Golf Ball Dispenser With Embedded Display And Errant-Ball Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball dispensing systems lack integrated display devices for providing real-time information on ball flight and safety features to protect players from errant shots, while also ensuring efficient and safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball dispenser with an embedded touchscreen display device, impact-resistant design, and safety features such as a protruding lip to redirect errant balls, along with a modular panel construction and light sources for feedback and safety indication, integrated with a computer system for controlling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a display device is embedded in the golf ball dispenser, then real-time flight information can be provided to players, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display device is integrated into the dispenser structure, combining the information display function with the ball dispensing function into a single unified system. This merging approach provides real-time flight information to players while avoiding the need for separate, standalone display equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser is designed to serve multiple functions: it dispenses golf balls, displays flight information, and incorporates safety features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and integrates various operations into a single device, addressing the information provision requirement without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If safety features such as protruding lips and impact-resistant design are added, then player safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding lips and impact-resistant design elements are positioned to intercept and redirect errant balls that would otherwise pose a safety hazard. These features convert potentially harmful errant shots into controlled redirects toward safe areas, transforming a safety problem into a controlled ball management function.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser is constructed with modular components including separate safety features such as protruding lips and impact-resistant panels. This segmentation allows safety functions to be added as independent modules without redesigning the entire dispenser structure, thereby improving safety while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the display device is positioned in the angled top portion, then viewing accessibility is improved, but the risk of damage from errant balls increases
Solution Approach 1:
Impact-resistant materials and protective structures are positioned around the display device in the angled top portion to cushion and absorb the force of errant balls before they can cause damage. This beforehand cushioning protects the display while maintaining its accessible positioning for players.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser incorporates composite material structures, particularly in the angled top portion where the display is located, combining materials with different properties to provide both viewing accessibility and impact resistance. This allows the display to be positioned optimally for players while the composite construction provides protective qualities.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes: a golf range; targets on the golf range; a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, each including a receptacle, a passageway, a gateway, and a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser; at least one golf ball sensor; one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to track a golf ball in flight on the golf range, identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range, identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range.