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Nissan’s new ProPilot golf ball is designed to make every putt. Literally.

August 27, 2019

There’s a scene in “Caddyshack” where Rodney Dangerfield’s character Al Czervik uses a high-tech putter to lock in on the ball and bury the putt. “Albert Einstein gave me this, ya know? Nice man, nice man. Made a fortune in physics,” he says.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to recreate the scene in real life, Nissan has a prototype golf ball that can make it happen.

Designed after auto manufacturer’s ProPilot 2.0 self-driving system, the ProPilot golf ball can find its way to the hole with the help of some serious technology, including cameras placed around the green, sensors, a small motor inside the ball and wireless transmitters.

According to Nissan, the setup requires an external camera linked to software that locates the cup and ball. From there, an algorithm controls the internal motor and operates based on how the ball is struck at impact. Seems simple, right?

The detailed setup process makes the golf ball a slow-play nightmare. That being said, it’d still be fun to drain at least one 60-footer from clear across the green.

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