IP Library Granted Patent US 12697529
Granted Patent B2
US 12697529 · App. 18/359,231 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Sports drone system and method of use

Inventor: Fred Cruz (Brownsburg, IN)
A63B24/0062A63B24/0003A63B71/0622B60L53/14B64F1/362B64U10/14B64U70/93A63B2024/0028A63B2102/32A63B2220/806B60L2200/10B64U2101/20B64U2101/30B64U2201/10B64U2201/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697529
App. No.
18/359,231
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golfer and golf course drone monitoring system. The system includes a golf drone designed to follow golfers during play and be wirelessly connected to mobile devices through a mobile application. The drone is positioned on a golf cart and autonomously activated when golfers move away from a golf cart. The drone includes a plurality of cameras with integrated computer vision algorithms for capturing swing mechanics of a golfer and important scoring events in a game. The videos are transmitted to the mobile application wherein the golfer can view captured videos, receive swing insights, and can also remotely control the drone's functions. The drone is designed to position on a charging station on the top of, or roof of, the golf cart between shots or swings for recharging the battery thereof.

Claims (54)

1 . A golfer drone monitoring system comprising:

a drone;

a golf cart;

a charger;

a mobile application; and

a mobile device;

wherein said golf drone having at least one camera for recording video of the golfer;

wherein said mobile device having said mobile application integrated thereto;

wherein said golf drone is paired to said mobile device for transmitting video over a wireless channel;

wherein said mobile application having a playback feature for viewing said recorded video on said mobile device;

wherein said mobile application having remote control functions for controlling said golf drone;

wherein said charger is mounted to a roof of the golf cart for wirelessly recharging batteries of said golf drone during a round of golf;

wherein the at least one camera is a 360 degree camera; and

further wherein the mobile application is configured to display a shot height, a shot distance, and a shot speed from a captured golf swing.

2 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said mobile application transmits a signal to be tracked by a transceiver in said golf drone for said pairing of said golf drone to said mobile device.

3 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein said golf drone autonomously activates, undocks, and hovers proximal to the golfer when the golfer and said mobile device move away from the golf cart.

4 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein said golf drone having a connection to a training system for storing said recorded video.

5 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein said connection comprises a local server or a central server.

6 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein said recorded video reviewable by the golfer for identifying swing mechanics, a lapse in techniques, improvement points, and a golf ball tracking.

7 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein said mobile device is selected from a group consisting of a smartphone, a PDA, a smartwatch, a laptop, and a tablet.

8 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein said golf drone is manually activated to hover proximal to the golfer when the golfer and said mobile device move away from the golf cart.

9 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein said golf drone having a plurality of cameras for recording videos of the golfer and a golf course, and further wherein each of said plurality of cameras selectively and independently operable to change an orientation, a direction, and a zoom level.

10 . The golfer drone monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein said golf drone having a sensor for detecting location of the golf cart and redocking to said charger.

11 . A method of drone monitoring a golfer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a golfer monitoring system having a drone, a golf cart, a wireless charger, a mobile application, and a mobile device, wherein said golf drone having at least one camera for recording video of the golfer;

integrating said mobile application with said mobile device;

pairing said golf drone to said mobile device for transmitting video over a wireless channel;

actuating a playback feature with said mobile application for viewing said recorded video on said mobile device;

controlling said golf drone with said mobile application having remote control functions;

transmitting a signal from said mobile application to be tracked by a transceiver in said golf drone for said pairing of said golf drone to said mobile device;

autonomously activating, undocking, and hovering said golf drone proximal to the golfer when the golfer and said mobile device move away from the golf cart;

and further wherein the mobile application is configured to display a shot height, a shot distance, and a shot speed from a captured golf swing

wherein the at least one camera is a 360 degree camera; and

further wherein the mobile application is configured to display a slow-motion video of a captured golf swing.

12 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: docking said golf drone with said charger; and

recharging batteries of said golf drone with said wireless charger mounted to the golf cart.

13 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 12 further comprising a step of detecting a location of the golf cart with a sensor in said golf drone for recalling said golf drone back to said charger.

14 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 13 further comprising a step of autonomously docking said golf drone upon detection of low battery level.

15 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 13 further comprising a step of autonomously docking said golf drone between shots of the golfer.

16 . A method of drone monitoring a golfer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a golfer monitoring system having a drone, a golf cart, a wireless charger, a mobile application, and a mobile device, wherein said golf drone having a plurality of cameras for recording videos of the golfer, a golf course, and a golf ball, and further wherein each of said plurality of cameras selectively and independently operable to change an orientation, a direction, and a zoom level;

integrating said mobile application with said mobile device;

pairing said golf drone to said mobile device for transmitting said recorded videos over a wireless channel;

actuating a playback feature with said mobile application for viewing said recorded videos on said mobile device;

controlling said golf drone with said mobile application having remote control functions;

and further wherein the mobile application is configured to display a shot height, a shot distance, and a shot speed from a captured golf swing

wherein the at least one camera is a 360 degree camera; and

further wherein the mobile application is configured to provide a signal trackable by the golf drone that allows the golf drone to follow and hover proximal to the golfer when the golfer and the mobile device move away from the golf cart.

17 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 16 further comprising the steps of: docking said golf drone with said charger; and

recharging batteries of said golf drone with said wireless charger mounted to the golf cart.

18 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

detecting a location of the golf cart with a sensor in said golf drone for recalling said golf drone back to said charger; and

transmitting a signal from said mobile application to be tracked by a transceiver in said golf drone for said pairing of said golf drone to said mobile device.

19 . The method of drone monitoring a golfer of claim 18 further comprising a step of autonomously said docking of said golf drone upon detection of low battery level.