A processor of a distance measuring apparatus calculates a three-dimensional position of an object in the surroundings based on the first image, the second image and the amount of movement. The processor determines that calculated three-dimensional position is an error, when the displacement between a fourth position at which a third position set based on the calculated three-dimensional position of the object is projected on either one image of the first image and the second image and a position of the object in the one image is equal to or larger than a prescribed value. The processor makes the calculated three-dimensional position a distance measurement target when the calculated three-dimensional position is not determined as an error, and when determined as an error, excludes the calculated three-dimensional position from the distance measurement target.

A processor of a distance measuring apparatus calculates a three-dimensional position of an object in the surroundings based on the first image, the second image and the amount of movement. The processor determines that calculated three-dimensional position is an error, when the displacement between a fourth position at which a third position set based on the calculated three-dimensional position of the object is projected on either one image of the first image and the second image and a position of the object in the one image is equal to or larger than a prescribed value. The processor makes the calculated three-dimensional position a distance measurement target when the calculated three-dimensional position is not determined as an error, and when determined as an error, excludes the calculated three-dimensional position from the distance measurement target.

A method including receiving a first location for a mobile device at a first time; receiving a second location for the mobile device at a second time; determining a most likely route for the mobile device based on the first location, the second location, and a time interval between the first time and the second time; and generating a synthetic location for the mobile device based on the most likely route at a corresponding synthetic time between the first time and the second time.

A method, computer program product and system where a processor(s) configures sensor(s) on an unmanned aircraft system, to capture data related to a surface of a defined geographic area. The processor(s) navigate the unmanned aircraft system in a repeatable defined travel path proximate to the defined geographic area, such that the sensor(s) capture surface data related to the defined geographic area during the navigating, wherein a position of the unmanned aircraft system in the travel path is within a satellite view geometry of a satellite. The processor(s) maintain the unmanned aircraft system at a distance from the surface at which atmosphere does not obscure the data and obtain the data collected by the sensor(s). The processor(s) compares the data collected by the sensor(s) to data collected by one or more instruments on the satellite related to the defined geographic area to determine is the instrument(s) of the satellite are calibrated.

An interactive mobile robot system and a method for creating an invisible track for a mobile robot. The system and method allow the creation of invisible tracks by guiding objects. They also allow the use of such invisible tracks for the semi-autonomous or autonomous control of toys, including model cars and model trains, or of mobile robots to move them along a real-world path. The system includes a mobile robot, receiver circuitry to receive one or more position signals, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to determine position information associated with the mobile robot based on the one or more position signals. The processing circuitry is further configured to create an invisible track based on the position information, to determine a current position of the mobile robot, and to generate control signals based on the current position of the mobile robot and the invisible track.

Methods and systems are disclosed for improving reliability in mobile device positioning. A mobile device generates position data for a device, receives a first access point position reliability state associated with the first access point, determines a reliability of the position data based on the first access point position reliability state and an estimated location of the first access point, determines a threshold reliability requirement of an application associated with the mobile device, compares the reliability of the position data to the threshold reliability requirement of the application, and provides the position data of the device based on the comparison. A network entity determines access point characteristics associated with an access point, generates a position reliability state for the access point, sends the position reliability state to a mobile device, receives position data associated with the mobile device, and determines a trustworthiness of the position data.

Methods and apparatus are discloses for position a vehicle. In one aspect, an apparatus for positioning a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of receive, each configured to generate a respective voltage signal from a wireless magnetic field generated by a field generator. The apparatus further comprises a processor configured to determine a first set of data based on the respective voltage signals generated by the plurality of receive coils, and reduce the first set of data to a second set of data that is substantially constant regardless of relative rotation between the plurality of receive coils and the field generator. The apparatus is further configured to determine a plurality of candidate positions based upon the second set of data, which are used to determine a position and an orientation with respect to the field generator based on the first set of data.

Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a plurality of communication devices in a network. In some examples, methods for creating a location discovery infrastructure (LDI) for estimating locations of one or more of a plurality of communication nodes may comprise one or more of determining a plurality of locations in the terrain to place a corresponding plurality of beacon nodes, determining a plurality of beacon node groups for the placed beacon nodes, and determining a schedule for the placed beacon nodes to be active. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.

Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a plurality of communication devices in a network. In some examples, methods for creating a location discovery infrastructure (LDI) for estimating locations of one or more of a plurality of communication nodes may comprise one or more of determining a plurality of locations in the terrain to place a corresponding plurality of beacon nodes, determining a plurality of beacon node groups for the placed beacon nodes, and determining a schedule for the placed beacon nodes to be active. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.

A power supply device for a rotary distance detection device of a robot vacuum cleaner includes a base having a control board which is electrically connected to a power supply so as to control the base to move. The control board has bearings and a distance-detection circuit board on the bearings. The distance-detection circuit board is electrically connected to the control board and the power supply via the bearings so that the robot vacuum cleaner is able to work continuously without worry of replacement of batteries.