A hole in one, again! Nissan develops a self-driving golf ball for struggling players that putts perfectly every time
- Nissan made the self-driving golf ball with the same technology as their cars
- It is inspired by the ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance technology of Skyline
- Electric motor powers the ball while cameras and computers calculate its route
Some golfers are blessed with an enormous drive, but many are cursed with a shoddy short game.
Now, Nissan has tried to cure these woes by creating a fully-functioning self-driving golf ball which putts itself perfectly in the hole every time.
A video released by the Japanese manufacturer shows it being hit in a wayward direction by a toddler, before self-adjusting and bagging a birdie.
A publicity video released by the Japanese manufacturer shows the ‘self-driving’ ball being hit in a wayward direction by a toddler, before self-adjusting and bagging a birdie
Nissan says in a statement on its website: ‘The ProPILOT golf ball supports golfers by following a predefined route to its goal.
‘Players can feel confident that they will reach their target effortlessly on each putt.’
It is inspired by the ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance technology which the firm says will be fitted to its upcoming saloon, the Skyline.
Both systems work by using the same central principal — the tech draws a line along a predefined route from current position to end goal.
On the car, this is designed for on-ramp to off-ramp (ramp-to-ramp) highway driving but the ball uses this to bag the player a putt.
An overhead camera plots the origin and destination of the ball and calculates the best route after it has been hit based on movement and trajectory.
A small electrical motor powers the ball to guide it effortlessly into the cup.
Nissan seems to have no plans to broaden the use of its fledgling venture into golfing technology.
But it is offering visitors to its global headquarters in Japan the opportunity to watch a demonstration in person until September 1.
A small electrical motor powers the ball to guide it effortlessly into the cup and it is guided to the cup by a computer system that plots out its path along a predefined route
Nissan seems to have no plans to broaden the use of its fledgling venture into golfing technology but is offering visitors to its global headquarters in Japan the opportunity to watch a demonstration in person until September 1
Both systems work by using the same central principal — the tech draws a line along a predefined route from current position to end goal (pictured)
On the car, the technology is designed for on-ramp to off-ramp (ramp-to-ramp) highway driving but the ball uses this to bag the player a putt
