A trackable camera beacon is provided that is mountable onto a camera, so that the camera can be more easily tracked and automatically controlled. The camera beacon obtains lens data from the lens of a camera, position data corresponding to the camera beacon, and outputs a unified and synchronized data packet. The unified and synchronized output includes position, orientation and lens data. This can be used to also control the camera, such as the focus, iris and zoom parameters of the lens.

A system is configured to obtain locations of a mobile device (1) and obtain presence detection information. The locations are determined using visible light signals and dead reckoning information recorded at different moments. The presence detection information indicates presence detected using presence sensor devices (31, 32) at the different moments. The system is further configured to obtain sensor locations and sensor fields of view, determine sensor orientations based on the locations of the mobile device, the sensor locations and the presence detection information, and determine a sensor coverage area (61, 62), comprising gaps in the sensor coverage area, based on the sensor locations, the sensor orientations and the sensor fields of view. The system is also configured to determine one or more parameters for presence detection based on the gaps in the sensor coverage area and output the parameters or a presence detection result which has been determined using the parameters.

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).

An active marker device, and method of design thereof, for use in a motion tracking system are provided. In one arrangement, the device comprises a mounting body comprising a mounting surface. A plurality of light emitting units are mounted on respective mounting portions of the mounting surface. A control system controls the plurality of light emitting units such that light is emitted simultaneously from a selected subset of light emitting units. A plurality of optical elements are mounted on the mounting surface. Each optical element covers a different one of the light emitting units and is configured so that an inner surface of the optical element is separated from an outer surface of the light emitting unit. Each optical element redirects a portion of light emitted by the light emitting unit covered by the optical element to be more parallel to the mounting portion of the light emitting unit.

An active marker device, and method of design thereof, for use in a motion tracking system are provided. In one arrangement, the device comprises a mounting body comprising a mounting surface. A plurality of light emitting units are mounted on respective mounting portions of the mounting surface. A control system controls the plurality of light emitting units such that light is emitted simultaneously from a selected subset of light emitting units. A plurality of optical elements are mounted on the mounting surface. Each optical element covers a different one of the light emitting units and is configured so that an inner surface of the optical element is separated from an outer surface of the light emitting unit. Each optical element redirects a portion of light emitted by the light emitting unit covered by the optical element to be more parallel to the mounting portion of the light emitting unit.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for managing tracking sensors, a tracking device, and a computer readable storage medium. The method includes: obtaining a first sensing data of a first tracking sensor of the tracking sensors; determining a first sensing result of a first tracking sensor of the tracking sensors; and in response to the first sensing result of the first tracking sensor indicates that the first tracking sensor corresponds to an untrackable status, decreasing a first sensing rate of the first tracking sensor.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for managing tracking sensors, a tracking device, and a computer readable storage medium. The method includes: obtaining a first sensing data of a first tracking sensor of the tracking sensors; determining a first sensing result of a first tracking sensor of the tracking sensors; and in response to the first sensing result of the first tracking sensor indicates that the first tracking sensor corresponds to an untrackable status, decreasing a first sensing rate of the first tracking sensor.

A vessel control system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device includes a wireless lanyard system including at least one fob worn by an individual on the marine vessel and a helm transceiver at a helm area of the marine vessel configured to receive radio signals from the at least one fob. A controller is configured to detect, based on communications between each of the at least one fob and the helm transceiver, that each of the at least one fob is present on the marine vessel. A missing fob is detected if at least one of the fobs is no longer detected at the helm transceiver, and then a man overboard event is generated. The vessel control system is configured to automatically activate one or more search assistance functions based on the man overboard event.

A laser measuring system comprising a laser transmitter and a laser receiver is provided. The laser transmitter includes one or more laser sources for projecting an initial laser pulse and a reflective surface. The laser receiver includes a first reflective surface for reflecting the initial laser pulse to provide a first reflected laser pulse, and a second reflective surface for reflecting the initial laser pulse to provide a second reflected laser pulse. The laser receiver further includes a photo detection unit for receiving 1) a first double reflected laser pulse produced by the first reflected laser pulse reflecting off the reflective surface of the laser transmitter, and 2) a second double reflected laser pulse produced by the second reflected laser pulse reflecting off the reflective surface of the laser transmitter. The laser receiver determines an orientation angle associated with the laser receiver based on the first and second double reflected laser pulse.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.