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BogeyBuster: An Accessible Golf Simulator
class. MS Project in Mechanical Engineering (Independent Reseach)
project. Novel Product Design & Development
role. Design Generation, CAD, Prototyping
date. September 2022 to December 2022
Prototype Demo
Pitch Summary
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Design Process
Golf is a lifelong sport that provides great physical, mental, and social benefits, but the time and cost commitment keep millions of interested people outside of the high barriers of entry.
User Personas from Ethnographic Interviews
In order to make golf more accessible, there has been a movement to make golf smaller with golf simulators. Technology advancements in computer vision and virtual reality have resulted in some exciting products, but the root problems for new players are yet to be solved. Beginner golfers need repetitive practice in order to get better, but driving ranges can be an inaccessible commitment and home simulators are expensive and require the space for the net.
Competitive Audit
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Problem Statement
Beginner golfers need help improving their game at home and the current home simulated golf experience does not solve their problems as it is too expensive and takes up too much space.
Concept Generation
BogeyBuster is the solution as it a home golf simulator that provides users the ability to hit a golf ball indoors without the need for a net. By focusing on the vertical launch angle, push/pull angle, and launch velocity, which are the key data points required for effective feedback for a new golfer, the simulator can be built with affordable sensors rather than expensive high-speed cameras.
Preliminary Sketches
Concept Prototype
Initial CAD Model
Solution Design
With the goal to create a working prototype of the BogeyBuster concept, a functional CAD model was created in SolidWorks.
Novel Mechanical Design
The novel mechanical design has a golf ball hanging from a vertical arm that swings freely in all directions with a spherical joint configuration. The combination of an encoder, potentiometer, and limit switch provide the data needed to simulate the golf shot and thus creates the real ball contact experience without the need for a net.
Spherical Joint Design
Spherical Joint Prototype
Prismatic Joint Design
Prismatic Joint Prototype
BogeyBuster will give golf beginners and all golf lovers the unique experience of playing and practicing golf indoors. Outside of time and cost, the biggest reason that people stop playing golf is themselves. There is a learning curve to making golf more enjoyable and the only way to get better is practice. BogeyBuster brings the opportunity right to your room as it provides the most accessible and affordable home golf experience.
Next Steps
Unfortunately, there are currently some bugs in the electronics that are keeping the prototype from working as planned. The next step will be to solve these problems so that prototype can be played by users for effective and critical feedback.
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