NEW Skytrak 3D Launch Moniter 2021 Prediction

[nicholasbufano]

Hey everyone. After analyzing the patent for the original Skytrak released in November 2014 and their current patent-pending Skytrak 3D Launch Monitor, I believe it is safe to say the new Skytrak will be released by the end of the year 2021, most likely November. The new Skytrak is going to have cameras and radar built into the unit, an ability to scan the face of golf clubs for a more accurate prediction of ball flight and more. You can find more information in the patent below.


Link to new Skytrak patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200282283A1/en

Link to current Skytrak patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140028838A1/en


The patent for the original Skytrak:

Started 11/2011

Filed 10/2013

Assigned 10/2013

Published 01/2014

Released 11/2014 --- released exactly 3 years from start, 10 months from publication, and 1 year 1 month from assignment


The patent for the new Skytrak:

Started 05/2018

Filed 05/2019 -

Published 09/2020 -

Assigned 11/2020

Released: ? May 2021 was 3 years from the start, JULY 2021 would be 10 months from publication, DECEMBER 2021 would be 1 year 1 month from assignment.


Assuming this new launch monitor will follow a similar timeline to their old one, which it's doing exactly right now, a Fall 2021 release seems plausible. Even if Rapsodo (the company that makes Skytrak) is ready for a release this summer as one of the predictions state, they would most likely release in the fall due to a higher demand for launch monitors considering golf starts to go out of season at that time.


Final Prediction: November 2021

[3on3putt]

I would think that if they were releasing a new product just a few months from now we would have heard some sort of announcement. Is there anything out there about this?

[JackedUpSwing]

Join date June2021 and first post lol....

[3on3putt]

Yeah I noticed that too and thought it was a bit strange for a very first post.

[nicholasbufano]

I've been researching about a new model Skytrak and couldn't really find anything about it. Figured I'd see if there are any patents for the new model and compare to the timeline of the original. Found this forum on google and thought I'd post what I found if anyone else was curious.

[Needsmoreeagles]

Maybe a long time lurker....

[Needsmoreeagles]

Maybe Gorilla marketing...

[nicholasbufano]

I would think that if they were releasing a new product just a few months from now we would have heard some sort of announcement. Is there anything out there about this?

Haven't found anything at all about this other than the patents. I could be completely wrong but everything added up from what I found. I'd expect to hear about it relatively shortly if they are going to release it this fall.

[Mirek_62]

This will no longer be for $ 2,000, but rather $ 10,000.

[nicholasbufano]

Probably. I'm hoping it's under $5k.

[Morini]

I think that is Rapsodo not skytrak. If you search Rapsodo patents, you will see filings for 2016, 2018 and 2019. As I am sure you all know, Rapsodo markets their own LM. No guarantees it will be under Skytrak brand. Of course, and LM is an LM.

[Pat.Mayo]

“ I believe it is safe to say”? What a load of bull! Think you need to get some hard evidence before you post that sort of rubbish

[Morini]

I just an opinion, and qualified with "I believe". Could have been written much more aggressively. And the filings are interesting. However, as mentioned, I am not to so sure it is Skytrak.

[Anansi]

These filings are really interesting. It sounds like Rapsodo is, in essence, combining upgraded SkyTrak camera hardware with an (MLM-derivative?) radar design, placing the system behind the golfer, and adding a layer of software analysis to allow a DTL camera/radar hybrid system to capture a full spectrum of ball and club data. It sounds like a combined Full Swing Kit and GC Quad. If this works it’ll be a big step forward for launch monitor tech, and a potential blockbuster depending on price point.

[dborden0]

They won't announce a new product until it is ready to sell. The announcement would completely shut down all existing sales. I've seen this before when announcing products, and then bring late to the market. It isn't a fun position to be in as a company.

[HappyGilmore102]

HI everyone

Yes, it would be awesome if something like this was available for 3-4k, wouldn't hurt skytrak sales and fits in a nice price point below GC2.

