GOLF CART SYSTEM CAPABLE OF AUTONOMOUS DRIVING BASED ON ACCURATE LOCATION INFORMATION AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING GOLF CART USING THE SYSTEM

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a golf cart system enabling a golf cart to autonomously operate and a method of controlling a golf cart using the system. More specifically, when a terminal 400 deviated from its original location where transmission and reception to and from a golf cart are performed or the terminal 400 deviates from a driving restricted area or driving area within a driving area set in the golf cart, the golf cart is automatically stopped. When the terminal 400 enters the driving area again, an accurate location of the terminal 400 is confirmed using a distance value having a minimized error range using a trilateration algorithm, and the golf cart can move rapidly.

Claims

1. A golf cart system capable of autonomous driving based on accurate location information, comprising: a cart main body 100 automatically driven by a control module 200; a control module 200 comprising a collision prevention sensor 210 configured to prevent a collision by recognizing a target, a GPS sensor 220 configured to provide location information of the cart main body 100, a slope sensor 230 configured to recognize and control a slope, a memory unit 240 configured to store field information of a driving area and driving restricted area of a golf course, a the tracking unit 250 configured to track a terminal 400 in real time, a control unit 260 configured to receive location information of the terminal 400, to calculate a distance from the terminal 400 based on the field information of the golf course stored in the memory unit 240 and to control a movement of the cart main body 100, a communication module 270 for transmission and reception with the terminal 400, and a distance measurement unit 290 configured to measure a distance between the control module 200 and the terminal 400; a server 300 transmitting the field information of the golf course to the memory unit 240; and the terminal 400 operating in conjunction with the control module 200 selectively or in real time, wherein three or more fixed nodes 120 are configured at locations spaced apart from one another on one side of the cart main body 100 and are connected to the control module 200, wherein the fixing node 120 is a reference of coordinates, and the distance measurement unit 290 sequentially calculates the distance between each of the fixed nodes 120 and the terminal 400, calculates an x,y coordinate value of the terminal 400 by substituting a trilateration algorithm into the x,y coordinate value, determines the x,y coordinate value to be the location values of the terminal 400, calculates a distance and angle ? between the location value of the terminal 400 and the fixed node 120 of the reference, and transmits a result of the calculation to the control module 200 so that the cart main body 100 autonomously drives.

2. The golf cart system of claim 1, wherein: when the terminal 400 transmits PING, the control module 200 receives PONG and retransmits PING if the number of checked fixed nodes 120 after PONG timeout of 100 ms is less than 3, and switches to a round robin state if the number of checked fixed nodes 120 after PONG timeout of 100 ms is more 3 or more, the distance measurement unit 290 is configured to sequentially calculate a coordinate value or distance between the terminal 400 and each of the fixed nodes 120 in the round robin state, the terminal 400 transmits POLL to the control module 200, receives POLL_ACK from the control module 200, and if POLL_ACK is not received within 10 ms after POLL is transmitted, timeout is generated and round robin is restarted, and the terminal 400 receives RANGE_REPORT after transmitting RANGE to the control module 200, and if RANGE_REPORT is not received within 10 ms after transmitting RANGE, timeout is generated and round robin is restarted.

3. The golf cart system of claim 1, wherein: the fixed nodes 120 are divided and disposed at coordinates x,y, the fixed nodes comprise a first fixed node 121 having the x,y coordinate value of 0,0 and being a reference point determining the distance and angle ? between the terminal 400 and the cart main body 100, a second fixed node 123 having the x,y coordinate value of 25, 25 ?{square root over (3)}, and a third fixed node 125 having the x,y coordinate value 50,0, the first fixed node 121 is defined by x,y=x1,y1, the second fixed node 123 is defined by x,y=x2,y2, and the third fixed node 125 is defined by x,y=x3,y3, a calculation formula of the trilateration algorithm of the distance measurement unit 290 comprises
R1=?{square root over ((x?x.sub.1).sup.3+(y?y.sub.1).sup.2)}
R2=?{square root over ((x?x.sub.2).sup.2+(y?y.sub.2).sup.2)}
R3=?{square root over ((x?x.sub.3).sup.3+(y?y.sub.3).sup.2)}, and the distance and angle ? between the first fixed node 121 and the terminal 400 which are location references of the cart main body 100 are determined by substituting the distance values R1, R2 and R3 of the first, second and third fixed nodes 121, 123 and 125 and the terminal 400 into the calculation formula of the trilateration algorithm.

