METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ANGLES BASED ON 360 DEGREE IMAGES
Granted: October 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110264405
A surveying apparatus includes a support structure and a reflective surface mechanically coupled to the support structure. The reflective surface is configured to receive panoramic data over a 360° field of view. The surveying apparatus also includes an optical system mechanically coupled to the support structure and optically coupled to the reflective surface. The surveying apparatus further includes an imaging system mechanically coupled to the support structure and optically coupled…
Tracking Carbon Footprints
Granted: July 28, 2011
Application Number:
20110184784
Novel solutions to the challenges of obtaining accurate information about a user's or an organization's carbon footprint. In some cases, these solutions can obtain and/provide feedback about a user's carbon output based on the user's habits and choices. Some solutions are designed to supply services to individuals as well as commercial ventures and for a variety of vehicle fleets, including without limitation construction equipment. In different aspects, systems in accordance with…
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Tracking Interruption
Granted: June 30, 2011
Application Number:
20110156949
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of each of received frequencies of a GNSS signal from a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained for a plurality of instances in time (3120). The time sequence of observations is fed to a filter to estimate a state vector comprising float ambiguities, wherein each float ambiguity constitutes a non integer estimate of an integer number of wavelengths for a received…
VIRTUAL PERSPECTIVE CENTER ALIGNED WITH MEASUREMENT CENTER
Granted: June 30, 2011
Application Number:
20110157359
An apparatus for acquiring image and location information includes an antenna comprising an element configured to receive signals for determining the location information, and an imaging device coupled to the antenna and configured to acquire the image information. A virtual perspective center of the imaging device is coincident with the element of the antenna.
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Scaling of Quality Measure
Granted: June 23, 2011
Application Number:
20110148698
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of GNSS signals are obtained from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites (1120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals (1140). The filter estimates a float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector. Integer values are assigned to at least a subgroup of the…
EXCAVATOR CONTROL USING RANGING RADIOS
Granted: June 23, 2011
Application Number:
20110153167
A system for use with an excavator of the type having a chassis, bucket support elements including a boom extending from the chassis and a dipper stick pivotally mounted on the end of the boom, and an excavator bucket pivotally mounted on the end of the dipper stick, determines the position of the excavator bucket during operation of the excavator at a worksite. The system includes a plurality of fixed ranging radios that are positioned at known locations at the worksite. A pair of…
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Ambiguity Selection
Granted: June 16, 2011
Application Number:
20110140959
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (4120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals, each float ambiguity constituting a real number estimate associated with an integer number of wavelengths of the GNSS signal between a receiver…
POSITIONING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A LASER BEAM
Granted: June 16, 2011
Application Number:
20110141488
The present invention relates to a positioning device and method for detecting light of fan shaped laser beam, as well as to a positioning system comprising the device and to a light emitting device emitting the fan shaped laser beam, which enable to find a spot of a laser beam easier and quicker. The positioning device comprises a detector for detecting light of a fan shaped laser beam rotating around a propagation axis with a direction of rotation and having two detector elements…
PLANTER ASSEMBLY WITH SELECTIVELY ACTUATED OUTPUT
Granted: May 26, 2011
Application Number:
20110120358
An actuating system for a planting device. The actuating system has an electric motor that provides an actuating force for a seed shaft. A pneumatic acting member is connected to a source of compressed air through a valve and positioned to engage the electric motor to actuate the electric motor. The source of compressed air and electric motor can thus be connected to a controller that operates the source of compressed air and the electric motor in order to provide selective actuation to…
METHOD FOR INTELLIGENT SCANNING USING A TOTAL STATION
Granted: April 7, 2011
Application Number:
20110080477
System and method for scanning an object using a surveying instrument is provided. The method includes designating an area associated with an object to be scanned. Defining one or more sections within the area associated with the object. Scanning a portion of the area associated with the object corresponding to a first section of the area associated with the object and designating one or more sections adjacent to the first section if scan results indicate presence of an object.…
Method and Apparatus for Barcode and Position Detection
Granted: March 24, 2011
Application Number:
20110068164
Method and apparatus for detecting barcode data of at least one item of interest. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a barcode target, by an imaging device, associated with an item located at a position of interest. The method further includes decoding the barcode target to extract data associated with the item, determining position data for the position of interest and displaying the data associated with the item and the position data for a user.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING NAVIGATIONAL INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH LOCATIONS OF OBJECTS
Granted: March 17, 2011
Application Number:
20110066375
An apparatus for providing navigational information associated with locations of objects includes an imaging device configured to acquire image data, a visual display coupled to the imaging device and configured to display the image data, a position measuring device configured to determine position information associated with the imaging device, and an orientation device configured to determine orientation information associated with the imaging device. The apparatus may also include a…
Reverse RFID location system
Granted: February 24, 2011
Application Number:
20110043373
A reverse RFID location system is based on set of RFID tags in which each tag stores data representing its position.
Agricultural Vehicle Autopilot Rollover Risk Assessment System
Granted: January 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110022267
A rollover risk assessment system includes sensors and a processor for estimating rollover risk associated with maneuvering on varying terrain.
Automatic Control of Passive, Towed Implements
Granted: December 23, 2010
Application Number:
20100324772
An automatic control system for passive, towed implements is described. The system provides a strategy for optimal control of a towed implement using a nudge input to an autopilot-controlled tractor. Implement path-tracking error, as measured by a GNSS receiver, is consistently corrected to zero.
System and Method for Site Calibration of a Surveying Device
Granted: December 16, 2010
Application Number:
20100315286
A system and method for site calibration of a controller is provided. In one embodiment, a method may include determining coordinates of a point in a first coordinate system based on at least one measurement by a surveying device, determining coordinates of the point in a second coordinate system based on data provided by a global positioning device, and calculating a transformation of the first coordinate system relative to the second coordinate system based on the coordinates…
Asset Management Systems and Methods
Granted: October 21, 2010
Application Number:
20100265061
Novel tools and techniques for tracking assets, such as high-value tools, customer equipment, testing equipment, technicians, and/or the like. Some of these tools and techniques can be used to track assets in a mobile environment (such as in a delivery truck, installation van, and/or the like).
GENERALIZED PARTIAL FIXING
Granted: October 7, 2010
Application Number:
20100253575
Described is a generalized approach for integer parameter estimation, especially in the context of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The problem solved is the case where a definitively correct integer solution cannot be identified for all ambiguity parameters in a reliable way. The proposed solution is to apply a linear transformation to the ambiguities (multiply with a matrix) such that the images of the first and the second candidate (or more) are identical. That way, from…
System and Method to Provide Consumables
Granted: September 23, 2010
Application Number:
20100241484
System and method for providing consumables to machines. In one embodiment, machine data indicating a remaining quantity of a machine consumable for a machine may be received by a server. A location may be received by the server providing a location of the machine. An estimated operational duration for the machine may be determined and a supplier may be selected to provide the machine consumable based, at least in part, on the estimated operational duration. The supplier may be requested…
POWERED SCREED AND METHOD OF OPERATING
Granted: September 2, 2010
Application Number:
20100221067
A lightweight, powered screed machine for screeding the surface of a quantity of concrete having a pair of rails extending to either side, includes a frame having a handle arrangement, for manual engagement by an operator, and an elongated screed blade extending between the support rails. The machine further includes a powered vibration mechanism mounted on the frame. A pair of posts or masts are provided with one of the pair of posts attached to the frame adjacent each end of the blade…
