CLAIMS

1. A retriever (12) for collecting a ball on a sports playing surface and for controllably releasing the ball, said retriever (12) having a fore end and an aft end, comprising

a chassis (14);

wheels (18) mounted on said chassis(14);

a drive system (16) coupled to at least one wheel (18);

a means (20) for steering the retriever;

a receiver (43) for receiving retriever control signals;

a retriever processor-controller (21), having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller (21) being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever (12), and said processor-controller (21) also being programmed with instructions that upon execution process the retriever location input signal into a retriever control output signal for directing the retriever (12) to move to a programmed ball release location and release the ball in accordance with the processed programmed instructions in a calculated direction and with a calculated velocity toward a target location on the same court side as the retrieval and where said velocity and direction are calibrated for receipt and securing of the ball by a person at the target location during a

63 pause in play;

an on-board power supply (22); and

a pair of opposing blades (26) positioned on the retriever (12) fore end and spaced apart to define a fore ball collection space (30) therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and hold a collected ball until release;

at least one ball proximity sensor (32) positioned alongside said ball collection space (30); and

at least one active detent (50) positioned alongside said collection space (30) actuatable in cooperation with said at least one ball proximity sensor (32) in accordance with processor-programmed instructions for retaining the ball in the collection space (30) during movements of the retriever (12) until the processor- controlled release of the ball toward the target during a retrieval.

2. The retriever (12) of claim 1, wherein said at least one active

detent (50) comprises a pair of solenoid-operated piston members each mounted in a mutually opposing position on said blades (26).

3. The retriever (12) of claim 1, wherein each blade has an

outwardly-flared tip.

5. The retriever (12) of claim 1, further comprising a housing (15) mounted on said chassis (14) for securing retriever components thereon.

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6. The retriever (12) of claim 5, further comprising an aft ball collection space (510) and a first ball ejector (52) positioned therein for releasing a collected ball in a vertical direction.

7. The retriever (12) of claim 1, wherein the ball is a tennis ball and the playing surface is a tennis court, wherein the retriever (12) further comprises a means (19) for determining a location of the retriever with an output connected to an input of the processor- controller (21), and further comprising the processor-controller (21) being programmed with instructions that upon execution process the retriever location input signal into a retriever control output signal for directing the retriever (12) to collect and detain the tennis ball within the ball collection space until the ball release, move to the programmed ball release location on the tennis court, and release the tennis ball toward the target.

8. The retriever (12) of claim 7, further comprising an orientation sensor (17).

9. The retriever (12) of claim 7, wherein the processor-controller (21) is further programmed with instructions that upon execution and based on the retriever ball release location determination compute a retriever (12) return path and output a corresponding control signal directing the retriever (12) to move to an established off- court standby location following a ball release.

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10. The retriever (12) of claim 9, further comprising an orientation sensor (17).

11. A ball retrieval system (10) for retrieving and controllably

releasing a ball on a court surface, comprising:

(i) a retriever (12) having a fore end and an aft end, comprising a chassis (14);

wheels (18) mounted on said chassis(14);

a drive system (16) coupled to at least one wheel (18);

a means (20) for steering the retriever;

a receiver (43) for receiving retriever control signals;

a retriever processor-controller (21), having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller (21) being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever (12), and said processor-controller (21) also being programmed with instructions that upon execution process the retriever location input signal into a retriever control output signal for directing the retriever (12) to move to a programmed ball release location and release the ball in accordance with the processed programmed instructions in a calculated direction and with a calculated velocity toward a target location on the same court side as the retrieval and where said velocity and direction are calibrated for receipt and

66 securing of the ball by a person at the target location during a pause in play;

an on-board power supply (22); and

a pair of opposing blades (26) positioned on the retriever (12) fore end and spaced apart to define a fore ball collection space (30) therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and hold a collected ball until release;

at least one ball proximity sensor (32) positioned alongside said ball collection space (30); and

at least one active detent (50) positioned alongside said collection space (30) actuatable in cooperation with said at least one ball proximity sensor (32) in accordance with processor programmed instructions for retaining the ball in the collection space (30) during movements of the retriever (12) prior to the processor- controlled release of the ball toward a target during a retrieval; an orientation sensor (17); and

(ii) a remote control for signaling to and controlling the retriever.

12. The ball retrieval system (10) of claim 11, further comprising a docking station (64) for docking the retriever (12) at the standby location.

13. The ball retrieval system (10) of claim 12, further comprising a means (67) for attaching and securing the docking station (64) to a net post (40).

14. The ball retrieval system (10) of claim 11, further comprising (i) a wheeled frame (300) with the retriever (12) securable thereon, and (ii) a means (67) for attaching and securing the frame (300) to a net post (40).

15. The ball retrieval system (10) of claim 11, further comprising (i) a ball locator and tracker (34) for locating a ball and providing an output data stream identifying the ball location, and (ii) a transmitter (44) for transmitting the ball location data stream, and wherein the processor-controller (21) includes programming instructions that upon execution direct the retriever (12) to the ball location.

16. The ball retrieval system of claim 15, wherein the ball tracker and locator (34) and transmitter (44) are attachable to a net post (40).

17. The ball retrieval system (10) of claim 11, wherein the retriever further comprises a ball locator and tracker for locating a ball and providing an output data stream identifying the ball location connected to an input of the processor-controller (21), and wherein the processor-controller (21) includes programming instructions that upon execution direct the retriever (12) to the ball location, collect the ball within the ball collection space, detain the collected ball within the ball collection space until the ball release, move to the programmed ball release location, and release the ball from the ball collection space toward the target location.

18. The ball retrieval system of claim 11, further comprising a retriever status indicator light.

19. A method for retrieving a tennis ball during active play,

comprising:

providing a retriever (12) for collecting a ball on a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball, said retriever (12) having a fore end and an aft end, comprising

a chassis (14);

wheels (18) mounted on said chassis(14);

a drive system (16) coupled to at least one wheel (18);

a means (20) for steering the retriever;

a receiver (43) for receiving retriever control signals;

a means (19) for determining a location of the retriever (12); a retriever processor-controller (21), having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller (21) being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever (12), and the processor-controller (21) is programmed with instructions that upon execution process the retriever location input signal into a retriever control output signal for directing the retriever (12) to move to a programmed ball release location and release the ball in accordance with the processed programmed instructions in a

69 calculated direction and with a calculated velocity toward a target location;

an on-board power supply (22); and

a pair of opposing blades (26) positioned on the retriever (12) fore end and spaced apart to define a fore ball collection space (30) therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and hold a collected ball until release; and

at least one detent (50) on at least one said blade for retaining the ball in the collection space (30) during movements of the retriever (12) prior to a controlled release of the ball toward a target; and (ii) a remote control (60);

positioning the retriever (12) in a standby location; and directing the retriever (12) via the remote control (60) to collect a ball; and

releasing the ball toward a target location in a calculated direction and with a calculated velocity toward a target location on the same court side as the retrieval and where said velocity and direction are calibrated for receipt and securing of the ball by a person at the target location during a pause in play pursuant to the processor- controller programmed instructions.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising detaining the collected ball within the ball collection space until ball release from the ball collection space toward the target.

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2. The retriever (12) of claim 1, wherein said active detent (50) comprises a robotic claw.

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