Drones vs Apps for golf ball locators?

In the future, will drones or smart phone apps be accessible for use to locate golf balls on a golf course? For example, an RFID or microchip can be embedded into the core of a golf ball. If a golf ball is lost, a golfer can use a drone or app to locate the golf ball. Doing this will speed up play and make tee times more accurate.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz01q1YFjAQ

Yeah... I don't think a $100,000 GPS drone is going to do anything to help lower prices...

A Jack Russel Terrier would be cheaper! Lol.

ROI on this is nil.

In addition, do Golf Ball manufacturers really want us to find every single Golf Ball we hit? A Golfer would only need one Golf Ball until it wore out, and that could be months conceivably. Sorry, but I can't see why a Golf Ball Manufacturer would want to develop a product which results in reduced sales.

Great points and feedback. Thanks.

[quote name='IheartNY' timestamp='1390424491' post='8511005']
In the future, will drones be accessible for use to locate golf balls on a golf course? For example, an RFID or microchip can be embedded into the core of a golf ball. If a golf ball is lost, can a golfer just dial a phone number for a drone to locate the golf ball. The drone can just hover in the sky above the golf ball until the golfer locates the golf ball and dials the same number for the drone to leave.

What are your thoughts?
[/quote]

Easier and cheaper to do this via smartphone app than drone. You pair your golf ball to the app when you put it in play and off you go.

Top Golf has chips embedded in their golf balls. You can tell when the chips are not perfectly centered and balanced as the ball will have an unusual trajectory. Great idea in theory but unless the drones are already on the course you have yet something else adding to the pace of play challenge.

The smart phone app idea debunks the use of a drone. Bring that idea to the Shark Tank.

This is utterly stupid. Wouldn't it be easier to track the chip using your phone or a small device if you really wanted to do this?

You could have a homing beacon like in Red Dawn, then ambush the ball with your Taylormade Ak 47 rocket-whatever sniper iron.

guys, this could be a great idea

all that's needed is a GPS position sender in the ball that could send it's GPS coordinates to your phone

so we just need to put a GPS receiver, a battery, and a signal transmitter inside the golf ball, that sounds pretty simple

Why not just hit the ball in the fairway ?

Nah, no fun in that.

[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1390436810' post='8512437']
Why not just hit the ball in the fairway ?
[/quote]

You single digit HCP'rs and your highfalutin ideas...

[quote name='4Wedges' timestamp='1390437785' post='8512571']
[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1390436810' post='8512437']
Why not just hit the ball in the fairway ?
[/quote]

You single digit HCP'rs and your highfalutin ideas...


[/quote]

I don't "lose" that many balls, unless they're in a water hazard. If one does happen to get lost in the woods, it deserves to stay there ... it's got bad karma!

[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1390438088' post='8512613']
[quote name='4Wedges' timestamp='1390437785' post='8512571']
[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1390436810' post='8512437']
Why not just hit the ball in the fairway ?
[/quote]

You single digit HCP'rs and your highfalutin ideas...


[/quote]

I don't "lose" that many balls, unless they're in a water hazard. If one does happen to get lost in the woods, it deserves to stay there ... it's got bad karma!
[/quote]

I can be quoted as saying "Stay away from the woods"...

I usually play the same ball for a round or two...last weekend I almost had to dig into my shag bag that I carry.

Sad.

Finally my area of expertise.

RFID is tough because the RFID sensor needs to be in close proximity to the ball.

The distance limits of bluetooth is about 10 meters so a bluetooth device were embedded in the ball and powered the app would lose connection quickly.

The drone is an interesting idea. Perhaps the best method is a single drone over the golf course equipped with a wide area airborne sensor (WAAS). With WAAS the drone or a ground terminal receiving all data can track every shot on the golf course. The system will determine which shots are at high risk of loss and immediately dispatch a small helicopter drone to find the ball. Obviously cost prohibitive but would be great technology demonstration.

[quote name='Isaac_Newton' timestamp='1390440190' post='8512899']
Finally my area of expertise.

RFID is tough because the RFID sensor needs to be in close proximity to the ball.

The distance limits of bluetooth is about 10 meters so a bluetooth device were embedded in the ball and powered the app would lose connection quickly.

The drone is an interesting idea. Perhaps the best method is a single drone over the golf course equipped with a wide area airborne sensor (WAAS). With WAAS the drone or a ground terminal receiving all data can track every shot on the golf course. The system will determine which shots are at high risk of loss and immediately dispatch a small helicopter drone to find the ball. Obviously cost prohibitive but would be great technology demonstration.
[/quote]

Since a drone is necessary, is it possible to call a phone number and have customer service direct the drone to fly over to the location of the golf ball? The drone will need to hover in place, above any obstruction, until the golfer finds the ball and calls the number again and signals the drone to leave.

