Cross section of Topgolf ball

[nevets88]

We know there's a chip in there, well here it is:

 

[gregsandiego]

3 hours ago, nevets88 said:

We know there's a chip in there, well here it is:

 

Wow!

A better design would have used normal balls.

[iacas]

18 minutes ago, gregsandiego said:

A better design would have used normal balls.

Why? Huh?

They couldn't do all the things they do with a normal (non-chipped?) golf ball.

[CarlSpackler]

20 minutes ago, iacas said:

Why? Huh?

They couldn't do all the things they do with a normal (non-chipped?) golf ball.

Exactly. I'm developing a similar system for inventory in our factory. 

[gregsandiego]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

Why? Huh?

They couldn't do all the things they do with a normal (non-chipped?) golf ball.

My thought was having to manufacture a special ball is less desirable than using every day cheapos. And couldn't they figure out some sensors at the target end to track it that way?

But if those are RFID chips, then yeah maybe that allows TopGolf to track the ball from green to target.

[iacas]

9 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

My thought was having to manufacture a special ball is less desirable than using every day cheapos. And couldn't they figure out some sensors at the target end to track it that way?

I'm pretty sure they're doing things the best way. When the machine dispenses the ball, it knows into which station it did so, and then when the ball goes through the targets, that sensor knows what ball it is then, too.

Having an array of sensors down-range that would need to simultaneously track 20, 30+ golf balls at the same time, all of people aiming at different targets and different distances, would be a poor choice I think.