The present invention in general relates to entertainment and games, and in particular to boundaries for robotic and other games played on a flat surface or floor, in a pinball game or on tables of any sort such as billiard, pool, craps, air hockey, ping pong, round, rectangular, square, oval, etc. The games are pool/billiards played with robots instead of cues, pinball played with robots instead of flippers, mini-golf played with robots instead of clubs, shooting galleries played with robots instead of guns, or any combination thereof, played simultaneously with multiple robots, robot targets, players, and multiple smartphones to control the game. The robots are designed to push robot targets through gates and fire munitions at weapons targets.
Most robot games are intended for the robots to push each other around (sumo), destroy each other (e.g., BattleBots, RobotWars, etc.), or play some form of soccer (push/roll/kick a ball into a goal). In addition, some robot games are designed for a specific purpose for hobbyists and educational competitions (e.g., First, etc.).
In a particular game played on a pool or billiard table surface, competing robots are used to score points by pushing or knocking pool balls into the table pockets. A traditional billiard or pool table has six pockets for aiming at and targeting pool balls, with four pockets positioned at the corners of the table, and two pockets positioned at each of the midpoints of the table lengthwise sides. However, there are currently no automated methods for identifying when and which balls fall into which pockets of a billiard table and controllable perimeter boundaries designed to control access to the pockets.
In a similar game played on a flat surface without existing pockets, competing robots are used to score points by pushing or knocking robot targets such as balls, pucks, blocks, etc. through openings (gates) in the perimeter boundaries. However, there are currently no automated methods for identifying when and which robot targets pass through which openings or gates of the controllable perimeter boundaries designed to control access to the openings.
Thus, there exists a need for an automated method and system for identifying when and which robot targets fall into which pockets or pass through which openings of a perimeter boundary, and for controllable perimeter boundaries designed to control access to the pockets, gates or openings.
An automated method and system for identifying when and which robot targets fall into which pockets of a billiard table or pass through gates in the walls of a perimeter boundary, as well as boundary walls and gates that may be used to form various shaped playing areas is provided. The identification of a robot target in a pocket may be used for scoring traditional games of pocket billiards, or for scoring robotic based games played on the surface of the billiard table. The identification sensor in certain embodiments may be mounted on the user configurable gates. Numeric values may be printed on the face of the robot targets to determine a winner of a game based on a total score of values of those robot targets knocked in by a player by themselves or by controlling a robot that pushes the robot targets.
k are perspective views of a gate sensor for detecting the robot or robot target according to embodiments of the invention;
The present invention has utility as an automated method and system for identifying when and which robot targets fall into which pockets of a billiard table or pass through gates in the walls of a perimeter boundary, as well as boundary walls and gates that may be used to form various shaped playing areas. The identification of a robot target in a pocket may be used for scoring traditional games of pocket billiards, or for scoring robotic based games played on the surface of the billiard table. The identification sensor in certain embodiments may be mounted on the user configurable gates. For example, the numeric values printed on the face of the robot targets may be added to determine a winner of a game based on a total score of values of those robot targets knocked in by a player by themselves or by controlling a robot that pushes the robot targets.
In a first embodiment of the inventive robot target identification system, a vision system is positioned at each pocket of the table or gate in the perimeter boundary. Alternatively, the vision system is placed on, around, above the table, or on a user configurable boundary with gates. A video camera may be mounted above the playing surface for implementing: vision system software to track robot targets going into pockets of a pool table or through gates in a perimeter boundary, and for broadcasting video of the game so the game can be played remotely and for instant replay. The vision system can track and identify individual robot targets (pool balls, etc.) with character recognition of the number printed on the robot target's surface (numbered 1 through 15 with no change to the existing pool balls appearances) when they go into any of the pockets (assigned numbers 1 through 6). Alternatively, each of the robot targets (pool balls, billiard balls, tennis balls, ping pong balls, pin balls, etc.) have unique machine readable (vision) markings or colors (in addition to the standard markings of numbers, colors and stripes) for each robot target (1 through 15) that are operative with the identification vision system. Markings may include colors, barcodes, quick response (QR) codes, or other coded representations of numbers or uniqueness.
In an alternative embodiment of the inventive robot target identification system, each robot target may have a unique machine readable or recognizable electronics/components (RFID, magnets, etc.) embedded inside each robot target. Sensors operative to read and determine the type (number value) based on the radio frequency identification (RFID), magnet, or other electronic embedded components, may be positioned at each of the pockets in a pool/billiard table or the gates of a perimeter boundary. Alternatively, a sensor system may be placed on, around, under, or above the boundaries and/or gates that can track and identify individual robot targets when they go into or through any gate.
