Method and system for golf cart control
First Claim
11. A method for controlling golf cart movement on a golf course, the method comprising:
- monitoring the golf cart position with a GPS receiver;
comparing the golf cart position with a limited access map that defines limited access areas of the golf course;
determining a golf cart violation of a limited access area;
restricting the performance of golf cart driver commands by the golf cart motor to inhibit violation of the limited access area by the golf cart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Golf cart movements at a golf course are controlled by a limited access controller that compares a golf cart'"'"'s GPS-determined position against a limited access map to restrict performance of inputs by the golf cart'"'"'s driver to the golf cart'"'"'s motor under predetermined conditions, such as if a golf cart enters or has a predetermined likelihood of entering a limited access area. The limited access controller inhibits motor responses, such as by preventing motor operation, limiting available motor speeds, or allowing motor operation only in a vector that removes the golf cart from the limited access area, such as operation in reverse. Golf carts of a golf course communicate with a base station that updates the limited access map by defining limited access area perimeters and allowable actions within a limited access area and that directly commands allowable motor operations. For example, golf carts are prohibited from entering green areas, are restricted to golf cart paths during cart-path-only periods, and are restricted to reduced speeds in driving hazard areas.
32 Citations
32 Claims
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11. A method for controlling golf cart movement on a golf course, the method comprising:
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monitoring the golf cart position with a GPS receiver;
comparing the golf cart position with a limited access map that defines limited access areas of the golf course;
determining a golf cart violation of a limited access area;
restricting the performance of golf cart driver commands by the golf cart motor to inhibit violation of the limited access area by the golf cart. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for control of plural golf carts on a golf course, the system comprising:
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a GPS receiver associated with each golf cart and operable to determine a GPS position of an associated golf cart;
a limited access map associated with each golf cart and defining limited access areas of an associated golf cart;
a limited access controller associated with each golf cart and interfaced with the GPS receiver and limited access map, the limited access controller operable to limit the performance of driver commands to move an associated golf cart in a limited access area based at least in part on a GPS position of the associated golf cart;
a driver interface unit associated with each golf cart and interfaced with the limited access controller, the driver interface unit operable to communicate with a wireless network; and
a base station operable to communicate with the driver interface unit over the wireless network, the base station having an access configuration module operable to define limited access areas and to update one or more of the limited access maps with the defined limited access areas. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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32-1. The system of claim 21 wherein the access configuration module is further operable to restrict golf cart movement by one or more predetermined time periods.
Specification