A sensor device for monitoring at least one lifecycle of potatoes, at least from planting seed potatoes to stocking the potatoes includes a body dimensioned and shaped to conform to a potato. The body houses electronics of the sensor device and includes a waterproof layer for protecting the electronics when the sensor device is placed underground with the seed potatoes. The electronics includes a wireless communication circuitry providing the sensor device with radio communication capability, at least one processor, and at least one of the following sensors: a humidity sensor; a temperature sensor; and a carbon dioxide sensor. The at least one processor is configured to store measurement data provided by the at least one sensor, and to cause the wireless communication circuitry to transmit the measurement data to another device.

The invention provides methods and apparatus for analysis of images of direct part mark identification codes to measure and assess a print quality. Methods to assess the quality of a direct part mark identification code are presented that provide diagnostic information of a code that cannot be assessed using verification methods that require the results of a valid decoding step.

A positioning system by visible light includes at least one luminaire, at least one positioning transceiver and a server. The luminaire is disposed at a specific position and has a first identification code, and emits the first identification code in a selected signal form. Each positioning transceiver has a second identification code, and further includes a receiving device and a wireless transceiver. The receiving device movably receives the first identification and demodulates the first identification code. The wireless transceiver transmits the first and the second identification codes to a receiving terminal. The server is coupled to the at least one positioning transceiver via the receiving terminal, and obtains the first and the second identification codes so as to position the at least one positioning transceiver in a space defined by the at least one luminaire.

A positioning system by visible light includes at least one luminaire, at least one positioning transceiver and a server. The luminaire is disposed at a specific position and has a first identification code, and emits the first identification code in a selected signal form. Each positioning transceiver has a second identification code, and further includes a receiving device and a wireless transceiver. The receiving device movably receives the first identification and demodulates the first identification code. The wireless transceiver transmits the first and the second identification codes to a receiving terminal. The server is coupled to the at least one positioning transceiver via the receiving terminal, and obtains the first and the second identification codes so as to position the at least one positioning transceiver in a space defined by the at least one luminaire.

A portable device is equipped with a signaling circuit that responds to a searching signal (e.g., hand clap, light flash, RF signal, infrared light) generated to locate the portable device when it is misplaced or lost. The device generates a location signal to enable the user to find the device. The location signal may be an audible, light, vibration, or other signal that calls attention to the device to enable the user to find it. The device may also sense events which cause it to disable the sensor, render it less sensitive, or suppress the generation of the location signal. The sensed event is any event, e.g., heat, motion, which indicates that the device is not, in fact, lost.

A portable device is equipped with a signaling circuit that responds to a searching signal (e.g., hand clap, light flash, RF signal, infrared light) generated to locate the portable device when it is misplaced or lost. The device generates a location signal to enable the user to find the device. The location signal may be an audible, light, vibration, or other signal that calls attention to the device to enable the user to find it. The device may also sense events which cause it to disable the sensor, render it less sensitive, or suppress the generation of the location signal. The sensed event is any event, e.g., heat, motion, which indicates that the device is not, in fact, lost.

A positioning system by visible light includes at least one luminaire, at least one positioning transceiver and a server. The luminaire is disposed at a specific position and has a first identification code, and emits the first identification code in a selected signal form. Each positioning transceiver has a second identification code, and further includes a receiving device and a wireless transceiver. The receiving device movably receives the first identification and demodulates the first identification code. The wireless transceiver transmits the first and the second identification codes to a receiving terminal. The server is coupled to the at least one positioning transceiver via the receiving terminal, and obtains the first and the second identification codes so as to position the at least one positioning transceiver in a space defined by the at least one luminaire.

A positioning system by visible light includes at least one luminaire, at least one positioning transceiver and a server. The luminaire is disposed at a specific position and has a first identification code, and emits the first identification code in a selected signal form. Each positioning transceiver has a second identification code, and further includes a receiving device and a wireless transceiver. The receiving device movably receives the first identification and demodulates the first identification code. The wireless transceiver transmits the first and the second identification codes to a receiving terminal. The server is coupled to the at least one positioning transceiver via the receiving terminal, and obtains the first and the second identification codes so as to position the at least one positioning transceiver in a space defined by the at least one luminaire.

Embodiments include a vehicle comprising a plurality of wheels, each wheel including a pressure sensor and a wireless transceiver; a central transceiver configured to obtain tire pressure and signal strength information from each of the wireless transceivers; and a processor communicatively coupled to the central transceiver and configured to detect removal of one of the wheels based on the signal strength information obtained from the wireless transceiver included in the removed wheel. Other embodiments include a method comprising obtaining tire pressure and signal strength information from each of a plurality of wireless transceivers respectively coupled to a plurality of wheels included in a vehicle; and detecting, using one or more processors, removal of one of the wheels from the vehicle based on the signal strength information obtained from the wireless transceiver included in the removed wheel.

A method and corresponding arrangement for improving positioning accuracy of scanning of an underwater object includes equipping the object with at least one floating target having a part above the surface and a part below the surface, determining position data of the target from the part above the surface, scanning the object from under the surface to create measurement observations, detecting the target from the measurement observations under the surface, aligning the position data of the target from the measurement observations with the detected target in order to improve the positioning accuracy of the scanning, determining the target's attitude data time-dependently during the scanning in order to determine the position data of the part of the target below the surface on the basis of the part of the target above the surface, and correcting the alignment of the initial position data of the part of the target below the surface with the measurement observations on the basis of the attitude data.