The Need

Flying-disc activities are enjoyed across sports, recreation, pet training, and adaptive athletics, yet participants often rely on a second person to provide consistent throws. This limits opportunities for independent practice, recreational play, and accessibility for individuals with mobility limitations. Existing solutions are typically designed for narrow use cases, such as pet toys or specialized sporting equipment, and often lack the controllability, consistency, and versatility required to support a broad range of users and applications. A flexible, automated disc-launching platform could enable new forms of training, recreation, and inclusive participation.

The Technology

OSU engineers have developed an automated flying-disc launching system capable of delivering repeatable, user-configurable disc trajectories without requiring a human thrower. The platform combines automated disc handling, adjustable launch settings, and remote operation to create a versatile solution for a variety of disc-based activities. By enabling users to control launch timing and flight characteristics, the technology can support recreation, athletic training, pet exercise, and adaptive sports applications. The system is designed to provide reliable, consistent performance while allowing users to tailor the experience to their specific needs and skill levels.

Commercial Applications

• Training and practice equipment for disc sports, including Ultimate Frisbee, disc golf, and youth athletic programs
• Assistive recreation tools that help individuals with limited mobility participate in disc golf and other flying-disc activities
• Disc-launching products for canine exercise, fetch training, and competitive dog-disc sports
• Automated flying-disc systems for recreational parks, camps, and sports facilities

Benefits/Advantages

• Enables independent participation, reducing reliance on a partner, coach, caregiver, or trainer
• Provides consistent and repeatable disc delivery, improving user experience compared with manual throwing
• Configurable operation allows users to create a variety of launch scenarios for different activities, skill levels, and environments