[quote name='IheartNY' timestamp='1390441027' post='8512995']
[quote name='Isaac_Newton' timestamp='1390440190' post='8512899']
Finally my area of expertise.

RFID is tough because the RFID sensor needs to be in close proximity to the ball.

The distance limits of bluetooth is about 10 meters so a bluetooth device were embedded in the ball and powered the app would lose connection quickly.

The drone is an interesting idea. Perhaps the best method is a single drone over the golf course equipped with a wide area airborne sensor (WAAS). With WAAS the drone or a ground terminal receiving all data can track every shot on the golf course. The system will determine which shots are at high risk of loss and immediately dispatch a small helicopter drone to find the ball. Obviously cost prohibitive but would be great technology demonstration.
[/quote]

Since a drone is necessary, is it possible to call a phone number and have customer service direct the drone to fly over to the location of the golf ball? The drone will need to hover in place, above any obstruction, until the golfer finds the ball and calls the number again and signals the drone to leave.
[/quote]

No need to call. If the system loses track of the ball a drone is deployed to the estimated location. All done automatically within software.

Seeing that drones can be armed, can we use them to address slow play issues?

[quote name='jay65' timestamp='1390425470' post='8511119']
A Jack Russel Terrier would be cheaper! Lol.
[/quote]

I've got a Jack Russel and a Rat terrier, have been unable to train either one to follow anything without a tail... I like the poster's idea of just hitting it where you can find it haha. But then, if you're my dad there's no such thing as a ball that cannot be found.

Delete.

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1390441502' post='8513055']
Seeing that drones can be armed, can we use them to address slow play issues?
[/quote]

Perfect!

GPS and RFID and Bluetooth can get you near the ball but not close enough really. Heck I lose a ton of balls that I can see exactly where they go. Darn gophers.

[quote name='Falang_Golfer' timestamp='1390444024' post='8513375']
GPS and RFID and Bluetooth can get you near the ball but not close enough really. Heck I lose a ton of balls that I can see exactly where they go. [b]Darn gophers[/b].
[/quote]

A seagull flew down and picked up my buddies ball from the fairway one time and tried to fly away with it, only to end up dropping it onto the green as it flew away. It was pretty cool lol.

All you need is a trained Falcon, it can follow your shot and lead you right to it and then sit on the golf cart when it's not your turn. I think I'll name mine Jimmy

[quote name='Isaac_Newton' timestamp='1390441149' post='8513015']
[quote name='IheartNY' timestamp='1390441027' post='8512995']
[quote name='Isaac_Newton' timestamp='1390440190' post='8512899']
Finally my area of expertise.

RFID is tough because the RFID sensor needs to be in close proximity to the ball.

The distance limits of bluetooth is about 10 meters so a bluetooth device were embedded in the ball and powered the app would lose connection quickly.

The drone is an interesting idea. Perhaps the best method is a single drone over the golf course equipped with a wide area airborne sensor (WAAS). With WAAS the drone or a ground terminal receiving all data can track every shot on the golf course. The system will determine which shots are at high risk of loss and immediately dispatch a small helicopter drone to find the ball. Obviously cost prohibitive but would be great technology demonstration.
[/quote]

Since a drone is necessary, is it possible to call a phone number and have customer service direct the drone to fly over to the location of the golf ball? The drone will need to hover in place, above any obstruction, until the golfer finds the ball and calls the number again and signals the drone to leave.
[/quote]

No need to call. If the system loses track of the ball a drone is deployed to the estimated location. All done automatically within software.
[/quote]

What will be the operational costs for a Nano Quadrotor or larger size drone with a small country club banner attached to it, just for viisibility, cost per hole?

[quote name='jay65' timestamp='1390426435' post='8511239']
In addition, do Golf Ball manufacturers really want us to find every single Golf Ball we hit? A Golfer would only need one Golf Ball until it wore out, and that could be months conceivably. Sorry, but I can't see why a Golf Ball Manufacturer would want to develop a product which results in reduced sales.
[/quote]I think if they did a subscription service it may work. It would keep people from straying to other brands if they like your ball and are a subscriber to your app. I could see someone like taylormade charging $30 a month. People will still buy balls from losing in the water and wearing out. What I would like and definitely pay for is if the technology would allow an app to not only locate your ball, but keep up with distance, ball speed, and other cool data.