4. The golf cart system of claim 3, wherein an x,y value is calculated using the distance values R1, R2 and R3 between the first, second and third fixed nodes 121, 123 and 125 and the terminal 400, an error range is corrected using the x,y value, and the corrected value of the error range is substituted into the trilateration algorithm.

5. The golf cart system of claim 1, wherein: when the terminal 400 carried by the golfer deviates from a set driving area, the cart main body 100 is automatically stopped, when the terminal 400 carried by the golfer enters the driving area, the control module 200 recognizes a request from the golfer or automatically recognizes a signal from the terminal 400, and drives the cart main body 100 toward the terminal 400, and if a single terminal 400 is used and the number of cart main bodies 100 driven by golfers is plural, the cart main bodies 100 are sequentially driven in order of closer cart main body 100.

6. The golf cart system of claim 1, wherein: an app 410 for controlling the cart main body 100 automatically or manually is installed in the terminal 400, and the app 410 comprises: a boarding driving mode 411 in which a golfer drives the cart main body 100 after boarding the cart main body 100, a terminal driving mode 413 in which the cart main body 100 is manually manipulated, a first tracking driving mode 415 in which the control module 200 recognizes the terminal 400 and tracks the terminal 400 in real time so that the terminal is driven at the back by a set distance, and a second tracking driving mode 417 in which when the terminal 400 makes a request or a golfer who carries the terminal 400 enters a driving area from a driving restricted area, the control module 200 recognizes the request or entry and tracks the terminal 400.

7. The golf cart system of claim 1, wherein: the cart main body 100 comprises: a pair of wheels spaced apart from each other at a specific interval and configured at each of a front and rear of the cart main body 100, a motor drive 110 driven under a control of the control unit 260 and configured on one side of an inside of the cart main body 100, and left and right motors 111 and 113 connected to the respective wheels configured at the front, and the control unit 260 controls the motor drive 110 through RS485 communication.

8. A method of controlling a golf cart, wherein: the golf cart system of claim 1 is used, and the method comprises: a storage step S100 of storing information of a field divided into a driving area and driving restricted area of a golf course and received from the server 300 in the memory unit 240; a terminal registration step S200 of selectively registering the terminal 400 capable of operating in conjunction with the control module 200 of the cart main body 100 and having the app 410 configured to select any one of the boarding driving mode 401a, the terminal driving mode 401b, the first tracking driving mode 401c and the second tracking driving mode 401d installed in the terminal 400 with the control module 200 of the cart main body 100; a cart control setting step S300 of selecting one of the modes using the app 410 of the terminal 400; and a cart control step S400 of controlling the cart main body 100 by the control module 200 according to a mode set in the cart control setting step S300.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein in the cart control step S400, when the golfer or the terminal 400 deviates from the driving restricted area, the cart main body 100 is automatically stopped, and when the golfer or the terminal 400 enters the driving area, the golfer manually drives the cart main body 100 or the control module 200 recognizes the terminal 400 and automatically drives the cart main body 100.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein in the storage step S100, when information about the driving area or driving restricted area is suddenly changed, the changed field information is received from the server 300 and stored in real time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a golf cart system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication method between a terminal and a golf cart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the golf cart and a motor drive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the golf cart and a fixed node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the concept of a trilateration algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the trilateration algorithm and a program script for correcting an error range according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the golf cart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a cart control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0030]

