Sink every shot with this robotic backboard | Arduino Blog

With many years of practice and discipline, you too can improve your basketball skills. Or you could just choose to play with Shane Wighton’s automated backboard that sinks nearly any shot that you take.

The setup uses a Microsoft Kinect, along with a Windows-based computer to calculate the inbound ball’s trajectory. On approach it passes data to an Arduino, which then moves the hoop into position via three large steppers and a linkage system. 

While this compensates for the “occasional” error, as shown in the excellent explainer/demo video below, you do have to actually hit the backboard for it to work!