Disc throwing robot a possibility?

[F. Howl]

Has anyone seen any analysis at all of RPMs? Plenty of disc speed data out there, but has anyone filmed the throw from above with a high speed camera, with a mark on the disc's edge, and figured out how much spin we are putting on these discs?

Would need this figure to set this robot up correctly.

 

[zgmc]

I disagree. If I was using a robot to decide which disc to buy, I would want the robot to throw the disc the same exact way each time: flat and level. The only parameter I would want adjusted is the disc velocity (mph). This way I could easily understand it's flight path and decide how over/under stable the disc is.

Who cares how the robot throws the disc? Are you a robot? Just throw the damn disc yourself!

 

[F. Howl]

Who cares how the robot throws the disc? Are you a robot? Just throw the damn disc yourself!

But a robot programmed to mimic the average pros throw? That would standardize the flight numbers across all manufacturers and add legitimacy to our sport. You don't see the benefit in that?

 

[DiscFifty]

Who cares how the robot throws the disc? Are you a robot? Just throw the damn disc yourself!

Play along with the hypotheticals man....c'mon. lol.. We're talking videos the manufacture would make of the robot throwing dozens of times, multiple discs, etc, etc. That would be super useful to watch.

 

[DiscFifty]

But a robot programmed to mimic the average pros throw? That would standardize the flight numbers across all manufacturers and add legitimacy to our sport. You don't see the benefit in that?

Still don't think you want the robot to mimic multiple styles, for a legitimate rating across the board, it would have to be thrown generically level/flat each time imop.

 

[F. Howl]

Still don't think you want the robot to mimic multiple styles, for a legitimate rating across the board, it would have to be thrown generically level/flat each time imop.

Yes, but that flat release with the same speed and rotation for every throw, would provide a bench mark. A committee of current pros could help set that first benchmark, and from there on, HSS and LSS would be standardized.

Let's say you have a nose up problem and you threw significantly slower than the average pro. You still would benefit from knowing the flight numbers when making a purchase, because, for example, all discs that are HSS-1, 2LSS based on the standardized rating, fly like HSS0, LSS3 for you.

 

[zgmc]

But a robot programmed to mimic the average pros throw? That would standardize the flight numbers across all manufacturers and add legitimacy to our sport. You don't see the benefit in that?

This would help the average pro. Define average pro.

This wouldn't add any legitimacy. It also wouldn't standardize anything. First you would have to standardize and calibrate these robot throwers. What happens when the discraft robot falls out of calibration with the innova robot? Who is going to police that? Or is there one single disc golf robot that every manufacturer has to wait in line for?

 

[Jolt]

A video of a "throwing robot" throwing a Destroyer. Force, Raider and all the "top distance drivers" at the same speed/Rpm/angle would rack up a ton of views

But IF such a robot would become standard for setting the discs flight numbers. . .. would we not risk that the manufacturers would start making discs that would preform well in the robot throws….and may not be as good for a real person to throw?

It would become a "hunt" for every manufacturer to have the disc that the robot gets the most distance with

 

[zgmc]

Play along with the hypotheticals man....c'mon. lol.. We're talking videos the manufacture would make of the robot throwing dozens of times, multiple discs, etc, etc. That would be super useful to watch.

It would be as useful to watch as it is watching Paul Macbeth throw discs on video.

 

[Jolt]

It would be as useful to watch as it is watching Paul Macbeth throw discs on video.

People loves to see Paul throw . .

But we will never see Paul pick up a stack of drivers from different manufacturers and throw them

 

[tsharp]

FIRST robotics did it in 2013

Also notice the chain assembly at the top of each pyramid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ0VNzIvHx0

 

[zgmc]

A video of a "throwing robot" throwing a Destroyer. Force, Raider and all the "top distance drivers" at the same speed/Rpm/angle would rack up a ton of views

But IF such a robot would become standard for setting the discs flight numbers. . .. would we not risk that the manufacturers would start making discs that would preform well in the robot throws….and may not be as good for a real person to throw?

It would become a "hunt" for every manufacturer to have the disc that the robot gets the most distance with

Ton of views? As in 2000? Yeah probably. Derail alert.. I was just looking at view counts on dg videos. I haven't watched any dg on YouTube in a couple years. The views used to be 10K maybe 30K for big tourneys. Now I'm seeing jomez videos with 200-500K or more? I think they are buying a substantial number of views...

 

[zgmc]

People loves to see Paul throw . .

But we will never see Paul pick up a stack of drivers from different manufacturers and throw them

What's the point here? Make a goofy robot to throw discs for YouTube views? Or make a precision machine that throws discs exactly the same each time in order to standardize flight ratings?

 

[Hampstead]

One benefit I could see would be throwing high speed drivers versus fairways and mids at lower speeds. Perhaps it could help newer players better understand why they have no business throwing high speed discs.

