BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a system and method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity, including the specific method of how to track the target(s) and the interaction of one or more users with the target(s) as it moves.

2. Description of the Related Art

A number of activities, including most sports, have evolved to feature the interaction of the user (or player) and a non-static target. For example, in skeet shooting, a target is launched into the air and the user attempts to destroy the target using a gun. While this is interesting and enjoyable, it effectively limits the field of simultaneous users to one.

A popular game in golf, especially on golf practice ranges, involves multiple users trying to hit the golf cart, which is driven by a person to sweep the range of golf balls, and typically involves a small set of users who are playing against each other. The more users added to the competition, the more difficult it becomes to distinguish which user hit the target with their ball.

A modern, computerized driving range typically involves twenty (20) to one-hundred and two (102) stations, on a single or multiple levels, for users, enabling twenty (20) to one-hundred and two (102) users to hit the ball simultaneously into a physical range while a computer uses various methods of detection to determine the flight path of the ball, the landing point of the ball, and the final resting place of the ball to automatically and accurately score the game for each of the users.

It is therefore desirable to provide a system and method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity.

It is further desirable to provide a system and method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity that enables a plurality of users to simultaneously attempt to hit a moving target in the field of play using a combination of sensors located on or around the field of play and on or around the object.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention relates to a system and method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity, including the specific method of how to track the target and the interaction of one or more user the target as it moves.

In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a system for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity. The system includes a field of play extending from a plurality of bays, with one or more moving objects launched from one or more of the bays and one or more moving targets configured to traverse the field of play. The system also includes a tracking system having at least one tracking computer in communication with at least one target sensor. Each of the target sensors is configured to detect movement and/or position of each of the moving targets and each of the moving objects on the field of play.

In general, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity using the system of the first aspect above.

In general, in a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity. The method includes the steps of: electronically detecting with one or more target sensors coordinate positions of one or more moving targets traversing a field of play; electronically detecting with one or more target sensors coordinate positions of one or more moving objects launched from one or more bays and traversing the field of play; electronically communicating the coordinate positions of the moving targets and the coordinate positions of the moving objects to a tracking computer; and displaying the coordinate positions of the moving targets and the coordinate positions of the moving objects on at least one monitor that is in electronic communication with the tracking computer.

In accordance with the above aspects of the invention, the movement of the moving targets can be controlled with a movement computer, the tracking computer or both. The target sensors can be optical sensors, radar sensors, LIDAR sensors, or a combination thereof, and the moving targets can include a highly reflective fiducial. The moving targets can be flying drones, cabled objects or a combination thereof, and the moving objects can be one or more golf balls.

In addition, the inventive system and method can include at least one stationary target positioned on the field of play, and the tracking computer can be configured to store a position of the stationary target on the field of play.

The foregoing has outlined in broad terms some of the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventors to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not to be limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Finally, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention.

