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Relox Robotics
- Range Picker
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Tee up efficiency on the range with Relox automated robot system. The Range Picker™ by Relox Robotics is a fully autonomous solution for your driving range ball pickup needs. The Range Picker™ works 24/7, picks up balls, charges when needed and drops of the balls in a designated place when it is full. The Range Picker™ is lighter weight (140kg and nimble yet very efficient. The lighter weight reduces the wear on your range and enables operations in conditions where other solutions are not able to pick up balls. The first Range Pickers™ started picking up rangeballs in Sweden in 2020, and are now working across the globe, from New Zeeland to California and now here in the UK!
Key Features
- Reduces up to 100% of staff work hours
- Schedule your robot to operate in the right areas of the range at all times of the day
- With the Relox mobile app you stay in control
About Relox Robotics
Features
SAVE TIME & MONEY
Reduces up to 100% of staff work hours required to perform this
labour intense, repetitive and potentially harmful job. You will save on
gas for, and maintenance of, a tractor. And you will be certain that you will always have range balls available for your golfers.
HIGHER EFFICIENCY
Schedule your robot to operate in the right areas of the range at all times of the day, to make it works where it is most needed. The Range Picker™ is significantly lighter than a traditional picker, it is able to pick when you otherwise would be forced to handpick due to wet conditions.
INCREASED RELIABILITY
Minimise the reliance on staff members to perform the task. By implementing our robotic solution, you can be certain that the task will be completed correctly and on time, all day every day, around the clock.
STAY IN CONTROL
With the Relox mobile app you stay in control to remotely monitor and manage your Range Picker™ from anywhere in the world. Modify the schedule, send commands to the robot or remote control it if needed.
The main values seen by customers
- ROI within in 9-181 months
- Save +70 000kg of CO2 and +£16,390 per year2 by moving from a diesel tractor to our battery powered robot
- Have range balls available 24/7/365
- Enables ball picking in conditions when a tractor can’t do it.
1 : based on 4-8 hours of picking per day with US avg hourly salary
2 : based on avg US diesel prices and 8 hours of picking per day
Frequently asked questions
What is unique about the Range Picker?
The Range Picker is designed for durability, to withstand both being hit by golfballs and face all kinds of weather. Our solution is well established, with the first units sold in 2020. There are now Range pickers across the globe. It operates fully autonomously and has an unmatched autonomous capacity of up to 60 000 balls per 24 hours.
How does it navigate?
We are using high precision GPS RTK to reach inch-level accuracy in navigation. During installation we map the outer perimeter of the range and any permanent obstacles on it, like bunkers or flags, using GPS and create a map or your range for the robot.
How autonomous is the system?
The system is meant to operate fully on its own. The robot picks up balls until it needs to charge. And then starts picking up balls again. Whenever the trailer is filled up, it goes to dump the balls in the designated space. As the range operator you can control scheduling, when the robot should pick what areas of the range, and pause the autonomous behaviour if you need it out of the way for a while for some reason.
Do I need a ditch on my range for it?
The system was initially designed with a ditch in mind, to make it fully autonomous. With a ditch, you will never run out of balls in your dispenser and the robot can operate truly on its own 24/7/365. For those that do not want, or are not able to have, a ditch, Relox Robotics has developed a POD – Picker Overground Ditch where the robot can dump a number of balls (the size of the POD is a configuration) and then signal through the app that the POD is filled up and needs emptying.
The Specification
Body Stainless steel and aluminium – Built to withstand direct hits from golfballs.
Wheels 16” tubeless turf tires.
Dimensions (LxWxH) 2.0m x 1.2m x 0.7m
Weight 140kg – A full load of 1000 balls adds 45kg
Max Speed Up to 3.1 mph.
Maximum incline 15%.
Ball Capacity Trailer carries 1 000 balls per round, systems handles up to 60 000 balls per 24 hours.
Battery 48V LiFepo4, 40 Ah.
Runtime 6 hours continuous run time, 1.5 hours charge time.
Hours of operation 24/7
The Components
POD
- Picker Overground Ditch. The range picker needs somewhere to autonomously dump the balls when the trailer is full. Either customers install a ball ditch in the ground (sold by Range Servant, Duchell, etc) that automatically feeds the balls to a washer and on to a dispenser.Some customers do not want to, or cannot, install something permanently in the ground. For those customers, Relox has developed the POD.
- Robot with ballpicker trailer
- Base station. Used to achieve 1 inch GPS precision.
- Charging station
The Ball Management System
For customers wanting full automation, a BMS (ball management solution) is needed. Relox does not supply a BMS, but Lister Wilder can collaborate with one of the market leading suppliers to arrange the installation.
The interface between the Range Picker and the BMS is very simple. A grate that is strong enough to hold the weight of the robot and has suitable distances between the bars in the grate.
The Installation Process
Over the years Relox has been installing robots, a well defined installation process has evolved. It is described at a high level below.
Pre study
Before the installation, a pre study is done to make sure the customer understands their responsibilities (like paving a hard surface for the charging station) and so that the installer (Relox or distributor) can make a clear plan for the installation day.
Physical installation
On the installation day, the charging station and the base station has to be installed first.
For the robot system, transport mounts are removed and the robot is started up and upgraded to the latest version of the software.
Mapping
Using a custom designed GPS mapping kit, the outer boundary of the range is mapped.
After that, any obstacles on the range, like bunkers, yardage signs, flag posts etc are mapped as permanent obstacles.
Finally the charging and ball dumping locations are mapped.
Fine-tuning
When the initial mapping is done, the installation teams goes through a series of robot drills to ensure that the installation is successful. Any minor changes to the mapping where a need to modify is identified are completed.
Customer introduction
When the system is up and running, an introduction to the customer team is done. Those who will be involved in maintaining the robot system are introduced to the robot itself, to the management app and the maintenance schedule.
A first picking schedule is defined together with the customer.
About Lister Wilder
Lister Wilder is a family business supplying high quality golf course and groundcare machinery for over 75 years. For the last six decades we have steadily grown by providing a professional, but friendly service. We have six branches across the South of England and 180 team members that are involved with selling and supporting golf and groundcare machinery. Each branch is focused on supporting customers in the local area and has its own dedicated team of sales, workshop and parts personnel.
In more recent times we have established ourselves as flagship suppliers of Husqvarna Robot Mowers in the South of England and have invested heaving in specialists, software, hardware and dedicated vehicles. The Pik’r will be supported through this same division with focused and dedicated resource. We understand the needs and demands of golf courses and dedicated ranges when it comes to ensuring that the robots are always available to work at look forward to discussing the various options that we can offer.
Click here for more information on our Groundcare range.
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