Automatic umpiring system

A device comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• control one or more cameras to each capture an individual video stream, each of the one or more cameras being directed at a common focal point on a sports field;
• detect a batter near the common focal point in each of the individual video streams;
• construct a virtual strike zone above the common focal point and in front of the batter based at least in part on each of the individual video streams and one or more of one or more stance characteristics of the batter and one or more physical characteristics of the batter;
• detect a pitching motion performed by a pitcher within one or more of the individual video streams;
• identify a ball leaving a hand of the pitcher within one or more of the individual video streams;
• in response to identifying the ball, track the ball within one or more of the individual video streams as the ball travels towards the common focal point;
• predict, based on the tracking of the ball, a physical point where the ball passed over the common focal point;
• determine whether the physical point where the ball passed over the common focal point is within the virtual strike zone;
• in response to determining that the physical point where the ball passed over the common focal point is within the virtual strike zone, send, to a user device, an indication of a strike call;
• and
• receive, from the user device, and in response to sending the indication of the ball or the indication of the strike to the user device, a confirmation of the received indication or a reversal of the received indication.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a computing device to:

• control one or more cameras to each capture an individual video stream, each of the one or more cameras being directed at a common focal point on a sports field;
• detect a batter near the common focal point in each of the individual video streams;
• construct a virtual strike zone above the common focal point and in front of the batter based at least in part on each of the individual video streams and one or more of one or more stance characteristics of the batter and one or more physical characteristics of the batter;
• detect a pitching motion performed by a pitcher within one or more of the individual video streams;
• identify a ball leaving a hand of the pitcher within one or more of the individual video streams;
• in response to identifying the ball, track the ball within one or more of the individual video streams as the ball travels towards the common focal point;
• predict, based on the tracking of the ball, a physical point where the ball passed over the common focal point;
• determine whether the physical point where the ball passed over the common focal point is within the virtual strike zone;
• in response to determining that the physical point where the ball passed over the common focal point is within the virtual strike zone, send, to a user device, an indication of a strike call;
• and
• receive, from the user device, and in response to sending the indication of the ball or the indication of the strike to the user device, a confirmation of the received indication or a reversal of the received indication.