Ball retrieval system and method

A method for retrieving a tennis ball on a tennis court having a surface and for controllably releasing the tennis ball during a match between at least two players, comprising

• providing
• (i) a mobile retriever, comprising:
• a drive means for moving the retriever around the tennis court;
• a steering means for steering the retriever;
• a receiver for receiving retriever control signals;
• a retriever processor-controller, having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever;
• an on-board power supply;
• longitudinally-extending sidewalls spaced mutually apart to thereby define a ball collection space therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and release a tennis ball and terminating in a fixed opening at the fore end of the retriever to allow unimpeded ball transit therethrough into and out of the ball collection space during ball retrievals;
• and
• a vertical ball ejector positioned so as to vertically eject a tennis ball from the collection space and having an adjustable guide for directing a ball in a desired direction;
• (ii) a docking station for docking and undocking the retriever including (a) a transmitter for emitting a homing signal, (b) a turntable, and (c) a means for rotating the turntable;
• and
• (iii) a sensor array on the retriever responsive to the homing signal;
• positioning the docking station at a location on or adjacent to the tennis court;
• positioning the retriever in the docking station;
• providing input commands to the processor to control the adjustable guide during retrievals;
• processing retriever and ball location data;
• computing an optimized retrieval path to ball;
• and
• directing the retriever to follow the optimized path to execute a ball retrieval;
• conducting ball retrievals for players positioned on opposite sides of the sports playing surface by collecting a tennis ball and returning the tennis ball to a desired location in the air or along the tennis court surface as directed by one or more processor retriever control commands;
• and
• docking the retriever by adjusting steering commands to mutually align the sensor array with the direction of the emitted signal to thereby adjust the orientation of the retriever to complete a docking maneuver;
• and wherein the docking maneuver includes rotating the turntable.

A ball retrieval system for retrieving and controllably releasing a ball on a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball during a match between at least two players, comprising:

• (i) a retriever, having a fore end and an aft end, comprising
• a chassis;
• at least one wheel mounted on said chassis;
• a drive system coupled to said at least one wheel;
• a means for steering the retriever;
• a receiver for receiving retriever control signals;
• an on-board power supply;
• and
• longitudinally-extending sidewalls spaced mutually apart to thereby define a ball collection space therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and release a ball and terminating in a fixed opening at the fore end of the retriever to allow unimpeded ball transit therethrough into and out of the ball collection space during ball retrievals;
• an aft ball deflector for deflecting an airborne ball into the ball collection space;
• and
• a vertical ball ejector positioned so as to vertically eject a ball from the collection space, said ball ejector including an adjustable guide for directing a ball in a desired direction;
• (ii) a processor-controller, having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever;
• and
• (iii) a docking station comprising a turntable.