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Lumistar Carry by Lumistar

Lumistar Carry Is an AI Basketball Training Partner

Mr Scott Purcell, CFA
By Mr Scott Purcell, CFA - News

Updated:

Readtime: 8 min

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Lumistar Carry is a quad camera, AI driven basketball training machine that passes the ball back to you, tracks your shot mechanics and turns solo sessions into proper workouts. If you live on the three point line and want more than a basic shooting machine, this is aimed at you.

The project is live on Kickstarter with 414 backers already pledging over US$1,153,140. If you want to see exactly how the Lumistar Carry basketball training partner works, the full rundown sits on the campaign page.

What Is the Lumistar Carry?

Lumistar Carry is a smart basketball passing machine and tracking system designed to act like a teammate instead of a simple rebounder. The maker says its four cameras and onboard AI read your position on the court, fire you passes on command and log detailed data on every shot. It’s aimed at serious players, coaches and programs that want more structured shooting work without needing extra bodies in the gym.

Unlike a basic gun that just spits balls from one spot, Carry is pitched as a full training partner that rolls with you around the arc, reacts to hand gestures and breaks down your form. Through the Lumistar app and built in screen, you can run preset drills, customise shooting patterns, compare your mechanics with elite profiles and review heat maps that show where you’re actually effective on the floor.

Lumistar Carry Player catching a pass from the Lumistar Carry while relocating on the three point line.
Player catching a pass from the Lumistar Carry while relocating on the three point line | Image: Lumistar

Carry Design and Build

The main unit is a freestanding tower with an integrated ball return net that deploys at the touch of a button. The campaign lists a carbon fibre and aluminium alloy frame on a wide pyramid style base, which is meant to keep the machine planted while it’s firing passes and catching rebounds. A quad camera array sits near the top section, with three lenses facing out to the court and one facing up to track the ball in flight.

Carry weighs a claimed 35 kg and includes a built in handle and transport wheels so one person can roll it in and out of a storage area. The footprint is listed at roughly 20.5 × 15.0 × 39.4 inches, which should suit most school, club and home courts that already fit a standard hoop. Controls sit on a 10 inch touchscreen mounted on the unit, with deeper drill setup and data review handled through the Lumistar Carry companion app on your phone.

Lumistar Carry Close up of the Lumistar Carry touchscreen interface showing training options.
Close up of the Lumistar Carry touchscreen interface showing training options | Image: Lumistar

How the Carry Works

Carry uses three outward facing cameras to track players as they move around the court and a fourth upward camera to follow the ball towards the basket and back down. Combined with an ultra wide 190 degree field of view, the system can see you as you relocate from wing to corner or step into different angles, then adjust the pass so it still finds your shooting pocket. A gesture command feature lets you call for the ball with a hand signal so you don’t have to jog over to a control panel mid drill.

Under the hood, a motor system controls pass speed, spin and release height to mimic a more natural feed instead of a straight line rocket. Carry tracks shot trajectory, backspin, court position and makes or misses in real time, then turns it into reports and performance maps in the Lumistar app. You can run preset workouts based on distance and angle, build custom drills, train or compete with up to five players and manage everything from either the onboard touchscreen or your phone.

Lumistar Carry Technical Specifications

Here are the key technical details for the Lumistar Carry training system as listed on the Kickstarter campaign.

  • Platform: Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign
  • Backers so far: 414
  • Pledged so far: US$1,153,140
  • Frame materials: Carbon fibre and aluminium alloy
  • Unit weight: 77 lbs (35 kg)
  • Approx. dimensions: 20.5 × 15.0 × 39.4 inches (main unit footprint)

Lumistar Carry Pros and Cons

Based on the campaign material, here is where the Lumistar Carry looks strong and where you’ll want to think twice before pledging.

What We Like

  • Quad camera system for wide court tracking and reduced blind spots
  • Gesture controlled passing so you can call for the ball without breaking rhythm
  • AI driven shot analysis with heat maps and detailed reports
  • Supports up to five players with shared drills and leaderboards
  • Built in 10 inch touchscreen plus app control for setup and review

What to Keep in Mind

  • Large, 35 kg unit that still needs storage space and a suitable court
  • Requires the Lumistar app and cloud style data handling for full value
  • Complex hardware that has not yet been proven at scale in the real world
  • As a crowdfunding project, delivery dates and final features can slip

What to Consider Before You Pledge

Before you back any smart basketball machine, think about how often you’ll actually use it and where it will live. A unit like Carry needs reliable access to a hoop, enough space behind the baseline for the footprint and clearance for the net system. You’ll also want to check how the AI coaching and tracking features fit with your current training. If you’re already filming sessions on your phone and working with a coach, another data layer only makes sense if you’re ready to act on it.

There’s also the usual crowdfunding reality. Backing a live Kickstarter campaign is a pledge, not a retail purchase, so timelines and final specs can change before delivery. Look closely at how the Lumistar Carry project is progressing, the experience of the team and whether the feature set justifies waiting compared to established shooting machines you can buy today.

Man of Many’s Verdict

Lumistar Carry looks built for serious hoopers, parents of rep kids, schools and clubs that want more structure than a basic shooting machine and like the idea of data driven coaching. If you’re after something small and casual for the driveway, or you’re wary of waiting on a complex Kickstarter to ship, you’re probably better off with simpler training gear and some old fashioned reps on the court, but if you live in the gym and want tech to match that energy, it’s worth a close look on the project page.

Where to Buy the Lumistar Carry

The Lumistar Carry is available exclusively through its live Kickstarter campaign right now. To secure a unit you’ll need to choose a reward tier on the Lumistar Carry Kickstarter page, which typically covers the main machine and may include different bundle options or add ons. Pricing and exact inclusions sit on the campaign itself, so you’ll need to review the tiers there before you commit a pledge.

Lumistar Carry FAQs

What is the Lumistar Carry?

Lumistar Carry is an AI assisted basketball training machine that uses four cameras to track players and the ball, pass it back on command and analyse shooting performance over time.

How does the Lumistar Carry track my shots and movement?

Three outward facing cameras track your movement across the court while a fourth upward camera follows the ball in the air. Combined with an ultra wide field of view and onboard processing, the system logs your position, trajectory, spin and results for each shot.

What do I get if I back the Lumistar Carry on Kickstarter?

Backing the project means pledging for a reward tier on Kickstarter, which typically includes the Carry unit and may bundle extras like accessories or add ons. The exact inclusions are listed on the Lumistar Carry campaign page and are tied to the specific tier you select.

When will the Lumistar Carry be delivered to backers?

The campaign includes a timeline graphic that outlines the planned production and shipping schedule, but as with any crowdfunding project those dates can shift. Check the latest updates on the Lumistar Carry Kickstarter page for the current delivery outlook.

Does the Lumistar Carry require an app to use?

You can run and control workouts from the built in 10 inch touchscreen, but the Lumistar app is used to manage sessions, customise drills and review reports in more detail on your phone, so using the app will unlock most of the advanced features.

If you’re keen to add serious tech to your basketball grind, take a closer look at the Lumistar Carry Kickstarter campaign before the pledge window closes.

Mr Scott Purcell, CFA

Co-Founder

Mr Scott Purcell, CFA

Scott Purcell CFA is Co-Founder and Director of Man of Many, Australia’s largest men’s lifestyle publisher and the nation’s first 100% carbon-neutral, Climate Active certified digital media brand. Since launching the site from a spare bedroom in 2012, he has ...

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