Pros and Cons of the LX system compared to other systems
Pros :
Super easy setup!
No wiring, lamps or cameras to install !
System is totally portable and can be moved to other locations with the utmost of ease.
No slots in the hitting surface with optical sensors.
Real photographic evidence of both all the ball and club data including ball spin.
Last but certainly not least: The unbeatable price of the new GSA LX series.
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Cons :
As with all floor mounted launch monitor systems, although the system is suitable for both left and right hand players,
the ability to combine both in a flight during a game is not really practical. For both left and right handed playability the LX Studio is recommended.
Principle of operation
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The LX launch monitor captures three images of the ball during the first moments of it's flight.
Image processing detects ball spin rate and spin axis, ball launch angle, path and speed.
Two (switchable) trigger methods are used to trigger the high speed cameras (6 micro second shutter speed)
1. A 3000 fps line scan camera that detects the ball as it passes though it's field of view
2.An acoustic signal (impact sound of club striking the ball) for use outdoors on the driving range
The trigger signal goes through a precise digital delay circuit so that the exact time interval between the two images is known.
Knowing the time between the two captured images allows us to calculate the ball speed, spin rate and axis tilt.
Spin rate is calculated by measuring the line angle deviation between the two images with the known time it took to get there.
Spin axis tilt is calculated by a ratio of side spin to back spin
The LX calculates the side spin (vertical axis rotation) in rpm by measuring the distance the spin line or ball logo has moved forward or backward (clockwise or anti-clockwise) within the two frames as viewed from the side.
Knowing the circumference of the ball (134 mm), the distance the line has moved back or forth in mm and the time it took to get there we can calculate the side spin rate.
Knowing both the back spin and side spin we can calculate the spin axis.
We can then back engineer this tilt to show a club face angle (open or closed) at impact to the ball.
Ball trajectories will fade, draw, slice or hook depending on the spin axis.
Launch angle is simply calculated from measuring the height variation between the two images.
Ball path - direction left or right - is calculated by measuring the variation of ball size in the two images.
e.g. For a right-handed player, if the ball path is left it will be moving away from the camera so that the ball in the second image will appear smaller than the first.
Likewise, if the ball path is right then the ball in the second image will appear larger than the first.
Vice versa for Left handed players of course
LX setup procedure
Apart from installing and starting the software and connecting the USB to the PC and the power cable, there's basically no setup required.
All camera settings are pre-configured and preset so that there is no need for any adjustments.
Just place the LX down 1 1/2 to 2 feet away from the ball hitting position, in-line with either the right hand side of the unit - if you are a right handed player - or the left side - if you are left handed player.
Place the unit such that it as square as possible to the hitting direction. When you tee-up - or place the ball down - you will see a green LED light-up.
This indicates that the system has detected a ball on the tee. You are now ready to make your swing.
If the system detects a ball launch then ball data will be sent to the game software and a ball will launch in the game. The green light will then go off ready for the next shot.
If you waggle the club in front the line scan camera, the full frame cameras will be triggered - indicated by the yellow LED - but as the system will detect that the ball didn't move there will be no inadvertent ball launches in the game software. In this case the green LED will remain on.
If for some reason you want to re-tee up just hold your hand or club in front of the line scan camera for a couple of seconds. This will restart the ball on tee or tee position detection procedure.
Full swing analysis windows are shown after the shot.
For indoor use, the system can be used as golf simulator with all the great courses we offer.
LX Q & A
We get many questions about the LX series launch monitors so have decided to publish some of them here. Note: This section is still under construction
1. What is the difference between the LX Lite model and the LX Pro version and what are the advantages of the Pro version ?
LX Pro uses two full frame cameras to capture two frames of the ball in flight whereas the LX Lite uses only a single camera to capture one frame of the stationary ball on the tee or launch position and the other frame of the ball in flight.
Originally the LX Pro was only intended for the software to detect ball spin without markings on the ball but some feel that the accuracy of the system will be greater if calculations are made from two images of the ball in flight instead of one image of the ball flight so we offer both. The software to detect ball spin without markings on the ball is still in development and probably won't be available until the fall of 2013.
Additionally, the LX Pro features a line scan camera trigger. The full frame cameras are in an idle state and grab images only when a ball has been hit which is detected either by a microphone or a line scan camera. To date we are not sure if the line scan camera method has any great advantage over a microphone method as we have made many advances in mic design recently.
