An example position determining apparatus, includes a power source, position sensors, and a controller. The position sensors are each selectively powered by the power source and configured to provide a respective sensor reading indicating a proximity of a tracked object. The controller is configured to receive respective sensor readings from the position sensors and identify a position sensor that provided an extremum sensor reading. Based on the sensor readings, the controller selectively cause powering of certain position sensors and prevents powering of other position sensors. The position sensor that provided the extremum sensor reading is one of the powered position sensors. A position output based on the sensor readings is also provided.

An aircraft and method of operating an aircraft. The aircraft includes a temperature sensor and a processor. The temperature sensor that obtains an optical signal indicative of a temperature at a selected location of an outer surface of the aircraft. The processor is configured to determine the temperature at the selected location from the optical signal, and operate the aircraft based on the temperature at the selected location.

An optical sensor includes a tube-shaped base formed from a metal, an optical fiber member received inside the base, and a sensor head formed from monocrystalline alumina and bonded to the base to be optically connected with the optical fiber member. The sensor head is provided with a first cavity including a first reflection surface configured to reflect a part of light introduced through the optical fiber member and a second reflection surface provided facing the first reflection surface and configured to reflect a part of the light reflected by the first reflection surface. A first interference light produced by an interference between the light reflected by the first reflection surface and the light reflected by the second reflection surface is output from the first cavity.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring windlass rotation are provided to determine the real time rate and length of rode release when anchoring a boat. The rotation can be monitored in real time using directional sound and/or electromagnetic radiation receivers and/or transmitter in a module attached to the windlass. Another windlass module can monitor windlass rotation using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) components such as accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units (IMU) to sense motion and/or position.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring windlass rotation are provided to determine the real time rate and length of rode release when anchoring a boat. The rotation can be monitored in real time using directional sound and/or electromagnetic radiation receivers and/or transmitter in a module attached to the windlass. Another windlass module can monitor windlass rotation using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) components such as accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units (IMU) to sense motion and/or position.

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

A production monitoring system includes a distributed acoustic sensing subsystem that includes a first optical fiber for a distributed acoustic sensing signal and a distributed temperature sensing subsystem that includes a second optical fiber for a distributed temperature sensing signal. The production monitoring system, also includes a cable positioned in a wellbore penetrating through one or more subterranean formations. The distributed acoustic sensing subsystem is communicatively coupled to the cable through the distributed temperature sensing subsystem. The cable includes one or more optical fibers used to obtain optical fiber measurements pertaining to the distributed acoustic sensing signal and the distributed temperature sensing signal. The optical fibers include a sensing fiber that is common between the distributed acoustic sensing subsystem and the distributed temperature sensing subsystem. The distributed acoustic sensing subsystem, receives at least a portion of the optical fiber measurements from the sensing fiber through the distributed temperature sensing subsystem.

An optical cable (31) includes: a stress wave detection optical cable (30) having an optical fiber (7) and a plurality of first steel wires (8) which are helically wound so as to surround the optical fiber (7) and which are surrounded by a flexible material (9); and second steel wires (32) different from the first steel wires (8). The stress wave detection optical cable (30) and the plurality of second steel wires (32) are helically wound to form one annular body as a whole, and a winding angle (α) of the stress wave detection optical cable (30) with respect to the axis is determined by a property value prescribed by Lamé constants of the flexible material (9).

A method and a system for arbitrary optical waveform generation from an optical input, the system comprising an optical shaper comprising unbalanced interferometers with at least one delay, the delay being selected of at least 0.1 ps, an optical sampling readout selected for measuring optical waveforms of at least 0.1 ps; and an electronic processing unit; wherein the optical input is a picosecond pulse; with a minimal pulse duration before the optical shaper equal to a minimal delay of the optical shaper; the optical shaper splitting and interfering optical pulses; the optical sampling readout collecting data at an output of the optical shaper; and the electronic processing unit comparing the collected data with a preset target and updating the optical shaper from results of the comparison until a maximal match between the output of the optical shaper and the preset target output, wherein the maximal match is determined iteratively using one of: machine-learning, optimization algorithms and iterative search algorithms.

The present invention relates to a sensor device comprising an optical fiber to be coupled with a laser beam, a through-fiber fabricated cantilever onto one end of said optical fiber, and a light collector. According to the invention, the through-fiber fabricated cantilever is made of a polymer obtained by photo-structuring at least one photo-sensitive monomer species. The present invention also relates to methods for the measurement of parameters such as temperature, mass, viscosity, analyte concentrations, and the degree of a polymerization process, using the device of the invention.