TABLE-US-00001 100: cart main body 110: motor drive 111: left motor 113: right motor 120: fixed node 121: first fixed node 123: second fixed node 125: third fixed node 200: control module 210: collision prevention sensor 220: GPS sensor 230: slope sensor 240: memory unit 250: tracking unit 260: control unit 270: communication module 290: distance measurement unit 300: server 400: terminal 410: app 411: boarding driving mode 413: terminal driving mode 415: first tracking driving mode 417: second tracking driving mode l: distance ?: angle R1: distance between first fixed node and terminal R2: distance between second fixed node and terminal R3: distance between third fixed node and terminal S100: storage step S200: registration step S300: cart control setting step S400: cart control step

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention provides a golf cart system capable of autonomous driving based on accurate location information and a method of controlling a golf cart using the system, wherein a golf cart tracks a terminal carried by a golfer in real time based on information about a golf course field divided into a driving area and a driving restricted area, which is received from a server in real time and stored in a memory unit, determines the accurate location value of the terminal through a trilateration algorithm when the terminal enters the driving area after it deviates from the first location of the terminal or the driving area, and sets the shortest distance path, thereby being capable of autonomous driving.

[0032] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the golf cart system for achieving the object according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0033] First, the construction of the golf cart system is described prior to a description of the golf cart system. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the golf cart system includes a cart main body 100 automatically driven by a control module 200; a control module 200 including a collision prevention sensor 210 configured to prevent a collision by recognizing a target, a GPS sensor 220 configured to provide location information of the cart main body 100, a slope sensor 230 configured to recognize and control a slope, a memory unit 240 configured to store field information of a driving area and driving restricted area of a golf course, a the tracking unit 250 configured to track a terminal 400 in real time, a control unit 260 configured to receive location information of the terminal 400, to calculate a distance from the terminal 400 based on the field information of the golf course stored in the memory unit 240 and to control a movement of the cart main body 100, a communication module 270 for transmission and reception with the terminal 400, and a distance measurement unit 290 configured to measure a distance between the control module 200 and the terminal 400; a server 300 transmitting the field information of the golf course to the memory unit 240; and the terminal 400 operating in conjunction with the control module 200 selectively or in real time. Three or more fixed nodes 120 are configured at locations spaced apart from one another on one side of the cart main body 100 and are connected to the control module 200, wherein the fixing node 120 is the reference of coordinates. The distance measurement unit 290 sequentially calculates the distance between each of the fixed nodes 120 and the terminal 400, calculates an x,y coordinate value of the terminal 400 by substituting a trilateration algorithm into the x,y coordinate value, determines the x,y coordinate value to be the location values of the terminal 400, calculates a distance and angle ? between the location value of the terminal 400 and the fixed node 120 of the reference, and transmits a result of the calculation to the control module 200. Accordingly, the cart main body 100 autonomously drives.

[0034] In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, when the terminal 400 transmits PING, the control module 200 receives PONG and retransmits PING if the number of checked fixed nodes 120 after PONG timeout of 100 ms is less than 3, and switches to a round robin state if the number of checked fixed nodes 120 after PONG timeout of 100 ms is more 3 or more, the distance measurement unit 290 is configured to sequentially calculate a coordinate value or distance between the terminal 400 and each of the fixed nodes 120 in the round robin state. The terminal 400 transmits POLL to the control module 200, receives POLL_ACK from the control module 200, and if POLL_ACK is not received within 10 ms after POLL is transmitted, timeout is generated and round robin is restarted. The terminal 400 receives RANGE_REPORT after transmitting RANGE to the control module 200, and if RANGE_REPORT is not received within 10 ms after transmitting RANGE, timeout is generated and round robin is restarted.

[0035] That is, after transmitting POLL, the control module 200 receives POLL_ACK and calculates a time lag, receives RANGE_REPORT after transmitting RANGE and calculates a time lag, and calculates the distance using time information.

