Adaptive golf range analyzer with automatic integration of environmental factors

Abstract

An automated method for predicting a flight distance of a projectile is described. The method includes: retrieving a set of baseline values, each baseline value associated with a set of baseline parameter values; retrieving a set of current parameter values; and calculating a predicted distance based at least partly on the baseline value, the set of baseline parameter values, and the set of current parameter values. An automated method for translating a current distance to a home distance includes: receiving a current distance; receiving a set of current parameter values; retrieving a set of baseline distances and associated baseline parameter values; and calculating a home distance based at least partly on the current distance, the set of current parameter values, and the set of baseline distances and baseline parameter values.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An automated method for predicting a flight distance of a projectile, the method comprising:
 retrieving a set of baseline values, each baseline value associated with a set of baseline parameter values;   retrieving a set of current parameter values; and   calculating a predicted distance based at least partly on the baseline value, the set of baseline parameter values, and the set of current parameter values.   
     
     
         2 . The automated method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of baseline parameter values comprises a first temperature value, a first humidity value, and a first elevation value. 
     
     
         3 . The automated method of  claim 2 , wherein the set of current parameter values comprises a second temperature value, a second humidity value, and a second elevation value. 
     
     
         4 . The automated method of  claim 3  further comprising retrieving a set of club parameters associated with a particular club. 
     
     
         5 . The automated method of  claim 4 , wherein the set of baseline parameter values includes a first distance associated with the particular club and the first temperature value, the first humidity value, and the first elevation value. 
     
     
         6 . The automated method of  claim 5 , wherein calculating the predicted distance comprises:
 retrieving a set of coefficients associated with at least one equation used to predict distance;   determining a first difference between the second temperature value and the first temperature value;   determining a second difference between the second humidity value and the first humidity value;   determining a third difference between the second elevation value and the first elevation value; and   determining the predicted distance by:
 multiplying the first distance by a sum of: one, a product of a first coefficient from the set of coefficients and the first difference, a product of a second coefficient from the set of coefficients and the second difference, and a product of a third coefficient from the set of coefficients and the third difference; and 
 adding a sum of a product of a fourth coefficient from the set of coefficients and the first difference, a product of a fifth coefficient from the set of coefficients and the second difference, and a product of a sixth coefficient from the set of coefficients and the third difference. 
   
     
     
         7 . The automated method of claim further comprising calculating a home distance based at least partly on a current distance, the baseline value, the set of baseline parameter values, and the set of current parameter values. 
     
     
         8 . An automated method for translating a current distance to a home distance, the method comprising:
 receiving a current distance;   receiving a set of current parameter values;   retrieving a set of baseline distances and associated baseline parameter values; and   calculating a home distance based at least partly on the current distance, the set of current parameter values, and the set of baseline distances and baseline parameter values.   
     
     
         9 . The automated method of  claim 8 , wherein the set of current parameter values and the set of baseline parameter values each comprises at least one temperature value, at least one elevation value, and at least one humidity value. 
     
     
         10 . The automated method of  claim 9 , wherein the set of baseline distances includes an average distance associated with each club from among a set of golf clubs. 
     
     
         11 . The automated method of  claim 10  further comprising calculating a predicted distance based at least partly on a selection of a particular club from among the set of clubs, the set of current parameter values and the set of baseline distances and baseline parameter values. 
     
     
         12 . The automated method of  claim 11 , wherein calculating the predicted distance comprises retrieving a set of equation coefficients and determining a set of differences among the set of current parameter values and the baseline parameter values. 
     
     
         13 . The automated method of  claim 8 , wherein calculating the home distance comprises receiving a set of equation coefficients and determining a set of differences among the set of current parameter values and the baseline parameter values. 
     
     
         14 . The automated method of  claim 8 , wherein each distance in the set of baseline distances is associated with a particular ordnance. 
     
     
         15 . A range projection device comprising:
 at least one user interface (UI) element;   a storage able to store a set of baseline values, wherein each baseline value is associated with a set of baseline parameter values;   a set of data sources, wherein each data source is able to provide at least one current parameter value; and   a calculation module adapted to determine a predicted distance based at least partly on the set of baseline values, the associated sets of baseline parameter values, and the current parameter values.   
     
     
         16 . The range projection device of  claim 15 , wherein the calculation module is further adapted to determine a home distance based at least partly on a current distance, the set of baseline values, the sets of baseline parameter values, and the current parameter values. 
     
     
         17 . The range projection device of  claim 15 , wherein each set of baseline parameter values comprises at least one of a baseline temperature value, a baseline humidity value, and a baseline elevation value. 
     
     
         18 . The range projection device of  claim 17 , wherein the current parameter values include at least one of a current temperature value, a current humidity value, and a current elevation value. 
     
     
         19 . The range projection device of  claim 15 , wherein each baseline value is a distance associated with a particular golf club from among a set of clubs. 
     
     
         20 . The range projection device of  claim 15 , wherein the set of data sources includes at least one of an internal data source and a network accessible data source.