Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) is class of deep learning algorithm, comprising of 2 networks – a generator and discriminator, both competing against each other to solve a goal. For instance, for image generation, the generator goal is to generate real like images which discriminator can’t classify as a fake or unreal image. The discriminator goal is to classify real images from fake ones. Initially the generator network would start off from blank images and keep on generating better images after each iteration, up to a point it start generating real like images. The discriminator network would take an input of real images and the images provided by the generator network and classifies the image as real or fake, up to a point where generator start generating real like images which is hard for the discriminator to discriminate. The same algorithm is being applied in other domains also. However, based on my experiments, lot of optimization need to happen for large image sizes. I had to create a custom generator/discriminator network to work against input size of 128*128 and 256*256 image pixels and lot of iterations to generate real-like images. The training data used was of Indian Bird.
Here is a snippet of my talk on GAN at the Eclipse Summit Conference, which demonstrates the experiment.
For an architecture stack perspective, you have the low powered embedded device installed inside the ball or embedded as part of the design and manufacturing process, its provides at least 6 Axis combo sensor for accelerometer and gyroscopes reading to identify any movement in 3d space. A Motion SDK is installed on top of the device to identify any movements in general and communicate the reading to the cloud. In cloud, we have the learning model or the training data. Basically, we would ask an expert batsman to bat and play various expert strokes like cover drive etc. and record their movements from sensors (bats/pads etc) as well as visuals (postures etc), this would be used as the training / test data and comparison would be made against it. As we are comparing 3D models, machine learning approaches like dimension reduction can be employed ( and many new innovation approaches) to compare two motion and predict the similarity. Similar training data is captured from an expert baller, along with other conceptual information like hand movements, pitch angles etc.
In order to build out the solution, you need to employ computer vision algorithms on the edge. You can build this using commercial available API’s or using various open source deep learning framework like Theano, TensorFlow, Café etc. Deep learning is a branch of machine learning for learning multiple levels of representation through neural networks. Neural network in image processing, automatically infer rules for recognizing images instead of you extracting thousands of features to detect images.
