How One Robot Handles an Entire Golf Course
DivotFiX is the world's first AI-based autonomous robot that detects and repairs golf course divots without any human help.
Photo source:
divotfix
A Robot That Never Clocks Out on the Green
Every round of golf leaves behind small craters
in the turf, divots torn up by swings, that someone has to notice, walk over
to, and physically repair by hand. Multiply that across an entire 18-hole
course, hundreds of rounds a week, and the job becomes endless. DaedongRobotics
decided a machine should handle it instead. DivotFiX is the world's first
AI-based autonomous divot repair robot, engineered to fix divots across an
entire golf course without any human involvement at all.
So, what does a full shift actually look like
for it? The robot drives itself, precisely detects ground damage, performs the
repair, and then automatically returns to charge at its dedicated docking
station. Therefore, a course that once relied on staff walking the grounds with
sand buckets now has a machine doing that same job continuously, without
breaks, without missed spots, and without anyone needing to direct it.
How DivotFiX Sees and Moves Across the Course
An autonomous golf course robot is only as good
as its ability to find damage accurately in real conditions, and this is
exactly where DivotFiX was built to excel. Equipped with LiDAR, AI vision, and
advanced sensor fusion technology, DivotFiX precisely detects divots in any
lighting environment, whether day or night. In addition, its proprietary
corner-module drive system enables agile movement, including crab moves,
zero-turns, and tight cornering, allowing the robot to maneuver smoothly even
across complex greens. Therefore, this mobility architecture provides the
precision needed to restore turf perfectly, rather than just approximating
where a repair should go.
Repairs themselves rely on a dedicated module
built specifically for the job. At its core, DivotFiX is equipped with a
dedicated repair module composed of a precision dispenser and a high-pressure
stomper. The dispenser deposits a precisely measured amount of divot mixture
directly into the damaged spot, while the stomper firmly compresses the
material to smooth the surface into an immediately playable condition.
Furthermore, this two-part function reduces the inconsistency that typically
comes with manual repair work, ensuring uniform finish quality across the
entire course.
Why Full Automation Changes Course Management
Beyond the repair itself, DivotFiX removes a
logistical burden that has always required dedicated staff time. Once it
completes its driving route, DivotFiX automatically returns to its docking
station, where it wirelessly recharges its battery and automatically refills
its sand tank, allowing continuous operation without any separate human
intervention. No cables to plug in, no manual loading required. Power and
materials are seamlessly replenished automatically, and this dual wireless
system ensures optimal performance around the clock.
That level of independence comes from genuinely
combined engineering expertise. DivotFiX is the result of combined expertise
from DaedongRobotics, HL Mando, and HL D&I Halla, unifying robotics,
mobility, and construction engineering technology into a single integrated
platform. Designed to operate independently across varying terrain and weather
conditions, DivotFiX provides a fully autonomous workflow spanning driving,
repair, automatic charging, and automatic refilling, offering golf courses a
reliable management system capable of supporting professional-level course
quality. That achievement was recognized at CES 2026, where DivotFiX won awards
across two categories, underscoring that this isn't just a clever concept but a
validated, working system.
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