초록 ▼

A robotic golf caddy apparatus (21) movably supported on a steering assembly (28) and including a communications assembly (41) for communicating with a GPS system (61) and a central control station in order to guide and steer the apparatus around designated accessible areas of a golf course. The app

A robotic golf caddy apparatus (21) movably supported on a steering assembly (28) and including a communications assembly (41) for communicating with a GPS system (61) and a central control station in order to guide and steer the apparatus around designated accessible areas of a golf course. The apparatus (21) also includes a dead reckoning system with distance determination device (83) and compass (85) for determining the distance the caddy travels should the communications assembly (41) lose communications with a predetermined minimum number of satellites in the GPS system (61). Also, a sensor (72a) is provided for detecting a guide tape or line (126,130), provided in preselected areas of the golf course. The caddy apparatus (21) is steered along the guide tape (126,130), rather than by the GPS system (61), in certain areas of the course where the GPS system (61) may be inadequate for maximum safe operation of the caddy apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [16.] A self-propelled, steerable vehicle comprising,a frame movably supported for travel in a designated accessible area,a computer control assembly carried on the frame for controlling movement of the frame in the accessible area,a communications assembly carried on the fram

[ What is claimed is:] [16.] A self-propelled, steerable vehicle comprising,a frame movably supported for travel in a designated accessible area,a computer control assembly carried on the frame for controlling movement of the frame in the accessible area,a communications assembly carried on the frame for communicating with a GPS system having a predetermined minimum number of viewable satellites in order to approximate the position of the vehicle within the accessible area, and for communicating with at least one local source in order to guide the vehicle in close proximity to the local source,a distance determination device carried on the frame for determining the distance traveled by the vehicle when communication with GPS system is temporarily interfered with, the computer control assembly including control means for controlling movement of the frame when the number of viewable satellites falls below a predetermined number, including determining a safe distance that the frame can travel along a path, which distance is related to the position of the frame in relation to the accessible area, at the time the number of viewable satellites falls below the minimum number, and further including steering the frame along the path and at the same time determining the distance the vehicle travels along the path after the time the number of viewable satellites falls below the minimum number using the distance determination device independent of the GPS system.