That might require you to throw the ball in every possible combination, and capture a high resolution time series of its positions, in order to train the AI. Taking into account all the various parameters.<p>There will also be some heavy image processing, in your motion detection engine.<p>I recommend you start with a computer screen, and train your robot to follow the motion of a virtual ball on the screen. That way you can control every part of the experiment without a heavy investment in equipment (or all the pesky details of the real analog world.)