2. What is the difference between a line scan camera and a full frame camera ?
A full frame camera uses a 2 dimensional array of pixels like a normal camera to capture 2 dimensional images. Full frame cameras like ours use a 1280 column * 960 row array of sensors (pixels).
The LX's full frame cameras are used to capture complete 2D images of the ball.
A line scan camera on the other hand has only a 1 dimension array of pixels. i.e. just one line instead of 1280 lines (columns).
The advantage of a line scan camera is that is very fast. In our case this will be 960 times faster than our normal full frame camera. In fact our in house developed line scan camera operates at 9600 frames (or lines) per second.
It's disadvantage of course is that the image is not complete and unless the we store each line of the moving ball to build up a complete 2D image, the image itself isn't of much use.
The line scan camera in the LX however, is not used to capture images of the ball. It is only used to detect a flying ball and trigger the full frame camera(s). In this application we only need to see a tiny part of the ball.
4. The LX seems very inexpensive when compared to other camera or radar based launch monitors on the market today. Why is this? Surely it can't be as good?
Indeed, we were asking ourselves the same questions - especially when you think that the manufacturing costs of launch monitors in the $7,000 to $15,000 range is probably less than a $1000.
We suspect that it is due to the company's structure which usually consists of CEOs, investors, development, marketing, outsourced manufacturing, corporate headquarters etc which all add to the costs.
GSA Golf - on the other hand - doesn't factor in the product development time and expense on the price of the product, has no investors and does all the manufacturing in house.
We basically only charge for the cost of components and time to manufacture.
Surely it can't be as good?
We've done quite a number of tests on our competitor's products and quite frankly can't confirm that they are that good at all.
We've had shots that should have gone left but go right and vice-versa,
topped shots that should show a negative launch angle and only skim across the ground a few yards we're making a perfect launch in the air and carrying 350 yards,
and for the life of us, we couldn't get a a ball to slice or hook no matter how hard we tried on any of the systems. So if you are working on a fix for that slice or hook, then just buy one of these machines and it will miraculously disappear.
So the answer to this question is: yes we believe the LX is every bit as good if not better .
5. If the LX triggers cameras with a line scan camera, what is the microphone trigger for ?
The line scan trigger camera won't function correctly outdoors in direct sunlight. As users don't normally chip and putt on the driving range, we can use a mic to pick up the impact sound of the club striking the ball when used on the driving range.
It would be nice to just use a mic to trigger the cameras at all times and indeed you can increase the mic's sensitivity to pick up the smallest of putts but then - when making a full shot - the whoosh of the air from the fast moving club head is picked-up and prematurely triggers the camera. So the mic is only used for full shots.
As the LX is designed to detect all shots from 200 mph drives to 2 inch putts - in order for it to be used as a golf simulator and play a full round of golf - we had to devise an alternative method of triggering the cameras.
However, we have been reseaching the problem and recent developments show that it is possible to use the mic method for most shots including putting.
6. Where can I see and test the LX? Will it be at the PGA Show in Orlando ?
We didn't make the show this year but we will be there next year. The LX is our first real commercial product and should be available to see and test in selected golf stores and via resellers around the world shortly.
7. Do all versions of the LX function with the E6 software ?
Yes
8. Do the balls require markings on them to detect spin ?
At the present time, yes. These are not special markings though. The LX can pickup spin rate and spin axis from the manufacturer's logo or lettering on the ball provided these are dark in color.
We are developing software that will detect spin and spin axis without markings later in the year.
9. What happens if a ball is used without markings ?
If the system cannot detect markings on the ball then the ball will launch in the game software with estimated spin rates based on the launch angle and speed of the ball.
10. I already have a club tracking sensor pad / mat - can the LX be used with it?
Basically yes. If the club tracking mat is one of ours then both hardware and software are fully integrated.
If you are using a pad from another manufacturer and the manufacturer is not using our parameter API (Application Program Interface) then the ball data from the LX will not be used in their game software but will be graphically displayed on your screen using a screen overlaying technique.
