Apparatus and system for automatic collection and delivery of spherical game elements

摘要

A collection apparatus including an autonomous power supply means and an image acquisition means for acquiring image sequences of at least one area of surveillance is disclosed. The collection apparatus may further include control means connected to the image acquisition means for receiving and processing the acquired sequences of images, to detect the presence and position of said game elements, and to send a control command to move the collection apparatus to collect a detected spherical game element. The collection apparatus also includes interaction means for interacting with a player to deliver a previously collected spherical game element to the player and a delivery device controlled by the control means to perform the delivery. An automatic collection system is also disclosed that uses two collection apparatuses, operating in a complementary and/or synchronized way to collect and deliver a spherical element to a player, on request by the player.

主权项

1. A system for the automatic collection and controlled individual delivery of spherical game elements in a surveillance area having a gaming area, the system comprising:
an opto-electric detection and acquisition device adapted to acquire image sequences or detect data about the surveillance area; a first movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatus; a second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatus in communication with the first movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatus; and first control means for analyzing and processing said image sequences or data to identify the presence of at least one spherical game element in said surveillance area and for sending control commands to one or both of the first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses so that the apparatuses operate in one or both of a complimentary and synchronous manner to collect the one or more spherical game elements, wherein each of said first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses comprises:
an autonomous power supply means;image acquisition device for acquiring image sequences of at least one area of surveillance;second control means connected to the image acquisition device for receiving the acquired sequences of images, for processing at least part of the sequences of images to detect the presence and position of at least one spherical game element in the surveillance area, for sending a control command to move the apparatus to the position of said at least one detected spherical game element, and for instructing the apparatus to collect the detected spherical game element;interaction means for interacting with a player to perform a controlled and individual delivery of a previously collected spherical game element to said player; anda delivery device controlled by said control means to perform said controlled and individual delivery of a previously collected spherical game element to a said player.