A method and system to retrieve golf balls by a single user. By utilizing a vehicle equipped with a receiver to receive a wireless signal that operates to automatically move the vehicle without human intervention, a single person has the capability of moving two vehicles with a golf ball retrieving device connected between the two vehicles to collect golf balls. The golf ball retrieving device is connected between the two vehicles using a winch system on each vehicle. The golf ball retrieving device is then pulled from one vehicle to the other using the winch system to retrieve golf balls. The two vehicles are moved to define a new path between them, and the process is repeated.

Described herein is a corn hole or bean bag collector or retrieval system which includes a retrieval basket and carriage moved by a conveyor belt and drive system, as well as a push button control system. This system further includes one or more lifting arms and a basket storage container. This system is compact, portable, adjustable, and battery-operated or AC wall outlet powered.

An autonomous robot that collects tennis balls on a tennis court surface and transfers them into a tennis ball shooter.

A system for delivering balls to each of two players playing on opposite sides of a field includes a remote control unit worn or placed on each of the two players, each remote control unit configured, upon activation of a particular player, to transmit a wireless signal that identifies a location of the particular player. A ball pitching machine includes a housing configured to receive and hold the balls, at least one wheel, a ball shooting mechanism that receives the balls and shoots one of the balls at a time; and a controller that includes a position-locator, the controller configured to receive and process the signal, direct positioning of the ball shooting mechanism so as to face the player that sent the signal and shoot one of the balls in a direction of the player's position, in accordance with the signal received from the remote control unit.

A ball picking robot and a ball unloading method using the same. The ball picking robot includes a chassis, an L-shaped hanging lug, a ball storage frame, an electric push rod disposed on the chassis, a baffle disposed on the chassis, a bracket disposed on the chassis and a drive motor for driving the electric push rod to move. A movable end of the electric push rod is connected with one end of the L-shaped hanging lug, the other end of the L-shaped hanging lug is connected with a side of the ball storage frame, and a camera is disposed on the bracket.

A remote-controlled retriever for collecting a ball on a sports playing surface and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. Each blade includes a passive or an active detent for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session.

A fruit collector (1) may include a retaining bracket (3) and a collecting container (4) that is pivotably associated with the retaining bracket. The retaining bracket includes a hub (9) arranged to pivotably retain a stub axle section (12) of the collecting container projecting from an axial end of the collecting container.

The present invention relates to a tennis ball picking robot that picks up scattered tennis balls in the court. The invention is a compact robot with greater ball collection capacity and smaller footprint. The invention comprises a computing system, a custom trained neural network executing on the computing system, vision and proximity sensors, the mechanical apparatus to collect tennis balls in the ball collection basket and an electric energy source. The custom trained neural network is trained using a data set to collect balls effectively using a camera and distance sensors.

A tennis ball retriever for retrieving a tennis ball on and about a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front-end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. The retriever includes a means for gripping and securing a ball positioned at the fore end, and one or more detents for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session. The retriever may be remote-controlled such as by voice commands.

Adaptive basketball shooting devices are disclosed that allow a person with limited use of his or her arms to shoot a basket from a seated position in a wheelchair. In preferred implementations, the device allows a person with limited mobility to pick up, carry, and shoot a basketball. Some devices include a frame, a conveyor configured to retrieve a ball from a surface on which the wheelchair is positioned, e.g., a floor or a paved basketball court, and in cooperation with the frame convey the ball vertically relative to the frame, and a driven wheel mounted on the frame and configured to eject the ball upward from the device.