A path finding system using a series of networked receiver beacons is disclosed. The system includes receiver beacons placed on a path. Each of the receiver beacons include a transceiver receiving and sending signals and a location indicator such as a LED, that when activated indicates the location of the receiver beacon. Each of the receiver beacons include a controller coupled to the indicator and the transceiver. The controller is operable to receive an activation signal to activate the indicator. A transmitter is paired with each of the receiver beacons. The transmitter includes a transceiver to send an activation signal to at least one of the receiver beacons. The receiver beacon receives the activation signal and activates the indicator. The receiver beacon also relays the activation signal to at least another receiver beacon.

A method (100) to determine a present position (122) of an object (600). The method (100) comprises using (102) an optical positioning system (104) to determine a first preliminary position (112) and using (106) a radio-based positioning system (108) to determine a second preliminary position (114), determining (110) a supposed position (116) on the basis of one of the preliminary positions (112, 114) and combining (108) the supposed position (116) with a previous position (212) of the object to determine the present position (122) of the object, if the supposed position (116) is based on a different positioning system (104, 108) than a previous supposed position (116). A positioning system (500) with combined optical and a radio-based determination of a position of a tracker (600) and a tracker (600) with an active light source (608).

A tracking beacon is provided that is trackable using image sensors. The beacon includes a housing with a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion include a light diffusing structure with protrusions to help scatter the emitted light in different directions. A light source is positioned within the housing, and electrical contacts are positioned on an external surface of the lower portion.

The present invention discloses a system for measuring the mechanical properties of sea floor sediments at full ocean depth. The system includes an overwater monitoring unit and an underwater measurement device, where the underwater measurement device includes an observation platform and a measuring mechanism; the observation platform includes a frame-type body and a floating body, a wing panel, a floating ball cabin, a leveling mechanism, a counterweight, and a release mechanism mounted on the frame-type body; the floating ball cabin seals a circuit system; the leveling mechanism adjusts the underwater measurement device horizontally on the sea floor when the frame-type body reaches the sea floor; the release mechanism discards the counterweight for recovery of the unit after the underwater measurement device completes the underwater operation; the measuring mechanism includes at least one of a cone penetration measuring mechanism, a spherical penetration measuring mechanism, and a vane shear measuring mechanism, or a sampling mechanism.

An auxiliary apparatus for a lighthouse positioning system is provided. The lighthouse positioning system includes a first positioning base station and a second positioning base station, wherein the first positioning base station includes a first signal transmitter and a second signal transmitter and the second positioning base station includes a first signal transmitter and a second signal transmitter. The auxiliary apparatus calculates a first signal time sequence of the first signal transmitters, calculates a second signal time sequence of the second signal transmitters, and determines a third signal time sequence according to the first signal time sequence and the second signal time sequence. The third signal time sequence is not overlapped with the first signal time sequence and the second signal time sequence. The auxiliary apparatus transmits a plurality of signals according to the third signal time sequence.

A method of receiving EM field magnitude values indicative of a first pose of a mobile unit in relation to a base unit, receiving sensor data from a second sensor associated with the mobile unit, where the sensor data is indicative of a direction of movement of the mobile unit, calculating a set of candidate pose solutions based on the EM field magnitude values, selecting a pose from the set of candidate pose solutions based on the sensor data from the second sensor, and sending the pose to the processor.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

To accomplish 360-degree 6-DoF LED-based visual tracking, a tracked object has to be covered with sufficient number of LEDs so that when observed at any angle from an optical sensor, there are enough features to estimate the 6-DoF pose. Depending on the algorithm, typically, at least 4 feature points need to be seen in order to calculate the 6 DoF pose accurately. However, that would require many LEDs to be placed on the device for 360-degree visual coverage. As the number of LEDs increase, the device size increases because the LEDs need to be spaced out so that they will not fuse together into connected/overlapped blobs when seen from the optical sensor. Uniquely designed Lambertian Diffusers significantly reduce the number of LEDs required for 360 degree-6 DoF tracking and hence enable tracking with small form factor devices.

To accomplish 360-degree 6-DoF LED-based visual tracking, a tracked object has to be covered with sufficient number of LEDs so that when observed at any angle from an optical sensor, there are enough features to estimate the 6-DoF pose. Depending on the algorithm, typically, at least 4 feature points need to be seen in order to calculate the 6 DoF pose accurately. However, that would require many LEDs to be placed on the device for 360-degree visual coverage. As the number of LEDs increase, the device size increases because the LEDs need to be spaced out so that they will not fuse together into connected/overlapped blobs when seen from the optical sensor. Uniquely designed Lambertian Diffusers significantly reduce the number of LEDs required for 360 degree-6 DoF tracking and hence enable tracking with small form factor devices.