There is provided herein an apparatus and method for roadside asset tracking and maintenance monitoring having a mobile unit with data capture devices for capturing roadside asset imagery, global positioning system (GPS) receivers and data interfaces for communicating with an asset management server. As such, the apparatus may take roadside imagery for automated asset identification which may include utilising an asset type image recognition technique for automating the identification of the roadside assets.

There is provided herein an apparatus and method for roadside asset tracking and maintenance monitoring having a mobile unit with data capture devices for capturing roadside asset imagery, global positioning system (GPS) receivers and data interfaces for communicating with an asset management server. As such, the apparatus may take roadside imagery for automated asset identification which may include utilising an asset type image recognition technique for automating the identification of the roadside assets.

A strand trimmer and method of use thereof. The strand trimmer includes a pair of pivotable arms each having a motor, a follower wheel, and a cutter-spindle assembly disposed thereon. The arms are biased toward one another and are guided by the follower wheels to pivot around obstacles passing between the arms. The motor rotates the cutter-spindle assembly to move cutting strands extending therefrom through a cutting path with sufficient rotational velocity to cut vegetation. The cutter-spindle assembly includes a reloadable spool and a strand-feed mechanism. The strand-feed mechanism includes a solenoid actuated plunger within a shaft of the cutter-spindle assembly which operates to non-contactingly actuate the plunger to feed out a length of strand. The solenoid is non-rotatably carried on the trimmer arm while the shaft of the cutter-spindle assembly is encircled by and rotated within the solenoid.

A mower comprising a vehicle, a plurality of cutting assemblies, and an automatic height of cut control system is described. In some aspects, the automatic height of cut control system is configured to automatically change the height of cut for the plurality of cutting assemblies while maintaining the attitude of each cutting blade as the blade moves from a first height of cut to a second height of cut. In some aspects, the cutting assemblies include a variable-length member linked to a four-bar linkage configured to cause a change in the height of cut in response to a change in length of the variable-length member.

There is provided herein an apparatus and method for roadside asset tracking and maintenance monitoring having a mobile unit with data capture devices for capturing roadside asset imagery, global positioning system (GPS) receivers and data interfaces for communicating with an asset management server. As such, the apparatus may take roadside imagery for automated asset identification which may include utilising an asset type image recognition technique for automating the identification of the roadside assets.

A mowing device for mowing material between rows of planted crops in an agricultural field, comprising a series of mower assemblies attached to a tractor and spaced from each other so that each mower assembly is located between an adjacent pair of rose of a printed crop. Multiple blades are mounted for rotation on each mower assembly for cutting material growing in the space between adjacent pairs of rows of a planted crop. A first deflector in front of each mower assembly moves planted crops around the outside of the mower assemblies so as not to be cut by the mower assemblies. A second deflector may be provided within each mower assembly and located rearwardly of the blades to push mowed material laterally toward the adjacent rows of a planted crop.

An autonomous lawn mower includes a movable cover covering a traveling frame and holding devices holding the movable cover. Each holding device includes a holding shaft and a shaft holding unit. The holding shaft includes a lower half portion and an upper half portion. The shaft holding unit holds the lower half portion accommodated in an accommodating portion of the traveling frame such that the lower half portion can slide in only a horizontal direction. The upper half portion extends through a through hole of the movable cover by extending upward from the traveling frame, thereby holding the movable cover so that the movable cover is vertically displaceable. A coil spring intervenes between a receiving portion and an upper wall of the movable cover. One holding device includes a detector which detects the slide displacement amount of the lower half portion.

There is provided herein an apparatus and method for roadside asset tracking and maintenance monitoring having a mobile unit with data capture devices for capturing roadside asset imagery, global positioning system (GPS) receivers and data interfaces for communicating with an asset management server. As such, the apparatus may take roadside imagery for automated asset identification which may include utilising an asset type image recognition technique for automating the identification of the roadside assets.

A three headed cutter is comprised of a cover assembly under which are located the three cutting head assemblies. The cover assembly, along with the cutting head assemblies, are designed so as to rotate around impediments. the cover assembly pivots around a central axis. The three headed cutter has a connecting member which connects it to the tractor by way of an articulated boom arm. The boom arm connects with the connecting member at a pivot point, from which a biasing means is also connected. The biasing means and pivot point allow for the cover assembly to take in the shock of hitting an impediment by having the boom arm move at its pivot point so as to move the cover without damage just before the start of its rotation around the impediment. Each of the three cutting head assemblies consists of a twin blade member and a caster. The caster rotates with the cutting head assemblies. The cover assembly is further supported by a support wheel which takes on the load from the connecting member and the articulated boom arm. The central axis has a motor from which extends downwardly a shaft member, which itself connects to a multiple track pulley which has three belts, one for each cutting head pulley, which themselves connect directly to the cutting head by way of a short shaft member. Tension pulley assemblies, which consist in a pulley and biasing means assembly, keep tension on the belts.

A vegetation cutter for cutting vegetation circumferent an obstacle. The vegetation cutter comprises a frame comprising a dock for receiving the obstacle; at least one cutter that is moveable in a cutting trajectory whereby vegetation circumferent a docked obstacle is cut; and a driver for moving the at least one cutter in the cutting trajectory. A method for cutting vegetation circumferent an obstacle.