Sports field with automatic line marking

A sports field with automatic line marking;

• said sports field comprising:
• a first area with the dimensions and structure corresponding to receiving a marking of a playing field;
• and
• a second area adjacent to said first area;
• characterized in that said sports field further comprises:
• a mobile robot comprising:
• a) a chassis with a drive including at least a driven wheel;
• b) a spray means comprising a spray nozzle;
• c) a positioning system configured for continuously receiving a positioning signal;
• d) a control unit operably connected to said drive, said positioning system, and said spray nozzle;
• e) a reflective device, such as a prism;
• and
• f) a database configured for storing way point data corresponding to a playing field to be marked;
• a robotic total station positioned within said second area and at a fixed position and orientation relative to said first area and comprising:
• i) an electronic theodolite unit configured for determining the position of said mobile robot;
• ii) an electronic distance sensor unit;
• iii) a wireless communication unit communicatively coupled to the positioning system of said mobile robot and operably connected to said theodolite unit and distance sensor;
• iv) a means adapted for tracking the position of said reflective device, such as a laser tracker unit, and adapted for continuously directing said theodolite unit and distance sensor unit towards said reflective device;
• wherein said theodolite unit and distance sensor unit are configured to send, via said wireless communication unit, determined position data of said mobile robot to the positioning system of said mobile robot;
• wherein said positioning system is configured for continuously or periodically determining the position of said spray nozzle based on said received positioning signal and to send this information to the control unit of said mobile robot;
• wherein said control unit, in response to instructions about a given playing field to be marked or re-marked on a surface within said first area, and in response to continuously or periodically received spray nozzle position data, is configured to:
• move or position said mobile robot by activating or deactivating said drive;
• and
• optionally, move or position said spray nozzle by activating or deactivating a drive mechanism of said spray nozzle;
• and
• activate or deactivate said spray means, thereby automatically marking said playing field on a surface within said first area.