The Electronic Ball Boy: a reactive visually guided mobile robot for the tennis court

Abstract

In the modern world mobile robots are being utilized for many tasks that are either hazardous or unpleasant for human beings. The potential of robots to assume such tasks hinges on their ability to intelligently, efficiently, and reliably locate and interact with objects in their environment. This work focuses on the combination of intelligent sensor placement and a unique vision strategy (which itself combines several techniques) with reactive system theory to create the Electronic Ball Boy. This system is highly successful at performing the task of capture and retrieval of tennis balls, a task that is repetitious yet lacking in well-defined locations and motions for the objects of interest.