[0036] In other words, the distance measurement unit 290 continues to perform transmission and reception along with the terminal 400. If there is response from the terminal 400, the distance measurement unit 290 is restarted, thereby being capable of rapid processing.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2 or 5, the fixed nodes 120 are divided and disposed at coordinates x,y. The fixed nodes include a first fixed node 121 having the x,y coordinate value of 0,0 and being a reference point determining the distance and angle ? between the terminal 400 and the cart main body 100, a second fixed node 123 having the x,y coordinate value of 25, 25 ?{square root over (3)}, and a third fixed node 125 having the x,y coordinate value 50,0. The first fixed node 121 is defined by x,y=x1,y1, the second fixed node 123 is defined by x,y=x2,y2, and the third fixed node 125 is defined by x,y=x3,y3. The calculation formula of the trilateration algorithm of the distance measurement unit 290 is:

R1=?{square root over ((x?x.sub.1).sup.2+(y?y.sub.1).sup.2)}

R2=?{square root over ((x?x.sub.2).sup.2+(y?y.sub.2).sup.2)}

R3=?{square root over ((x?x.sub.3).sup.2+(y?y.sub.3).sup.2)}.

[0038] The distance l and angle ? between the first fixed node 121 and the terminal 400, which are location references of the cart main body 100, are determined by substituting the distance values R1, R2 and R3 of the first, second and third fixed nodes 121, 123 and 125 and the terminal 400 into the calculation formula of the trilateration algorithm.

[0039] In this case, the calculation formula for calculating the distance and angle ? between the first fixed node 121 and the terminal 400 is

[00001]$?=\sqrt{x^2+y^2},=\arctan ?\left(\frac{y}{x}\right).$

[0040] In this case, R1 is the distance between the first fixed node 121 and the terminal 400, R2 is the distance between the second fixed node 123 and the terminal 400, and R3 is the distance between the third fixed node 125 and the terminal 400.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, an x,y value is calculated using the distance values R1, R2 and R3 between the first, second and third fixed nodes 121, 123 and 125 and the terminal 400, an error range is corrected using the x,y value, and the corrected value of the error range is substituted into the trilateration algorithm.

[0042] In a conventional technology, the location of a terminal is confirmed using a triangulation algorithm not the trilateration algorithm, and the cart main body is then driven. There are problems in that it is difficult to accurately confirm the location of the terminal and a lot of time is taken. In an embodiment of the present invention, after the distances R1, R2 and R3 between the first, second and third fixed nodes 121, 123 and 125 and the terminal 400 are measured, the error range of a distance value is minimized through a program script included in the distance measurement unit 290. The distance and angle ? between the first fixed node 121 and the terminal 400 are determined by substituting the minimized error range into the calculation formula of the trilateration algorithm, thereby being capable of improving accuracy.

[0043] In this case, in using the golf cart system according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal 400 carried by a golfer deviates from a set driving area, the cart main body 100 is automatically stopped. When the terminal 400 carried by the golfer enters the driving area, the control module 200 recognizes a request from the golfer or automatically recognizes a signal from the terminal 400, and drives the cart main body 100 toward the terminal 400. If a single terminal 400 is used and the number of cart main bodies 100 driven by golfers is plural, the cart main bodies 100 are sequentially driven in order of closer cart main body 100. Accordingly, a congestion and collision between the cart main bodies 100 can be prevented.

[0044] Furthermore, if necessary, only a specific cart may be selected and driven, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0045] That is, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 400 carried by a golfer performs transmission and reception with the control module 200 of the cart main body 100 in real time, and the cart main body 100 moves at the back of the terminal 400 while maintaining a set distance from the terminal 400. When the terminal 400 owned by the golfer deviates from a driving area stored in the control module 200, the control module 200 stops the cart main body 100. When the terminal 400 enters the driving area again, the control module 200 controls the cart main body 100 so that the cart main body operates through transmission and reception between the control module 200 and the terminal 400. Accordingly, the control module 200 can accurately confirm location information of the terminal 400, so the cart main body 100 can move rapidly and accurately.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, the cart main body 100 is configured to automatically operate by the control module 200 and to have an external appearance similar to a common golf cart. The cart main body 100 includes a pair of wheels spaced apart from each other at a specific interval and configured at each of the front and rear of the cart main body 100. The cart main body 100 includes a motor drive 110 driven under the control of the control unit 260 and configured on one side of the inside of the cart main body 100. The cart main body 100 includes left and right motors 111 and 113 connected to the respective wheels configured at the front. The control unit 260 controls the motor drive 110 through RS485.

