Patent NZ-777722-A (NZ)
Title: Robotic golf caddy
Inventor: DOANE DENNIS W
IPC: A63B55/00
Filed: 2016-10-14
Abstract: The present disclosure provides an autonomous robotic golf caddy which is capable of following a portable receiver at a predetermined distance, and which is capable of sensing a potential impending collision with an object in its path and stop prior to the potential impending collision. The golf caddy has a vehicle frame and a housing connected to the vehicle frame. The housing has a bag support and one or more of I) an electronic display configured to perform one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of a) providing information to a golfer, b) providing information about the golf caddy, and c) allowing the golfer to enter information, d) allow program information to be entered for operation of the golf caddy, and/or e) allow setting information to be entered for operation of the golf caddy, II) a smart device communication arrangement configured to communicate with a smart device located remotely from the golf caddy, and III) a smart device charger positioned forwardly of a support surface of the bag support and the smart device charger configured to a) charge the smart device, b) enable the smart device to receive data from the autonomous golf caddy, and/or c) enable the smart device to send data to the autonomous golf caddy. The support surface of the bag support is configured to at least partially support a portion of a golf bag when the golf bag is loaded on the housing. The golf caddy has a drive mechanism connected to the vehicle frame. The drive mechanism is configured to move the golf caddy. The golf caddy has a collision avoidance/navigation arrangement in communication with a processor system. The collision avoidance/navigation arrangement includes a plurality of sensors that are configured to detect objects about the autonomous golf caddy, to send information to the processor system to at least control the movement of the autonomous golf caddy, to cause the autonomous golf caddy to perform one or more functions selected from the group consisting of a) avoiding collision or contact with the user during movement of the autonomous golf caddy, b) avoiding collision or contact with an object during movement of the autonomous golf caddy, c) avoiding movement of the autonomous golf caddy to an undesired or restricted location, and/or d) moving the autonomous golf caddy to a particular golf hole, staging area, charging area, and/or storage area. At least two of the sensors are selected from the group consisting of an ultra-wide band bandwidth sensor, camera, Bluetooth® sensor, RF-based sensor, ultrasonic sensor, WiFi sensor, LIDAR sensor, LORAN sensor, mobile phone sensor, lateral sensor, gradient sensor, and GSM sensor. The plurality of sensors includes first and second sensors and a third sensor. The first sensor is positioned on one side of the vehicle frame and the second sensor is positioned on an opposite side of the vehicle frame. The third sensor positioned on a front portion of the vehicle frame and positioned forwardly of the first and second sensors. The third sensor is a different type of sensor from the first and second sensors.