Embedded Electronics Golf Ball Tracking via Bluetooth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golfers face significant challenges in locating lost balls due to advancements in golf ball technology leading to longer drives, resulting in increased ball loss, time delays, and financial losses, with existing solutions failing to provide effective tracking and analysis of ball movements.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with embedded electronics, including a processor, spin detector, and communications circuitry, connected to a central interrogator via Bluetooth, allowing for real-time data collection and analysis of spin speed, direction, and location, along with a smartphone app for tracking and locating the ball using proximity and sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If golf ball technology is improved to enable longer drives, then driving distance is improved, but golf ball loss increases and locating time increases
Solution Approach 1:
A Bluetooth-enabled tracking device is introduced as an intermediary between the golfer and the golf ball. The device contains Bluetooth communication circuitry, an accelerometer, and a speaker that work together to track ball location and provide audio guidance to the golfer, resolving the contradiction by enabling quick ball recovery without sacrificing driving distance performance
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device enables the golf ball to essentially locate itself by using the accelerometer to detect ball movement and the Bluetooth circuitry to transmit location data. The speaker provides self-guided audio direction to the golfer, allowing the system to autonomously provide location information without requiring external tracking equipment
2Ease of operation
If Bluetooth communication circuitry is added to track ball location, then ball locating capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated tracking device: Bluetooth communication circuitry for data transmission, accelerometer for motion detection, and speaker for audio output are combined in one unit attached to the golf ball. This consolidation improves ease of operation while managing device complexity through functional integration rather than separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it tracks ball location via Bluetooth, detects ball movement and spin through the accelerometer, provides audio direction to the golfer, and can potentially track performance metrics. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive ball tracking and recovery capabilities in a single device
3Speed
If the ball undergoes extreme physical forces during impact, then ball performance is improved, but electronic component reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device is designed with shock-absorbing mounting and protective housing that cushions the electronic components (Bluetooth circuitry, accelerometer, speaker) against the extreme forces of golf club impact. This beforehand cushioning protects the sensitive electronics while allowing the ball to achieve high velocities, maintaining both performance and component reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball with embedded electronics to allow proximity to be tracked and to monitor golfer performance is disclosed. The golf ball comprises a processor connected to an accelerometer, communications circuitry, a spin detector, and memory, wherein the processor stores accelerometer data from the accelerometer and rotation data regarding rotation of the spin detector in the memory. The processor converts the data regarding the rotation of the spin detector into a rotation speed and a rotation direction, said rotation speed determined by a frequency of the data, and said rotation direction determined by a magnitude of the data. The communications circuitry is configured to communicate the accelerometer data, the rotation direction, and the rotation speed to a central interrogator for analysis of a golfer's performance.