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US 10,649,451 B2Granted
Robotic golf caddy
AssigneeLemmings, LLC
InventorsDennis W. Doane, Rick M. Doane, Timothy L. Doane, Shea P. Doane, Robert T. Nicola, Kenneth M. Burns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A autonomous robotic golf caddy which is capable of following a portable receiver at a pre-determined distance, and which is capable of sensing a potential impending collision with an object in its path and stop prior to said potential impending collision.
Claims22
An autonomous vehicle adapted for use on a golf course including:
- a vehicle frame and a housing connected to said vehicle frame;
- said housing having a golf bag support and one or more of an electronic display, a smart charger and/or a smart device communication arrangement;
- said smart device charger configured to a) charge a smart device, b) enable said smart device to receive data from said autonomous vehicle, and/or c) enable said smart device to send data to said autonomous vehicle;
- said smart device communication arrangement configured to communicate with a smart device located remotely from said autonomous vehicle;
- said electronic display configured to a) provide information to a user, b) provide information about said autonomous vehicle, c) allow the user to enter information, d) allow program information to be entered for operation of said autonomous vehicle, and/or e) allow setting information to be entered for operation of said autonomous vehicle;
- a drive mechanism connected to said vehicle frame, said drive mechanism configured to move said autonomous vehicle;
- and,
- a collision avoidance/navigation arrangement in communication with a processor system, said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement including one or more sensors that are configured to detect objects about said autonomous vehicle, said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement configured to send information to said processor system so that such information can be used to cause said autonomous vehicle to avoid collision or contact with said detected objects.
5 more elements
A method for controlling movement of an autonomous vehicle on a golf course, the method comprising:
- providing an autonomous vehicle, said autonomous vehicle including:
- a vehicle frame and a housing connected to said vehicle frame, said housing having a bag support and one or more of an electronic display, a smart charger and/or a smart device communication arrangement, said smart device charger configured to a) charge a smart device, b) enable said smart device to receive data from said autonomous vehicle, and/or c) enable said smart device to send data to said autonomous vehicle;
- said smart device communication arrangement configured to communicate with a smart device located remotely from said autonomous vehicle, said electronic display configured to a) provide information to a user, b) provide information about said autonomous vehicle, c) allow the user to enter information, d) allow program information to be entered for operation of the autonomous vehicle, and/or e) allow setting information to be entered for operation of the autonomous vehicle;
- a drive mechanism connected to said vehicle frame, said drive mechanism configured to move said autonomous vehicle;
- and,
- a collision avoidance/navigation arrangement in communication with a processor system, said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement including a plurality of sensors that are configured to detect objects about said autonomous vehicle, said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement configured to send information to said processor system so that such information can be used to cause said autonomous vehicle to avoid collision or contact with said detected objects;
- wherein said autonomous vehicle is configured to move on a golf course and to avoid collision with objects on the golf course by use of said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement.
4 more elements
An autonomous vehicle including:
- a vehicle frame and a housing connected to said vehicle frame;
- said housing having two or more of an electronic display, a smart charger and/or a smart device communication arrangement;
- said electronic display configured to a) provide information to a user, b) provide information about said autonomous vehicle, c) allow the user to enter information, d) allow program information to be entered for operation of said autonomous vehicle, and/or e) allow setting information to be entered for operation of said autonomous vehicle;
- said smart device charger configured to a) charge a smart device, b) enable said smart device to receive data from said autonomous vehicle, and/or c) enable said smart device to send data to said autonomous vehicle;
- said smart device communication arrangement configured to communicate with a smart device located remotely from said autonomous vehicle, said smart device is selected from the group consisting of smart phone, tablet, laptop, tablet computer, note pad, and remote transmitter on the user;
- a drive mechanism connected to said vehicle frame, said drive mechanism configured to move said autonomous vehicle;
- and,
- a collision avoidance/navigation arrangement in communication with a processor system, said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement including one or more sensors that are configured to detect objects about said autonomous vehicle, said collision avoidance/navigation arrangement configured to send information to said processor system so that such information can be used to cause said autonomous vehicle to avoid collision or contact with said detected objects, at least one of said 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, GPS sensor, LORAN sensor, mobile phone sensor, lateral sensor, gradient sensor and GSM sensor.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.