Implementation of an IoT-Based Camera Imaging System for an Autonomous Tennis Ball Collecting Robot
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Collecting tennis balls manually is often tiring and time-consuming, making practice sessions less effective. To address this issue, an automatic tennis ball collecting robot was designed, equipped with two vision cameras and a conveyor system. The first camera, positioned for long-range detection, identifies the location of balls on the court, while the second, short-range camera ensures precise positioning before pickup. Once detected, the balls are guided through the conveyor into the robot’s storage basket. In addition, an Internet of Things (IoT) system is integrated into the robot to enable remote monitoring, control, and data transmission regarding its operational status and ball collection progress in real time. Through this IoT connectivity, users can access robot information via mobile or web interfaces, improving usability and operational efficiency. Experimental results show that the robot can recognize balls with an accuracy of 87% at long range and 93% at short range, and successfully collect up to 15 balls in just 8 minutes. These findings demonstrate that the integration of vision systems, conveyor mechanisms, and IoT-based control significantly enhances the efficiency, practicality, and intelligence of tennis training activities.
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