A mining vehicle control system includes a detection unit configured to determine a proximity of a monitored mining vehicle to a first mining vehicle and a controller configured to determine first protection lines that linearly project from the first mining vehicle and second protection lines that linearly project from the monitored mining vehicle. The first protection lines are determined based on a moving speed of the first mining vehicle. The second protection lines are determined based on a moving speed of the monitored mining vehicle. The controller is configured to direct the first mining vehicle to change movement of the first mining vehicle responsive to intersection of one or more of the first protection lines with one or more of the second protection lines.

Autonomous vehicles may communicate with each other to avoid hazards, mitigate collisions, and facilitate the flow of traffic. To enhance such cooperation, it would be highly advantageous if each vehicle were able to determine which vehicle in view corresponds to each communication message, which is generally unknown if a plurality of vehicles are in range. Systems and methods provided herein can enable autonomous vehicles to determine the spatial location of each proximate vehicle by detecting a pulsed localization signal emitted by each of the other vehicles. In addition, each vehicle can transmit a self-identifying code, synchronous with the emitted localization signal, so that other vehicles can associate the proper code with each vehicle. After such localization and identification, the vehicles can then cooperate more effectively in mitigating potential collisions.

Autonomous vehicles may communicate with each other to avoid hazards, mitigate collisions, and facilitate the flow of traffic. To enhance such cooperation, it would be highly advantageous if each vehicle were able to determine which vehicle in view corresponds to each communication message, which is generally unknown if a plurality of vehicles are in range. Systems and methods provided herein can enable autonomous vehicles to determine the spatial location of each proximate vehicle by detecting a pulsed localization signal emitted by each of the other vehicles. In addition, each vehicle can transmit a self-identifying code, synchronous with the emitted localization signal, so that other vehicles can associate the proper code with each vehicle. After such localization and identification, the vehicles can then cooperate more effectively in mitigating potential collisions.

A positioning system and method includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter includes at least one energy source configured to emit an optical or quasi-optical electromagnetic signal as a channel communication. The receiver includes at least one detector element configured to receive the channel communication. The controller is connected to the receiver and configured to estimate a position of the transmitter within a space using a reference map of the space and one or more diffuse components of an impulse response of the channel communication.

A positioning system and method includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter includes at least one energy source configured to emit an optical or quasi-optical electromagnetic signal as a channel communication. The receiver includes at least one detector element configured to receive the channel communication. The controller is connected to the receiver and configured to estimate a position of the transmitter within a space using a reference map of the space and one or more diffuse components of an impulse response of the channel communication.

A method for energy management robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.

A system (100) for informing a device (120) whether it is located in a sensing volume (112) of a sensor (104) is disclosed. The system (100) comprises the sensor (104) covering the sensing volume (112), the sensing volume (112) having a particular shape. The system further comprises one or more light sources (106) for emitting light having a light distribution (114) resembling the shape of the sensing volume (112), the one or more light sources (106) being arranged with respect to the sensor (104) such that the sensing volume (112) substantially overlaps the light distribution (114), and a driver (108) for driving the one or more light sources (106) to embed a code (116) in the light.

A delivery device includes an image capture device for generating delivery image data of a delivery at a service address. A processor executes a delivery application to bidirectionally communicate delivery data with the delivery data server via the network interface, wherein the delivery data includes a delivery tracking number and the delivery image data. The delivery data server processes the delivery data to provide a delivery confirmation to a customer at the service address, wherein the delivery confirmation includes the delivery tracking number and the delivery image data.

A device, method and computer program for determining the distance or position of a camera relative to a light source based on an image of that light source captured by the camera. The device comprises a coded light detection module for detecting a coded light signal modulated into the light from the light source. The coded light detection module is configured to retrieve one or more physical dimensions of the light source based on the coded light signal from that light source. Further, the device comprises an image analysis module configured to determine a distance of the camera from the light source, by performing a geometric perspective calculation to compare the one or more retrieved physical dimensions with one or more apparent dimensions of the image of the light source.

A device, method and computer program for determining the distance or position of a camera relative to a light source based on an image of that light source captured by the camera. The device comprises a coded light detection module for detecting a coded light signal modulated into the light from the light source. The coded light detection module is configured to retrieve one or more physical dimensions of the light source based on the coded light signal from that light source. Further, the device comprises an image analysis module configured to determine a distance of the camera from the light source, by performing a geometric perspective calculation to compare the one or more retrieved physical dimensions with one or more apparent dimensions of the image of the light source.