Sports Field Marker Post Sensing for Accurate Line Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports field marking technologies face challenges in accurately registering the positions of fixed posts, such as goal and corner posts, due to field imperfections, requiring cumbersome land surveying or complex equipment setups.
Innovation Solution
The development of sports field marking equipment equipped with a distance sensor and position sensor to detect and compute the precise positions of posts, allowing for accurate marking by calculating waypoint coordinates and storing them for subsequent marking operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If land surveying equipment is used to register post positions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical land surveying equipment with a simplified system using a distance sensor (optical/electromagnetic) and position sensor (GNSS) integrated into the marking vehicle. The distance sensor measures distances to posts automatically, while the position sensor tracks the marking vehicle's location, eliminating the need for manual surveying instruments and operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking vehicle performs self-positioning and automatic post detection without external surveyors. The system autonomously determines its own position using the position sensor and automatically detects post locations using the distance sensor, storing the data without requiring external data transfer or manual registration processes.
2Productivity
If manual post position registration is used, then ease of operation deteriorates, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual post detection with an automated sensor system. The distance sensor automatically measures distances to posts, and the position sensor continuously tracks the marking vehicle's location. The processor automatically computes post coordinates from sensor data, eliminating manual measurement and calculation processes entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensor data and computational algorithms as intermediaries between the marking operation and post position registration. The distance sensor and position sensor act as intermediaries to automatically capture spatial information, while the processor serves as an intermediary to compute post coordinates from raw sensor data, streamlining the entire process.
3Measurement precision
If precise post position registration is achieved through manual methods, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous data collection during the marking operation itself. As the marking vehicle moves along the field, the position sensor continuously tracks its location and the distance sensor continuously measures distances to posts. This allows post position registration to occur simultaneously with the marking process, eliminating separate surveying steps and reducing total time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and detection actions automatically as the marking vehicle approaches each post. The sensors continuously prepare and capture position and distance data in advance, allowing the processor to compute post coordinates immediately when needed, rather than requiring time-consuming manual measurements during the marking process.
Data Source
AI summary
Sports field marking equipment includes a) a paint applying means adapted for marking a sports field on a surface; b) a position determining device configured for determining the position of the sports field marking equipment; c) a distance sensor configured for detecting a goal and/or corner post and the distance thereto; d) a first processor; and e) a first memory coupled to the first processor. The first memory includes program instructions executable by the first processor for receiving a goal and/or corner post detection signal and the measured distance from the distance sensor to the goal and/or corner post; receiving the position and direction of the sports field marking equipment from the position determining device at the time of receiving the detection signal; computing waypoint coordinates of the goal and/or corner post based on the received data; and storing the computed waypoint coordinates of the goal and/or corner post.