Golf course carrier controller and assistant

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of controlling the travel and positioning of a golf bag carrier and assisting the golfer during his or her round of golf. The carrier could be a golf bag carrier of the kind typically driven by a golfer, a separate golf bag cart or a combination of both carriers. The inventive apparatus and method described herein controls the movement of the golf bag carrier without the need for the golfer to control all of the movement of the carrier and/or to walk with a corresponding device. Further, carriers that include the physical elements of the present invention have access to various details about the golf course, its surroundings and the golfer and can use information provided from such physical elements to navigate the golf course and provide the golfer with useful information that assist in the golfer's play.

1 . An apparatus for controlling a golf course carrier and otherwise assisting a golfer comprising:
 a housing capable of containing electronic components and configured to be mounted on such golf course carrier;   a CPU in such housing that coordinates the operation of such electronic components, wherein such CPU has access to desirable information about a golf course in which such golf course carrier is to be used;   a power source connected to such CPU and such other electronic components;   a first detector that can detect the position of such golf course carrier and track the movement of same, wherein such first detector is electronically connected to such CPU and can detect the position and track the movement of such golf course carrier within the surroundings of such golf course;   a second detector that can monitor the positions of such golfer and objects in and other aspects of such surroundings of such golf course carrier, with such second detector being electronically attached to such CPU and physically connected to such golf course carrier;   an interface electronically connected to the such CPU whereby information can be exchanged between such CPU and such golfer; and   a communications element through which instructions can be communicated between such CPU and the system that powers the movement of such golf course carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such first detector includes global positioning system (GPS) technology. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such first detector includes light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such second detector includes the functionality of at least one camera electronically and such at least one camera is physically connected to such golf course carrier in a position wherein such at least one camera can capture at least one image of such golfer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such second detector includes the functionality of at least one radar unit and such at least one radar unit is physically connected to such golf course carrier in a position wherein such at least one radar unit can detect objects in such surrounding of such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such second detector includes the functionality of at least one LIDAR unit and such at least one LIDAR unit is physically connected to such golf course carrier in a position wherein such at least one LIDAR unit can detect objects in such surrounding of such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such detector can track the movement of a golf ball as such golf ball moves relative to such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such interface is physically connected to such golf course carrier in a position where such golfer can readily see information from such CPU. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein such interface comprises a touch screen display monitor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein such interface comprises at least one listening element. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one audio-producing element electronically attached to such CPU and physically connected to such golf course carrier in a position where the sounds produced by such audio-producing element can be understandably heard by such golfer positioned within a predetermined distance from such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one listening element electronically attached to such CPU and physically connected to such golf course carrier in a position wherein such listening element can hear such golfer speaking in a conversational level a predetermined distance from such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein such power source, such first detector, such second detector, and such communications element are physically connected to such housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein such at least one camera is movable and has other attributes that facilitate the ability of such at least one camera to substantially maintain a view of such golfer when such golfer is within a predetermined distance from such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein at least one radar unit is capable of (A) detecting objects and obstacles within the operable range of such radar unit, (B) providing the information necessary for such CPU to calculate the distance between such detected objects and detected obstacles and such golf course carrier, and (C) monitoring the movement of such golf course carrier relative to such objects and obstacles. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein such information about such objects and obstacles received by such CPU is used to control the movement of such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising second communicating element that can transmits signals between such golf course carrier and a remotely located receiver, where such second communicating element is physically connected to such housing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the information displayed in the interface includes the distance between a then-current position of a golf ball of such golfer and a hole such golfer is then approaching. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein pertinent information about such golf course in which such golf course carrier is to be used is pre-loaded into a storage means electronically connected to such CPU and physically connected to such housing. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein (A) such second detector facilitates the identification of golfer, (B) such interface shows the results of then-pertinent operational parameters of the apparatus, and (C) such CPU controls the movement of such golf course carrier based upon such operational parameters previously accessible by such CPU and parameters provided by such golfer. 
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling a golf course carrier and otherwise assisting a golfer comprising the steps of:
 providing power to a CPU physically connected to such golf course carrier and such other electronic components connected to such CPU, where such CPU has access to predetermined information about a golf course in which such golf course carrier is to be used;   detecting a then-current position of such golf course carrier based upon such golf course information and providing such positioning information to such CPU;   detecting objects in and other aspects of such surroundings of such golf course and providing such object and surroundings information to such CPU;   receiving golfer relevant information and providing such golfer information to such CPU;   determining if such golf course carrier needs to move from its then-current position based upon such positioning information, such object and surroundings information, and such golfer information available to such CPU;   communicating instructions from such CPU to a system that powers the movement of such golf course carrier, where such instructions are based upon the information available to the CPU; and   navigating the movement of such golf course carrier within the surroundings of such golf course based upon instructions received from such CPU.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the initial provision of the power to CPU initializes a health and status check of such CPU and pertinent such other electronic components. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such predetermined information about such golf course includes tee locations, fairway layouts, greens and tee placements, bunkers and sand traps, and out-of-bounds borders. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  comprising the further step of displaying such predetermined information on a screen electronically attached to such CPU. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein such screen is physically attached to such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the aspects of such surroundings include weather forecasts. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such golf course carrier can be navigated from a then-current position distal from such golfer to a location in proximity of such golfer based upon such CPU available positioning information, object and surroundings information, and golfer information. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such golfer information includes aspects of such golfer's appearance, such as the golfer's facial, clothing and gait information, to uniquely identify that golfer. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such golf course carrier can be navigated to travel and stop at locations relative to such golfer and to such surroundings based upon such object and surroundings information and such golfer information. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein such golfer information includes a desired default distance to be maintain between such golfer and such golf course carrier while such golfer is moving between locations on the golf course. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein such golf carrier can be navigated to maintain a default distance from designated objects and areas in such surroundings from which such golf course carrier is preferably prohibited from travelling. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein such golfer can use audible commands to control the movement of such golf course carrier to at least one location that is different from the location at such default distance. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein such golf course carrier can be navigated to a most favorable position possible when the location of the default distance is obstructed by the location of undesirable objects. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein such golf course carrier can be navigated to a most favorable position possible when the location of the default distance is in an area of such surroundings in which such golf course carrier is preferably prohibited from travelling. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of providing audible commentary based upon such positioning information, such object and surroundings information, and such golfer information. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein such audible commentary includes the distance between such golfer's ball and the next golf hole. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein such audible commentary includes a recommendation of the golf club such golfer should preferably use given the distance between such golfer's ball and the next golf hole, such object and surroundings information, and such golfer information. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of such predetermined information about such golf course is accessible from a remote location. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of such predetermined information about such golf course is accessible from a storage means connected to such golf course carrier. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such navigation is facilitated by at least one camera physically connected to such golf course carrier and electronically connected to such CPU. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such navigation is facilitated by at least one radar unit physically connected to such golf course carrier and electronically connected to such CPU. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 21  wherein such navigation is facilitated by at least one LIDAR unit physically connected to such golf course carrier and electronically connected to such CPU. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of communicating between such golf course carrier and a remote location by means of transmitter-receiver technology physically connected to such golf course carrier and electronically connected to such CPU. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising the step of recording the movement of objects through the use of at least one such camera within a desirable distance from such golf carrier. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the movement recorded is the swing of such golfer. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the movement recorded is the travel of a golf ball.