Golf Ball Tracking System

Abstract

Provided is a smart golf ball comprising: an inner electronics core, the inner electronics core comprising: a microcontroller with memory and at least one processor; a power supply in communication with the microcontroller; and an RF transmitter/receiver in communication with the microcontroller; an outer core surrounding the inner electronics core; and a skin layer covering the outer core. Also provided is a data processing system configured for golf ball tracking, comprising: a host computing system; a display in communication with the host computing system; one or more smart golf balls, each comprising a Real Time Location System (RTLS) Ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter/receiver and a corresponding ID, in communication with the host computing system; three or more beacons, each comprising an RF transmitter/receiver, in communication with the host computing system; and a golf ball tracking module.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 835,058 filed Apr. 17, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to golf ball tracking systems and more particularly to golf ball tracking systems with radio frequency (RF) technology.Description of the Related Art[0003]Golf ball tracking systems allow golfers to track their shots in order to improve their performance. However, current golf ball tracking systems are lacking in many aspects in that the tracking systems do not actually track the golf ball accurately through space from impact to final resting position, nor do they provide real-time spin and position information, or are too costly for widespread commercial use. Furthermore, many of the golf ball tracking systems cannot be used for both driving range and on-course applications.[0004]Currently, metr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]An advantage provided by the present disclosure is providing a protectively encased housing Ultra Wideband communication and sufficient computing power that can be easily attached or embedded into an object to be tracked, such as a golf ball.

[0015]Another advantage provided by the present disclosure is the ability to dynamically balance the components within the ballistic marble in order to ensure smooth flight of the ball.

[0016]Another advantage provided by the present disclosure is to miniaturize sufficient circuitry so as to fit within the ballistic marble for certain applications, including the golf ball application.

[0017]Another advantage of the present disclosure is hardening the ballistic marble to withstand significant force, such as the impact from a golf club striking a golf ball.

Problems solved by technology

However, current golf ball tracking systems are lacking in many aspects in that the tracking systems do not actually track the golf ball accurately through space from impact to final resting position, nor do they provide real-time spin and position information, or are too costly for widespread commercial use.

Furthermore, many of the golf ball tracking systems cannot be used for both driving range and on-course applications.

The technology does not track the golf ball.

However, TrackMan falls short when measuring actual position after the ball lands, and providing real-time spin and positional data while in flight.

Further, TrackMan is very expensive per ball tracked and is not suited to ranges where many balls are in the air simultaneously as Trackman requires an expensive radar for each ball.

However, OnCore's ball is not expected to be USGA compliant.

However, OnCore's claims regarding the accuracy of their ball position is suspect as X, Y, Z standard GPS processing systems do not perform to 1 foot accuracy levels as the source of altitude information in not very accurate.

However, 300 yards seems too large a range for standard Bluetooth and likely requires low powered Bluetooth 5.

However, OnCore's accuracy claims and equipment requirements may be the reasons for OnCore's difficulties in production of their design.

With respect to image processing, although video sensor resolutions and frame rates are growing rapidly, they are currently still limiting factors for this application.

The lack of higher resolution means the camera lens field of view is small and hence, the number of cameras needed is large: it might just be viable for the Driving Range but isn't acceptable for the Golf Course application.

Technology advances will surely resolve some of the weaknesses of the video camera and image processing solution, but the limitations of adverse weather and imaging conditions will remain along with the challenge of finding a method of measuring ball spin without embedding sensors and electronics in the ball.

Overall, this approach does not appear viable now and does not appear to have a path to resolving the issues in the future.

This may be problematic, due principally to the difficulty of reliably pulling the reflected signal of a flying golf ball from a complex background and the unacceptable deterioration of tracking accuracy with increasing downrange distance, commercially available LIDAR systems are not, at this time, assessed as suitable as a viable and cost effective golf ball tracking system.

Therefore, there is no currently viable and cost effective golf ball tracking system for both driving range and on-course applications, which provides real-time measurements of a golf ball from the moment of impact with a golf club throughout the entirety of its travels.

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