[0047] That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the motor drive 110 controls the left motor 111 or the right motor 113 in response to a command from the control unit 260, thereby enabling creativity in a direction change.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, a fastening unit 130 is configured on each of one side and the other side over the cart main body 100 and configured to fasten both sides of the outside of a golf bag while surrounding the golf bag. Accordingly, the golf bag can be stably fixed.

[0049] The fastening unit 130 has an effect in that it can be used regardless of the size of a golf bag because it can be fastened and unfastened.

[0050] The control module 200 includes the collision prevention sensor 210, the GPS sensor 220, the slope sensor 230, the memory unit 240, the tracking unit 250, the control unit260, the communication module 270 and the distance measurement unit 290.

[0051] The collision prevention sensor 210 prevents a collision by recognizing a target. In driving the cart main body 100 of the control module 200, the collision prevention sensor 210 can prevent the cart main body 100 from moving to a driving restricted area, such as the bunker, hazard or dangerous area of a golf course field. The target may be a golfer.

[0052] In other words, the collision prevention sensor 210 can prevent the cart main body 100 from being damaged.

[0053] The GPS sensor 220 provides information about the location of the cart main body 100, and can transmit the location of the cart main body 100 to the terminal 400. If necessary, the GPS sensor 220 may be configured to transmit the location of the golf cart to the control unit of a golf course connected through communication means.

[0054] The slope sensor 230 may support the prevention of an accident attributable to a slope and a safe movement by recognizing the locations of a field having a slope other than a flatland when the cart main body 100 operates within the range of a driving area based on field information of the golf course.

[0055] The memory unit 240 stores field information, including the driving area and driving restricted area of a golf course first received from a server 300. The memory unit 240 stores field information of a golf course along which the golf cart operates from the first request of a golfer or from a company that lends or provides the golf cart. The golf cart can be actively driven into the driving area by the control module 200 based on the stored field information. In the case of a driving restricted area, the memory unit 240 plays the role of a navigator for moving the golf cart by making a detour around the driving restricted area.

[0056] In this case, the memory unit 240 first stores field information of a golf course from the server 300. If the field information of the golf course is suddenly changed, the memory unit receives and stores the changed field information of the golf course in real time. Accordingly, the control module 200 may control the golf cart 100 using the changed field information of the golf course stored in the memory unit 240.

[0057] That is, a site situation that occurs suddenly can be immediately handled because the changed field information of the golf course is received in real time.

[0058] The tracking unit 250 tracks the terminal 400. The control unit 260 substantially controls all of the elements included in the control module 200. The control unit 260 receives information about the location of the terminal 400, calculates a distance from the terminal 400 based on corresponding field information of a golf course stored in the memory unit 240, and controls a movement of the cart main body 100 based on the calculated distance.

[0059] Furthermore, the communication module 270 is used for transmission and reception to and from the terminal 400, and is communication means between the terminal 400 and the control module 200.

[0060] That is, the distance measurement unit 290 has been described in detail prior to the description of the control module 200 and other elements are elements configured in a common golf cart capable of autonomous driving, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0061] The server 300 is a separate element as shown in FIG. 1. The server 300 provides the memory unit 240 of the control module 200 with information about a golf course in which the cart main body 100 must be driven, that is, information that suggests a driving area and a driving restricted area, in order to help the safe driving of the cart main body 100 by the control module 200 based on the golf course field information.

[0062] In this case, when a golfer carries the terminal 400 and uses the cart main body 100, if field information of a golf course is suddenly changed, the server 300 transmits the suddenly changed field information to the memory unit 240 of the control module 200 in real time. Accordingly, the cart main body 100 can immediately handle a suddenly varying or generated situation.