In an embodiment of the inventive robot target identification system, a playing surface mat embedded with tracking and identification sensors, the mat dimensioned to fit the perimeter boundary's playing surface, may be used to track the robot targets. The mat may have a plain felt like finish, as found on billiard tables, without any markings, or may have markings related to a game, such as a robotic game with graphics and indicators for positioning game pieces before play begins (and to protect pool table or flat surface). In embodiments the mat may have Intelligence to monitor game pieces (robot targets), and/or electronic graphics for visual stimulation of the players and audience. The mat may also be rolled up for easy transport and storage.
In instances where robots are part of the game being played on the billiard table or in the perimeter boundary, the robots themselves may be configured with sensors for detecting and tracking which one of and when robot targets enter a pocket or pass through a gate. As noted above the sensor used in the robots would be operative to recognize robot targets with unique machine readable or recognizable electronics/components (RFID, magnets, etc.) inside each target, or machine readable (vision) unique marks for each robot target, or the markings and colors (stripes and solids and numbers 1 through 15) on a typical set of pool balls.
In embodiments of the robot target identification system, robot targets and robots may be in communication with a central controller or computing device by wireless or wired connection, as well as with a display for showing scoring, current status of the robot targets, and other gaming parameters.
The perimeter boundaries may be formed of stamped metal parts, or formed from plastics, composites, or wood. Various boundaries defining the playing area are composed of perimeter modules, walls, gates and/or facades. Playing areas defined by the boundaries include rectangles, squares, octagons, circles, free-form, ovals or combinations thereof.
Modules, walls, gates and/or facades are configured to attach together to form the perimeter boundary.
Perimeter modules may be any combination of walls, gates and facades.
Walls are configured to mount modules, gates and facades
Gates are configured to mount manual blocking gate, motorized gates and facades. In embodiments of the invention, gates may be manually opened or closed, or have motorized controls for opening and closing the gates.
Facades are configured to attach to the modules, walls or gates of the perimeter boundary. Facades are in the shape of buildings, organic shapes, animals, cities, castles, structures, etc. Facades contain lights, speakers, electronics, etc.
Weapon targets which contain electronic sensors that detect weapons fired from the robots such as projectiles, light beams, laser beams, IR beams, water, liquids, gases, flames, missiles, rockets, or fireworks are mounted in the perimeter modules, walls, gates and/or facades of the perimeter boundary.
Indicator lights on the perimeter modules, walls, gates, facades and/or weapon targets indicate and enable the changing of the scoring method of robot targets and/or weapon targets from positive to negative points during game play, changing the scoring of different targets, or the availability of said robot targets or weapon targets for scoring. Weapon targets may also contain indicators to identify which weapon targets are “live” and available for scoring points during the game. Indicators can be colored lights and be color matched with player's color to indicate which targets (robot or weapon) are available for scoring by that player. The target indicator colors can be changed during a game. If a player attacks a target indicated with another player's color, negative points can be scored.
Robot target return modules are configured to attach to the walls, gates or facades of the perimeter boundary. The robot target return modules can be actuated with motors, elevators, lifts, suction, etc.
Robot target supply modules are configured to attach to the walls, gates or facades of the perimeter boundary. The robot target supply modules can be actuated with motors, solenoids, etc.
The entire perimeter boundary (perimeter modules, walls, gates, facades, weapon targets, robot target supply, robot target return, and weapon targets) can be contained in a box with a glass cover to provide an enclosed area which includes the robots and robot targets to create an arcade style game.
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In embodiments robots may be able to physically inter-act with the boundary walls and gates that form a stadium. For example, interactions may be analogous to a pinball game where one or more of the robot act as the pinball and physically hits targets in the stadium wall to score points. A sensor may identify which Robot hit the target in order to score points to the correct Robot (in multi Robot games). Another interaction would be for the robot to have an extendable probe that could interact with the stadium wall. The probe may be a simple cylinder that extends out from the robot and goes in a hole in the stadium Wall, or the probe could be a more complex arm that reaches out and inter-acts with features in the stadium.
The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/870,480 filed Aug. 27, 2013, and US Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/985,855 filed Apr. 29, 2014; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US14/52908 | 8/27/2014 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61870480 | Aug 2013 | US | |
61985855 | Apr 2014 | US |