Home-Run Measurement for the Chicago White Sox

Problem:

In preparation for a Home Run Derby, the Chicago White Sox baseball team found itself using an outdated manual system to estimate the distance a ball would have traveled on the ground had it not landed in the outfield seats. The system also relied on old outfield dimensions, making it even more difficult to make accurate estimates.

IPRO Project: Home-Run Measurement for the Chicago White Sox

Solution:

The IPRO team resurveyed the field, applied physics and aerodynamics formulas to estimate ball behavior, and created a database of distances from home plate and a “look-up map” for seating and concourse areas. Students also developed the conceptual design for a computer software and camera-based application that uses trajectory algorithms to calculate home run distances in virtual real-time. The White Sox continue to use the IPRO team’s home run distance map whenever a ball leaves the park.

“Fans enjoy knowing home run distances as soon as they happen. Realizing that our old measurement system had to be improved and updated in time for the All-Star Home Run Derby, it made sense for us to partner with the minds at IIT to come up with a better way.
We are elated with the results!”
—Scott Reifert, vice president of communications, Chicago White Sox

KlarAqua

Problem:

The World Health Organization estimates as many as half the populations in developing nations suffer from a lack of clean water and sanitation. Water-purification systems can be expensive to produce and difficult for its intended users to operate.

IPRO Project: KlarAqua

Solution:

For this combination IPRO and EnPRO project, students developed a low-cost water-purification system that could be locally produced in Mexico without electricity, chemicals, or heavy maintenance. The KlarAqua system is portable, sustainable, and removes bacteria and common groundwater pollutants. In collaboration with IIT’s partner university, Mexico’s Tec de Monterrey, students field-tested KlarAqua in Mexico. For their efforts, IIT’s team was recognized through the Idea to Product social entrepreneurship competition.