Its been 5 years, so something new is due.

Earnst sport ES16 tour will get better and hurt a lot of sales, as at 3k home users can just about afford that.

[Morini]

It was in reference to your comment that it wouldn't hurt Skytraks sales. In that regard, I think rapsodo is doing it's own thing nowadays.

[nicholasbufano]

Is it really only a sales agreement? Rapsodo is the filing name of the original Skytrak and this new launch monitor.

[Morini]

Yes, Rapsodo developed and manufactures the Skytrak. I believe they kept the Asian market, and licensed North America & Europe to Skygolf. The Rapsodo MLM is a competing product in that sense.

[Morini]

Ok, I read through the patent. It is very interesting, but I do not think it is a successor to Skytrak. Rather it seems to be a significant upgrade to the Rapsodo MLM, and will likely only be able to read full ball flight (ie. range) and not balls hit into a net.

It is a 4 camera system (two pairs) positioned behind the ball. Two high res slow frame rate cameras to read the ball. Then two low res high frame rate cameras to read the club head.

Ball: Quite simple. Two high res slow frame rate cameras (30 fps) track the ball as it flies down the range and will calculate 3d trajectory. It will not read spin directly, but rather will derive it from observed 3d ball movements. Therefore, this technology will not work if hit into a net etc as there isn't enough ball flight to derive spin.

Club head: The club head is "scanned" by the golfer prior to hitting by rotating it and a 3d model of the club head is created. The radar unit is used to turn on the low resolution high frame rate capture, and low res images of the club head is captured. The trick here is that the low res club head "blob" is compared to the 3d model, and it figures out club head orientation and position at each frame. This is then used to created a 3d recreation of the club head movements.

The unit can't see the ball until it flies, so ball speed is measured some distance away (third frame is 20 feet away for driver), and ball speed is then used to estimate time of impact, which is compared to 3d club head position at that exact point in time. Then face angle, AoA etc can be measured.

I know that Quad and TM4 often differ on face angle because the disagree on exact moment of impact. I think the same would apply here. The patent claims calculation of impact to 0.1 milliseconds. I think such accuracy would be very difficult to achieve calculating ball speed from low frame rate cameras, but who knows. Also, if the ball launch angles, club path and impact location is known with a high degree of accuracy, the face angle can be derived indirectly. Path and AoA would be very accurate with this system. Of course wind will affect ball flight, so not sure how accurate launch data will be if spin isn't directly measured.

Interesting, but clearly not an LM that is useful for sim. Brilliant, though, if the low frame rate 2d to 3d reference model works. Will allow for cheaper cameras, so competitive advantage, just the way Skytrak can use $30 dollar cameras to compete against $3000 ones. This seems to be Batuhan Okur's M.O. Clever use of cheaper technology to dominate lower segment of market.

edit:

Upon a second read, it does say that the high frame rate cameras will also read the ball. Maybe it will do so with high degree of accuracy. I am not sure. I believe it will be very difficult from behind with low res cameras. Maybe with tons of sub pixel image processing. VLA and HLA will be no problem. Spin I am not so sure.

[Morini]

So if the high frame rate low res cameras can get accurate launch ball data, it can obviously be used hitting into a net. But it does sound like an upgraded MLM, so a range device. If placed behind the ball, the device must be some distance away (so it isn't in the way during the back swing). GIven that it is low res, if it is to see the logo to calculate spin, optics need to be used. Optics bring depth of field issues into play and also reduces field of view. Then there is the issue of illumination. Hi frame rate cameras require decent illumination as is, but if the device is several feet away, illumination intensity requirements go up exponentially. Should be interesting to see what this can do in the end. I am guessing that it will not read ball data well for balls hit into a net/screen.

[Morini]

Link to Batuhan's patent fillings. https://patents.justia.com/inventor/batuhan-okur

[Morini]

Well the Garmin Approach R10 was revealed today. I wonder when Rapsodo will launch this device ... if ever. Sounds interesting. I like clever unconventional approaches.