 

[Jolt]

What's the point here? Make a goofy robot to throw discs for YouTube views? Or make a precision machine that throws discs exactly the same each time in order to standardize flight ratings?

I think the best would be if PDGA had a precision machine. .
But i don´t think the manufacturers would like that at all.

OT dream video would be Paul, Eagle and Simon to take the 10 best selling drivers from different manufacturers and just go out and throw them. . .but that will never happen

 

[Putt for D'oh]

I think the best would be if PDGA had a precision machine. .
But i don´t think the manufacturers would like that at all.

OT dream video would be Paul, Eagle and Simon to take the 10 best selling drivers from different manufacturers and just go out and throw them. . .but that will never happen

You keep mentioning PDGA, they would have no interest in this. They are given discs, check to see if they match legal specs and approve or not. How they actually fly is of zero concern to them, nor should it be.

A major retailer like Infinite, Marshal Street, OTB etc... might have more interest. The ability to move a larger variety of products and plastics, there are already flight comparison charts and they put their own flight numbers out there. Something that makes that more consistent I would think could only help. People are always asking I throw this disc but I like this other plastic or manufacturer what should I throw?

For me personally it seems something fun to think about for MY discs. I can't throw 5 throws in the exact same way in a row so I really have no idea how some of my discs compare. It would be interesting to see how some of these similar plastics different speeds, different states of wear, all that flys when the human inconsistency factor is eliminated.

The mythbusters idea seems great to me. An arm that mimics a DG throw, that actually can grip the disc with fingers, adjustable for grip strength and arm speed. Can see the way two discs compare, know how one works for me and have an idea how the other might behave.

 

[DiscFifty]

Yes, but that flat release with the same speed and rotation for every throw, would provide a bench mark. A committee of current pros could help set that first benchmark, and from there on, HSS and LSS would be standardized.

I'm pretty sure we both just said (or at least meant) the same thing.

 

[Jolt]

You keep mentioning PDGA, they would have no interest in this. They are given discs, check to see if they match legal specs and approve or not. How they actually fly is of zero concern to them, nor should it be.

A major retailer like Infinite, Marshal Street, OTB etc... might have more interest. The ability to move a larger variety of products and plastics, there are already flight comparison charts and they put their own flight numbers out there. Something that makes that more consistent I would think could only help. People are always asking I throw this disc but I like this other plastic or manufacturer what should I throw?

For me personally it seems something fun to think about for MY discs. I can't throw 5 throws in the exact same way in a row so I really have no idea how some of my discs compare. It would be interesting to see how some of these similar plastics different speeds, different states of wear, all that flys when the human inconsistency factor is eliminated.

The mythbusters idea seems great to me. An arm that mimics a DG throw, that actually can grip the disc with fingers, adjustable for grip strength and arm speed. Can see the way two discs compare, know how one works for me and have an idea how the other might behave.

the reason i had for starting to talk about the PDGA was just to have THEM set the flight numbers. . and for that a machine would be nice to have.
...but that´s never going to happen

But the "Infinite, Marshal Street, OTB etc" would be really fun. . i look at Infinites flight numbers more than the manufacturers own

 

[DiscFifty]

Ton of views? As in 2000? Yeah probably. Derail alert.. I was just looking at view counts on dg videos. I haven't watched any dg on YouTube in a couple years. The views used to be 10K maybe 30K for big tourneys. Now I'm seeing jomez videos with 200-500K or more? I think they are buying a substantial number of views...

They have over 100k subscribers, so I could see some popular vids racking up decent numbers. Especially if subscribers share their videos, etc, etc. I think a few of their vids showed up in general (non disc golfers) recommended lists a few times causing a spike in views.

 

[F. Howl]

This would help the average pro. Define average pro.

No, it wouldn't just help the average pro...for what I just wrote. And "average pro"? However you want to take that. It was just for brevity. Take a sample of the top touring pros arm speeds, or get readings on every drive at hole 1 at worlds one year and average that. Factor in speed of disc and distance of the holes as well to use, and find a median. Whatever.

This wouldn't add any legitimacy.

You don't see how a flight rating system for every manufacturer across the board? It'd be like the numbering system for golf irons, before manufacturers had random names for them like mashies and niblicks.

It also wouldn't standardize anything. First you would have to standardize and calibrate these robot throwers. What happens when the discraft robot falls out of calibration with the innova robot? Who is going to police that? Or is there one single disc golf robot that every manufacturer has to wait in line for?

This is all hypothetical since I don't think the PDGA would ever have the resources or desire to do this.... buuut if it wasn't them, then the manufacturer whose numbers were off would glaringly stand out. Like Trilogy a few years back. They heard complaints and had a ratings update, 2017-18.