Target value detection for an unmanned aerial vehicle is described. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a first transducer that transmits a first ultrasonic signal and receives a first ultrasonic response and a second transducer that transmits a second ultrasonic signal and receives a second ultrasonic response. The second transducer has a wider beam pattern than the first transducer. Determinations are made as to whether either or both of the first or second ultrasonic responses includes a target value within range areas associated with the respective beam patterns of the first and second transducers. A confidence value is generated based on the determinations. The target value is reflected from an object and the confidence value indicates a likelihood of a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the object.

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a vehicle brake according to a specified brake torque, receive user input to exceed the specified brake torque, and actuate a brake fluid valve to attain a brake fluid pressure to maintain the specified brake torque.

A method is disclosed for detecting atmospheric turbulence including aircraft induced wake turbulence and/or wind shear within an aperture associated with an aircraft approach or departure corridor around an airport. The method comprises transmitting into the aperture acoustic signals having a waveform suitable for pulse compression and receiving backscattered acoustic echoes of the acoustic signals from the atmospheric turbulence and/or wind shear. The method further includes processing the acoustic echoes in a matched filter receiver to provide a measure of the atmospheric turbulence and discriminating the aircraft induced demise time, being a time taken for the aircraft induced wake turbulence and/or wind shear to fall below a set threshold at least in the aperture. A system for detecting atmospheric turbulence including aircraft induced wake turbulence and/or wind shear associated with an aircraft approach or departure corridor around an airport is also disclosed.

A sensor positioning device includes an inter-sensor distance measurement jig that measures a distance between two sensors, and is a reference when setting the distance between the two sensors to a target distance, and reference-setting jigs of sensor height position, each including a weight and a weight suspension member, a lengthwise direction of which is in a vertical direction when the weight is suspended, and each performing setting of a distance which is a total of a vertical direction dimension of the weight, a length of the weight suspension member, and a distance from an upper end of the weight suspension member to the sensor such that the distance coincides with a target height of the sensor, when the weight is in contact with a reference surface, in a state where the weight is attached to a sensor holding jig by the weight suspension member.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate and reliable compact sonar systems for mobile structures. A sonar system includes multiple sensor channels, each comprising a sonar transmitter and a sonar receiver, and a logic device configured to provide control signals and receive sensor signals from the sensor channels. The logic device is configured to provide transmission signals to sonar transducer assemblies, where signal patterns of the transmission signals are differentiated based at least in part on frequency content. Acoustic returns are processed using the signal patterns to reduce inter-channel pickup between the sensor channels. Resulting sonar data and/or imagery may be displayed to a user and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.

Systems and methods for identifying and locating target objects based on echo signature characteristics are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a transmitter configured to transmit one or more mechanical waves to a target object for echo of the one or more mechanical waves by the target at a predetermined signature characteristic. The system also includes a detector configured to detect the echo. Further, the system includes a computing device configured to identify the predetermined signature characteristic of the detected echo for locating the target object.

Disclosed is an ultrasound array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements (20) on a carrier (10), said carrier further carrying an actuator arrangement (30, 30) of a material having an adjustable shape in response to an electromagnetic stimulus, e.g. an electro active polymer or optically responsive polymer, wherein the material is arranged to change the orientation of said ultrasound transducer elements in response to said stimulus. This facilitates configurable beam shaping and/or body contour matching with the ultrasound array. An ultrasound system (100) comprising such an ultrasound array is also disclosed.

Disclosed is an ultrasound array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements (20) on a carrier (10), said carrier further carrying an actuator arrangement (30, 30) of a material having an adjustable shape in response to an electromagnetic stimulus, e.g. an electro active polymer or optically responsive polymer, wherein the material is arranged to change the orientation of said ultrasound transducer elements in response to said stimulus. This facilitates configurable beam shaping and/or body contour matching with the ultrasound array. An ultrasound system (100) comprising such an ultrasound array is also disclosed.

A pallet safety system includes one or more of a pallet bed monitoring system, a pallet height monitoring system, and a pallet interface monitoring system, each of which provide an emitter and a detector. The safety system may be configured to be retrofit to an existing pallet system and is enabled to monitor the presence of unwanted obstructions at various regions proximate to the pallet bed opening, including a plane region above and parallel to the pallet beds, a region proximate to an interface between the pallet system and a material processing system, and a region between an upper and lower pallet.

Devices and methods for aiding a large area search for objects. A searcher transmits interrogation signals of long range relative to the return range to be received by a device at the target object. The target device responds with a ping signal modified to be more easily found by means of information contained in the interrogation signal. The information may be in the nature of the received signal or data encoded and embedded. The target device may use a microprocessor to do complex operations using the information from the interrogation signal and other information. Detection of a weak ping is facilitated by such means as being beamed in the direction of the interrogation, arriving at a predictable time, or having parameters adapted to values requested by the searcher. The object is then intercepted with help of the ping or other signals from the device.