Basketball launching device

A basketball launching device with automated, motorized launch distance adjustment, said basketball launching device comprising:

• a user interface configured to receive user input regarding locations at a basketball playing surface for basketballs to be passed as part of a practice session, wherein at least some of said user input is provided at varying linear distance from, and angular position relative to, a visual depiction at the user interface of the basketball launching device to represent the locations at the basketball playing surface, which vary in linear distance from, and angular position relative to, the basketball launching device;
• a throwing mechanism for launching the basketballs toward said locations at the basketball playing surface for a player to catch and shoot towards a basketball goal, said throwing mechanism comprising:
• an arm;
• an axle located along the arm such that said arm acts as a catapult;
• a spring, having a first end attached to a first portion of said arm at a first side of said axle for causing movement of said arm, when released, where movement of said arm includes movement of a second portion of said arm to launch one of for the basketballs located thereat;
• an engagement arm located rearward of said arm and configured to selectively engage said arm;
• a motor configured to selectively initiate release of said arm to launch the basketballs when operated upon corresponding operational command from a controller;
• and linkage arms interconnected and configured for relative movement;
• a distance adjustment mechanism comprising a linear actuator, a flexible member, and one or more linkage arms, where a first end of said one or more linkage arms of the distance adjustment mechanism is connected to a first end of said flexible member, a second end of said flexible member is connected to said linear actuator, and a second end of said one or more linkage arms of the distance adjustment mechanism is connected to a second end of the spring of said throwing mechanism thereby mechanically linking the spring of the throwing mechanism with the linear actuator of the distance adjustment mechanism, wherein the mechanical linkage between the spring of the throwing mechanism and the linear actuator is provided such that tension forces of the spring of said throwing mechanism are adjusted by operation of said linear actuator;
• and
• the controller in electronic communication with said user interface, said throwing mechanism, and said distance adjustment mechanism, wherein said controller is configured to receive data regarding said user input from said user interface and, in response, automatically provide electronic instructions to said throwing mechanism, which when received by said throwing mechanism, cause operations to be undertaken by said throwing mechanism which cause at least one of the basketballs to be launched towards each one of said locations at the basketball playing surface based, at least in part, on the respective angular position of the locations of the user input relative to the representation at the user interface of the basketball launching device indicated in said user input, and to the distance adjustment mechanism, when received by said distance adjustment mechanism, cause the linear actuator of the distance adjustment mechanism to lengthen or to shorten, based, at least in part, on the respective linear distance of the locations of the user input relative to the representation at the user interface of the basketball launching device indicated in said user input thereby adjusting a longitudinal length of, and therefore the tension forces in, the spring and an initial launch velocity of the basketballs launched by said throwing mechanism.