Odysseus

The sport of Pool (or Snooker or Billiards) is an activity where a working knowledge of Newtonian Physics is a distinct advantage (cf. [1]). In order to pocket balls, one is expected to understand (implicitly or explicitly) the laws of conservation of momentum, and knowledge of euclidean geometry is required to understand and make many trick shots.

Recent work has attempts to uncover models of some of the more complex interactions that occur between the cue and ball, e.g., Cross recently investigated the principle of “Squirt”, whereby the white ball will follow a trajectory slightly off the expected path when side spin is put on it [2] (if too much side is put on the ball the player will miscue – leading the cue to slide around the white ball, causing it to deviate at a much greater angle). Although progress is being made in improving models for pool, the chaotic nature of interball, ball-table, and ball-cue interactions makes it impossible to fully predict the outcome of complex shots. This project will use basic physical models of pool to build tools to augment the physical pool table and cue with information to help the player to become a better player. It will require the building of a working physical model capable of plotting trajectories to successfully pot balls and get out of “snookers”. Camera will be trained on the table to capture the position of the balls and the model will be used to determine the most appropriate shot. The table and cue will then be augmented with information to assist the player to make the most advantageous shot. This augmentation could take the form of a line projected onto the table and instructions as to where the player should strike the cue ball. LEDs on the cue could suggest how hard the player should strike the white ball.

Appropriate feedback will help a player to improve their game by using feedback to show how they are making shots in real-time and to diagnose common problems (e.g., miscues). As a shot is taken, cameras will capture the movement and position of the balls to measure its success. The cue will be instrumented with accelerometers and rotation sensors to detect the position of the cue, and the type and strength of the shot. This information can be used to provide more detailed instructions to the player, allowing them to put spin on the ball to make more complex trick shots. By identifying a shot and measuring a playerʼs performance against that which is expected the system will help to diagnose their playing flaws and recommend training for the appropriate skill.

[1] Shepard, R. Amateur Physics for the Amateur Pool Player. Third Edition. 1999.

[2] Cross, R., "Cue and ball deflection (or “squirt”) in billiards," American Journal of Physics, Vol. 76, No. 3, pp. 205-212, 2008.

This project will require accelerometers, laser pointing or projection equipment, augmentation electronics for the cue, digital camera recorders, and a pool table and cues for instrumentation.