Automated system for ball launching, visual occlusion, and data acquisition in a ball-hitting task

Abstract

Investigations of the mechanisms underlying visual-motor coordination traditionally have been limited to static situations or one-dimensional motions. Technical advances are required to determine whether experimental results from these restricted behavior domains generalize to dynamic action in three dimensions, such as ball-hitting. In this paper, we describe electromechanical devices, under computer control, for projecting a table-tennis ball, selecting monocular or binocular visual input, and recording ball-hitting performance. The automated system allows freedom of movement for the batter, can be used in a moderately sized laboratory, and can be made from easily obtainable, inexpensive parts. © 1991 Psychonomic Society, Inc.