[0063] That is, the server 300 may be a website managed by a golf course and may be a part included in a control unit including the control system of a golf course.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal 400 is the same machine device as a common smartphone. Various communication methods may be applied to the terminal 400, and the terminal 400 is basically configured to operate in conjunction with the control module 200 for controlling the cart main body 100.

[0065] In this case, an app 410 for controlling the cart main body 100 automatically or manually is installed in the terminal 400.

[0066] The app 410 includes a boarding driving mode 411 in which a golfer can drive the cart main body 100 after boarding the cart main body 100, a terminal driving mode 413 in which the cart main body 100 is manually manipulated, a first tracking driving mode 415 in which the control module 200 recognizes the terminal 400 and tracks the terminal 400 in real time so that the terminal can be driven at the back by a set distance, and a second tracking driving mode 417 in which when the terminal 400 makes a request or a golfer who carries the terminal 400 enters a driving area from a driving restricted area, the control module 200 recognizes the request or entry and tracks the terminal 400. Accordingly, a golfer can selectively control the golf cart 100 by selectively setting the mode.

[0067] In this case, in the second tracking driving mode 417, if the terminal 400 carried by a golfer deviates from a driving restricted area or driving area stored in the memory unit 240 of the control module 200, the control module 200 stops the driving of the cart main body 100. If the terminal 400 subsequently enters the driving area again, when the golfer transmits a signal to the control module 200 using the terminal 400, the distance measurement unit 290 rapidly checks the location of the terminal 400 and drives the cart main body 100.

[0068] A method of controlling a golf cart using the aforementioned golf cart system is described below.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 8, the method includes a storage step S100 of storing information of a field divided into a driving area and driving restricted area of a golf course and received from the server 300 in the memory unit 240; a terminal registration step S200 of selectively registering the terminal 400 capable of operating in conjunction with the control module 200 of the cart main body 100 and having the app 410 configured to select any one of the boarding driving mode 401a, the terminal driving mode 401b, the first tracking driving mode 401c and the second tracking driving mode 401d installed in the terminal 400 with the control module 200 of the cart main body 100; a cart control setting step S300 of selecting one of the modes using the app 410 of the terminal 400; and a cart control step S400 of controlling the cart main body 100 by the control module 200 according to a mode set in the cart control setting step S300.

[0070] In this case, in the cart control step S400, when the golfer or the terminal 400 deviates from the driving restricted area, the cart main body 100 is automatically stopped. When the golfer or the terminal 400 enters the driving area, the golfer manually drives the cart main body 100 or the control module 200 recognizes the terminal 400 and automatically drives the cart main body 100.

[0071] Furthermore, in the storage step S100, when information about the driving area or driving restricted area is suddenly changed, the changed field information is received from the server 300 and stored in real time.

[0072] In accordance with the method of controlling a golf cart according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is an effect in that in driving a golf cart in a golf course in which a golfer wants to play golf, the golf cart can be driven safely, rapidly and accurately based on field information because the field information of the golf course is previously stored before the golf cart is driven. Furthermore, there is an effect in that the control module 200 can accurately confirm a location if the terminal 400 when a signal is received again after a signal between the terminal 400 capable of immediately handling a situation and the control module 200 is disconnected because field information of a golf course is received in real time.

[0073] In accordance with the golf cart system capable of autonomous driving based on accurate location information and the method of controlling a golf cart using the system according to the embodiments of the present invention, the golf cart confirms the location of the terminal tracked in real time and thus can perform its original object. Furthermore, when the terminal enters the first location or enters a driving area again after it deviates from the driving area, the golf cart can confirm the location of the terminal, can confirm an accurate location of the terminal through the trilateration algorithm, and can move rapidly. Accordingly, the present invention is an useful invention capable of minimizing an error range because the golf cart can modify an error range in confirming the location of the terminal to minimize the error range when providing the location value of the terminal through the trilateration algorithm through which golfers can rapidly approach to the golf cart without waiting for a long time to provide the golfers with convenience.