area into the goal, and indicator circuitry to indicate a goal if the processing circuitry determines that the ball has passed through the area into the goal. In example twenty-four the smart goal system may include the subject matter of example twenty-three or any of the examples described herein, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a three-dimensional (3D) camera to sense the area in front of the goal. In example twenty-five the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a micropower impulse radar (MIR) to sense the area in front of the goal via radar reflections. In example twenty-six the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a speaker to audibly indicate a successful goal, or to indicate a failed goal if the processing circuitry determines that the ball has not passed through the uprights. In example twenty-seven the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, wherein the indictor circuitry includes a first light to indicate the goal, and second light to indicate a failed goal. In example twenty-eight the smart field goal system may include the subject matter of example seventeen or any of the examples described herein, and further may comprise an RF transmitter to transmit an output of the indicator circuitry to a remote device, wherein the remote device comprises a smart umpire or an assist device, or a combination thereof. In example twenty-nine, machine-readable storage includes machine-readable instructions, when executed, to realize an apparatus as described in any preceding example. In example thirty, an apparatus comprises means to implement one or more functions described in any preceding example.

Although the claimed subject matter has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and/or scope of claimed subject matter. It is believed that the subject matter pertaining a to smart baseball first base or home plate and many of its attendant utilities will be understood by the forgoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and/or arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the claimed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, and/or further without providing substantial change thereto. It is the intention of the claims to encompass and/or include such changes.