11. What are the optional extra flash units for?
The external add-on Xenon flash units are used when it is required to capture high resolution images of the ball with very fast shutter speeds (< 6 micro seconds). In normal operation high resolution images are not required but later software image processing development that will detect ball spin without ball markings will require these.
12. Do the LEDs burn out and require replacing periodically?
No. The LEDs are not being overdriven and should last some 50,000 hours.
13. Do the external Xenon flash units burn out and require replacing periodically and if so what is the cost of the replacements?
Eventually Yes. The life cycle of the flash units are rated at 50,000 flashes though. Replacement flash lamps are only $15 each.
14. Can the LX withstand the impact of a stray fast ball or club head hitting it.
We haven't actually tried it but most probably it would only suffer minor damage to a LED lens and maybe a camera lens if it got a direct hit. Both of which are inexpensive to replace.
The case itself is very strong so would only get minor dents and marks.
However, we realize that there will be situations where added protection would be desirable: i.e. when being used by inexperienced golf beginners or for the kids.
So we have come up with an acrylic glass protection plate for the LX (see above image) that will be supplied standard.
15. Can the LX Lite be upgraded to LX Pro specs at a later date?
Yes, we'll be supplying an upgrade kit that will consist of a second camera that fits in the case, a new front panel and an optional line scan camera that is mounted externally.
LX camera images
The above camera composite shots show the LX capturing spin, spin axis, vertical launch angle, ball path and speed using a ball with a stripe
The above and below camera shots show the LX capturing spin,spin axis, vertical launch angle, ball path and speed using a ball without a stripe and just picking up the manufacturers logo markings.
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The above 2 images show the camera's high level of detail. Resolution is 1 to 1 here. i.e. as the camera sees the ball.
see more LX Test camera images here
The side panel consists of a number of dials, trimmers, connectors and switches. These are:
1. Trig in: this is to allow the user to optionally trigger the system using an optical sensor hitting mat like our new PX1.
2. Trig out: this is to allow the user to add on a club tracking camera.
3. LS +/-: Line scan camera sensitivity dial
4. Mic +/-: Microphone trigger sensitivity dial
5. Mic/Ext - LS: Switch to switch off the line scan camera trigger and use either the Mic or an external trigger source.
6. Mic/Ext: Switch to select Mic or External trigger when the Line Scan camera is switched off
7. Delay: Screw trimmer to adjust the amount of delay between the time the ball being struck and the camera taking a shot of the ball in flight. (Note: this is factory set so normally wouldn't require adjustment)
8. Flash Sync: Screw trimmer to adjust the synchronization between the flash and the camera. (Note: this is factory set so normally wouldn't require adjustment)
LX optional extras
Optical sensor trigger mat
The LX's full frame camera(s) are normally triggered either by the ball passing the line scan camera or a microphone that picks up the impact sound of the club striking the ball.
Alternatively, the trigger signal can come from an optical sensor embedded into a grass fiber hitting mat as shown above.
Using the PX1 mat with the LX additionally gives you club speed and club face angle
Add-on super mini Windows7 PC - fits to the back of the LX1 - $ 999
or board level PC built into the LX1 casing
7 inch color monitor
Battery pack for use outdoors
(Note: LX comes with standard wall power supply for use indoors)
more LX optional extras coming soon
The GSA LX series will feature a number of advanced optional extras in the near future
1. Ball spin detection without marked balls
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This low cost upgrade to the LX launch monitor will allow the system to detect ball spin without using marked balls.
This is accomplished by using 2 cameras to obtain two in-flight images and using stereoscopic image matching processes to determine the rotation shift and axis.
The above 3 images show a ball rolling.
The ball on the right is the first frame, the middle is the second frame and the third is a composite of both the first and second images.
This composite image shows a non match but after processing an image match will be found which will determine the rotation and axis.
2. Self leveling system
This low cost extra will ensure that the LX launch monitor provides accurate launch angle data even when the unit is not on level ground.
The system uses a special tilt detection chip coupled to a micro-controller.
Theory of Operation
The chip has a chamber of gas with a heating element in the center and four temperature sensors around its edge.
When the chip is level, the hot gas pocket rises to the top-center of the chamber, and all the sensors will measure the same temperature.
By tilting the chip, the hot gas will collect closer to some of temperature sensors.
By comparing the sensor temperatures, accurate 2 axis tilt can be detected.
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