Method, system and apparatus for the automatic collection and delivery of spherical game elements

摘要

An automatic collection method for collecting one or more spherical game elements that may be struck by a striking element is disclosed. In an implementation, the method comprises acquiring a sequence of images or data from an opto-electric detection system of at least one surveillance area of a gaming area, analyzing at least part of said images or data to detect the presence of at least one spherical game element in said surveillance area, wherein the analysis includes a detection of one or both of a deceleration of the at least one spherical game element or the trajectory of the at least one said spherical game element, including an initial trajectory thereof following a strike to the at least one spherical element by the striking device, wherein the detection determines whether the at least one spherical element is going to remain inside the gaming area or is going to travel outside the gaming area, upon detecting that the at least one spherical element will travel outside the gaming area, moving a collection apparatus for the at least one spherical game element to the location of said at least one spherical game element, and collecting the at least one detected spherical game element.

主权项

1. An automatic collection method for collecting one or more spherical game elements that may be struck by a striking element, the method comprising:
acquiring a sequence of images, using an image acquisition system, or detection data, using an opto-electric detection system, of at least one surveillance area of a gaming area; automatically analyzing, by performing image or data processing using control means, at least part of said images or data to detect the presence of at least one spherical game element in said surveillance area, wherein the analysis includes:
an automatic detection of one or both of a deceleration of the at least one spherical game element or of the trajectory of the at least one said spherical game element, including an initial trajectory thereof following a strike to the at least one spherical element by the striking device, andautomatically determining, based on the result of said detection of a deceleration or trajectory of the at least one said spherical game element, whether the at least one spherical element is going to remain inside the gaming area or is going to travel outside the gaming area; and when said automatic determining gives as a result that the at least one spherical element is going to travel outside the gaming area: sending control commands from said control means to a mobile collection apparatus; said mobile collection apparatus, upon the reception of said control commands, automatically moving to the location of said at least one spherical game element and automatically collecting the at least one detected spherical game element.