Project number
16007
Organization
Boeing
Academic year
2016-2017
RoboUmp is designed to evaluate whether a pitch is a strike more accurately and consistently than a human umpire. The design uses vertically oriented light detection and ranging, or LIDAR, sensors to measure the height of the ball above home plate, and microcontrollers process the sensor data to determine whether the ball is in the strike zone. The system incorporates three strike zones for players in different height ranges. If the LIDAR detects a ball in the strike zone, the microcontrollers relay the strike call to the umpire via an LED display. The system is accurate to within 1 inch vertically and 0.5 inches horizontally at ball speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. RoboUmp can be moved easily and installed without interfering with the players or the game.