Vehicle weight sensor based on wheel rim strain measurements
Granted: June 30, 2015
Patent Number:
9068878
A vehicle weight sensor is based on wheel-rim stress measurement.
Crop feeler system and method
Granted: June 30, 2015
Patent Number:
9066463
In some embodiments, a crop feeler system automatically executes a navigational task based on a proximity of a vehicle to an obstacle. The crop feeler system includes a hub attached to the vehicle. Inside the hub are two oscillating circuits each having an oscillating frequency. A member is coupled to the hub. Two inductive elements are positioned within the member so that, when the obstacle comes into contact with the member, at least one of the inductive elements moves closer to at…
Data collector with expanded functionality
Granted: June 23, 2015
Patent Number:
9063314
Embodiments of the present invention recite a data collector with expanded functionality and a method of enhancing revenue generation using a data collector with expanded functionality. In one embodiment, a central unit of a data collector is configured to receive a replaceable unit such that any one of a variety of replaceable units can be configure to be attached to said central unit.
Indoor navigation with low energy location beacons
Granted: June 23, 2015
Patent Number:
9063212
Low energy location beacons provide a robust indoor navigation solution that is potentially accessible to anyone with a cell phone.
Moisture sensing watering system
Granted: June 23, 2015
Patent Number:
9060473
A moisture sensing water system comprising at least one moisture sensor coupled with at least one wheel coupled with a water conveyance system, the at least one moisture sensor pierces the ground during each rotation of the at least one wheel and performs a moisture sensing. A moisture information converter receives the moisture sensing information and converts the moisture sensing information into a signal indicative of the moisture content of the ground. A moisture content provider…
Wide-area agricultural monitoring and prediction
Granted: June 16, 2015
Patent Number:
9058633
A system for agricultural monitoring and prediction comprises a first reporting agent a second reporting agent a database, and a processor. The first reporting agent is configured for reporting aerial data representing relative measurements of an agricultural metric in a geographic area, the relative measurements having an unknown bias. The second reporting is configured for reporting ground-based data representing absolute measurements of the agricultural metric for a portion of the…
Method for creating an annotated angle with user specified points, and applications thereof
Granted: June 2, 2015
Patent Number:
9047709
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for creating an annotated angle with the user specified points are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention relate to reducing or eliminating the effort a user must put forth in creating an angular dimension by drawing two explicit lines or two explicit objects comprised of two lines where either the user would have to ensure the explicit lines intersected to form the angular dimension or define an exact center point to be the…
Method of determining the orientation of a machine
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9043028
A method of determining the orientation of a robotic machine at a worksite contemplates providing a target on the machine, moving the target to a first position on said machine, determining the location of the first position in the worksite, moving the target to a second position on said machine, and determining location of the second position in the worksite. The first and second positions are known with respect to the machine. Finally, a vector between the first and second locations…
System and method for generating software unit tests simultaneously with API documentation
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9043759
A system and method may generate unit tests for source code concurrently with API documentation. The system may receive a source code file including several comments sections. Each comments section may include a description of a source code unit such as a class, method, member variable, etc. The description may also correspond to input and output parameters the source code unit. The system and method may parsing the source code file to determine a source code function type corresponding…
Publication of equipment status
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9043402
This disclosure concerns novel tools and techniques for distributing status information, including without limitation status information about commercial equipment. In some cases, a status monitoring device can be attached to, incorporated within, or otherwise placed in communication with a piece of commercial equipment. The status monitoring device can monitor the status of the equipment and communicate that status. Some of the discloses tools and techniques employ a social networking…
Image-based georeferencing
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9042657
An image-based georeferencing system comprises an image receiver, an image identification processor, a reference feature determiner, and a feature locator. The image receiver is configured for receiving a first image for use in georeferencing. The image comprises digital image information. The system includes a communicative coupling to a georeferenced images database of images. The image identification processor is configured for identifying a second image from the georeferenced images…
Determining the location of a load for a tower crane
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9041595
A tower crane load location determiner is disclosed. One example includes a load location measurer to provide load location measurement information for a load coupled with a tower crane. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the load location measurement information to determine a location of the load. A user accessible load location provider provides the determined location of the load.
Method for controlling power usage of a reporting device
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9041561
A system and method for controlling power usage of a reporting device associated with an asset is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method determines whether the reporting device is in a sleep mode or an active mode and in response to determining the reporting device is in the sleep mode, the method maintains the sleep mode and in response to determining a state change associated with the reporting device, the method powers up the reporting device to the active mode.
Method of milling asphalt
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9039320
In a method of milling asphalt, a relative elevation of an unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to an area to be milled is sensed with respect to a milling machine body and rotatable milling drum of the milling machine. An elevation of a bottom surface of the rotatable milling drum is determined using a computer processor. Based on a map, stored in a computer memory, of a design surface specifying a design elevation of a milled surface over the area to be milled, the elevation of…
Integrated imaging and RFID system for virtual 3D scene construction
Granted: May 19, 2015
Patent Number:
9033219
A method includes acquiring imaging data of a scene using an imaging tool. The method also includes processing the imaging data to create a three-dimensional representation of the scene and extracting radio frequency identification (RFID) data stored in an RFID tag. The method further includes using the RFID data for placing an object in the scene that is not yet part of the scene.
Integrating position information into a handheld tool
Granted: May 12, 2015
Patent Number:
9031585
A method for integrating position information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the position data of an object embedded in a material at a worksite is recorded. The position data is used to update a record showing the position of the object as an embedded object. The position of the embedded object is displayed at a handheld tool.
Operational parameters based on proximity
Granted: May 12, 2015
Patent Number:
9030300
A method is disclosed for controlling operational parameters of a wireless reader device and/or one or more other devices based on proximity of the wireless reader device to a wireless electronic circuit. At a first location, the wireless reader device and/or the one or more other devices are controlled based on a first operational parameter. At a second location, interrogation signals are transmitted from the wireless reader device, and response signals are received at the wireless…
Path planning autopilot
Granted: April 28, 2015
Patent Number:
9020757
A path planning autopilot guides vehicles efficiently even when they are far from a desired path.
Identifying a point of interest from different stations
Granted: April 28, 2015
Patent Number:
9019316
A method for locating a point of interest in a plurality of images is provided where the plurality of images capture different views of a scene. At least portions of each of the views are displayed in separate windows on a display monitor. The method includes identifying the point of interest in a first view of the scene and identifying pixels of image data that correspond to the selected point on the display monitor. A line in each of the views is determined that extends along a ray…
Systems and methods for processing mapping and modeling data
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9008998
A method for post-processing georeferenced mapping data includes providing positioning data indicating a position of a data acquisition system in a defined space at specific moments in time, providing ranging data indicating relative position of objects in the defined space with respect to the data acquisition system at the specific moments in time, performing a smoothing process on the positioning data to determine smoothed best estimate of trajectory (SBET) data for trajectory of the…
