Scientists in Germany have built a robot that can putt.
Dubbed Golfi, it probably wouldn’t be much of a fourth in your group, as it does need to be plugged in to a power source. Golfi also takes up to five minutes deciphering data before swinging the club, and no one likes slow play.
But the small, four-wheeled contraption can roll its rock.
The process starts when Golfi takes a picture of the green with a 3D camera. Then its computer simulates attempting thousands putts while factoring in rolling resistance of the turf, the weight of the golf ball and starting velocity.
Then it lines itself up and makes a swing.
Researchers at Paderborn University in Germany report that Golfi makes 70 percent of its putts but didn’t specify how long the putts were. No word yet on Strokes Gained: Putting for Golfi.
