We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
Hawkeye is an advanced video capture and data collecting system that utilizes an array of 12 cameras to capture video of pitches, batted balls, player movement, and more. The captured video is then processed and analyzed by Hawkeye’s software system to generate useful data, transferred to Google Cloud, then ultimately distributed to teams and MLB broadcast partners for various purposes.
Hawkeye began its partnership with MLB in 2014 with the launch of its video replay system. This system has since been able to successfully help umpires confirm or overturn over 1000 calls per season, increasing call accuracy within the game.
Recently, Hawkeye has adapted its video tracking system to accurately track pitches, batted balls, and player movement. This led to a new partnership with MLB in 2020 that had every MLB park outfitted with Hawkeye camera systems.
Hawkeye was also announced as the new technology to power Statcast, replacing Trackman, as it delivers more accurate data and advanced metrics for players to use and fans to enjoy.
Measurements/Applications
Hawkeye’s camera array system consists of 12 cameras placed throughout the ballpark, positioned so that any area on the field is covered by at least one camera. Five cameras are pointed around the area between the mound and home plate, these are dedicated primarily towards pitch tracking.
The remaining seven cameras are pointed at various locations covering the rest of the field, and these are dedicated to capturing batted balls and player movement. This full-field coverage allows for more complete tracking of every action before, during, and after each play.
Like Trackman before it, Hawkeye can measure movement metrics of pitches and batted balls like velocity, release angle, vertical/horizontal movement, launch angle, exit velocity, and more.
However, Hawkeye can measure these variables with much greater accuracy than Trackman because of the constant stream of high-resolution video being captured from the cameras.
Hawkeye can also collect data on metrics that were previously unmeasurable with Trackman. Spin axis can now be directly measured instead of having to be estimated from the observed flight of the ball like previous technology had done.
Movement tracking of players and orientation of body parts throughout a play are also now possible with Hawkeye. This tracking capability also means that movements like player stride lengths, arm angles, and even bat speed and swing plane can be measured and analyzed.
Summary
The versatility of Hawkeye is incredibly valuable as the accuracy of the data, and the scope of player tracking coupled with statcast allows for the information collected to be better utilized by various departments of a baseball organization such as player development, biomechanics, strength & conditioning, and more.
Related Links:
https://builtin.com/consumer-tech/mlb-statcast-tech-update-hawk-eye-integration
https://technology.mlblogs.com/introducing-statcast-2020-hawk-eye-and-google-cloud-a5f5c20321b8
https://tht.fangraphs.com/theres-lots-of-physics-to-do-now-that-hawk-eye-is-up-and-running/
Comments