If you are starting to get the feeling that artificial intelligence (AI) is coming for you, you may be right. Some of the most notable professions being changed by AI are customer service, data entry, and transportation, but the list is growing all the time. And with the release of the Robera Neo smart golf bag on the horizon, the next addition to that list may soon be golf caddying.
That may not be the first thing to come to mind for most people, but if you think about it, this type of job actually suits AI quite well. The combination of computer vision, navigation, and predictive algorithms makes it possible to do things like autonomously drive around a golf course, and give a golfer feedback on their swing. And these are exactly the types of tasks that the Robera Neo promises to do for us.
The bag can autonomously follow its owner (📷: Robera)
This smart golf bag rides on a three-wheeled cart and comes loaded with cameras and multi-frequency GNSS receivers (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS). Using this data, it can follow its owner around the course, interpret and react to hand gestures or voice commands, or drive to a predefined location specified with a phone or tablet app.
It does not simply drive in a straight line from point A to B, either. Using its sensors and preloaded maps, it intelligently plans out a path that not only avoids obstacles, but that is also the most energy efficient way to go. This can reduce power consumption by up to 33% when compared to taking a more naive approach to navigation. These optimizations enable the 288Wh rechargeable battery to last for up to 27 holes.
Two versions of the golf bag are being produced. For the casual golfer, there is the Neo Vision, which does an admirable job of lugging your clubs around for you. But for the more serious golfer, there is also the Neo Tablet, which has a built-in camera designed for swing analysis that pairs with a tablet with a high-definition display. This allows for frame-by-frame analysis of each swing to help perfect one’s technique.
These smart golf bags do not come cheap, but then again, this is golf, so that should not come as much of a surprise. They are available on Kickstarter at launch day specials of $1,799 for the Neo Vision and $2,399 for the Neo Tablet. After the promotion, the prices will increase to $2,999 and $3,999, respectively. If this is not your cup of tea and you are more comfortable with the windmills and waterfalls of a miniature golf course than the fairways of the real thing, you might be more interested in the inexpensive, hacky, and much less useful Golf Ace.