A method and apparatus for calculating line sag in a span of a conductor is provided. The method includes using a portable smart device having one or more accelerometers and running a line sag application on the processing device. The line sag application enables acceleration data of return waves generated on the conductor to be collected using the smart device and to be plotted as a function of time for display on the smart device. The method further includes placement of time markers on the plotted data displayed on the smart device to determine elapsed time and calculating line sag using the elapsed time.

A method and apparatus for calculating line sag in a span of a conductor is provided. The method includes using a portable smart device having one or more accelerometers and running a line sag application on the processing device. The line sag application enables acceleration data of return waves generated on the conductor to be collected using the smart device and to be plotted as a function of time for display on the smart device. The method further includes placement of time markers on the plotted data displayed on the smart device to determine elapsed time and calculating line sag using the elapsed time.

An actuator having a nut (4) co-operating with a screw (2); a first cable (6) coupled to the nut and functionally connected to an output (16, 17, 22.4) of the actuator (100); and a motor (3) arranged to drive the screw (2) in rotation. The actuator also has a mechanism (92) for comparing the actual position of the nut relative to the frame (10) with a theoretical position for the nut relative to the frame (10) in order to obtain a position deviation (δang4, δlin4) of the nut; and a mechanism (93) for determining a force applied to the output (22.4) of the cable actuator (100) as a function of the position deviation of the nut. Also disclosed is a method of measuring a force applied to an output (16, 17, 24.1) of an actuator (100), and to a method of determining prior loading (t6, 9) of a cable actuator (100).

An actuator having a nut (4) co-operating with a screw (2); a first cable (6) coupled to the nut and functionally connected to an output (16, 17, 22.4) of the actuator (100); and a motor (3) arranged to drive the screw (2) in rotation. The actuator also has a mechanism (92) for comparing the actual position of the nut relative to the frame (10) with a theoretical position for the nut relative to the frame (10) in order to obtain a position deviation (δang4, δlin4) of the nut; and a mechanism (93) for determining a force applied to the output (22.4) of the cable actuator (100) as a function of the position deviation of the nut. Also disclosed is a method of measuring a force applied to an output (16, 17, 24.1) of an actuator (100), and to a method of determining prior loading (t6, 9) of a cable actuator (100).

Systems and methods of determining a tension of an anchor embedded in a dam are described. A dynamic impulse response of the dam is empirically obtained in such that a portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response is dominated by a dynamic behavior of the anchor. Furthermore, a set of modeled impulse responses that map to a set of tension values for the anchor are obtained. Next, a closest matching modeled impulse response from the set of modeled impulse responses that is a closest match to the portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response that is dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor is determined. Finally, a tension value from the set of tension values is selected, which is the closest match to the portion of the dynamic impulse response dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor. As such, the tension value of the anchor can be determined.

Systems and methods of determining a tension of an anchor embedded in a dam are described. A dynamic impulse response of the dam is empirically obtained in such that a portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response is dominated by a dynamic behavior of the anchor. Furthermore, a set of modeled impulse responses that map to a set of tension values for the anchor are obtained. Next, a closest matching modeled impulse response from the set of modeled impulse responses that is a closest match to the portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response that is dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor is determined. Finally, a tension value from the set of tension values is selected, which is the closest match to the portion of the dynamic impulse response dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor. As such, the tension value of the anchor can be determined.

A containment force apparatus and method a containment force apparatus for measuring containment force on a load, the apparatus comprising a first element configured to contact the load; a second element configured to engage at least a portion of a packaging material on the load and move between a first position associated with the first element to a second position perpendicular to the first position and spaced from the first element a measured distance; an actuator configured to urge the second element to move between the first position and the second position; and a force sensor configured to measure a force exerted on one of the first element or the second element.

In the case of a method for detecting a tensile stress of a circumferential belt (5), this is deflected around a tension roller (4). In this way, the running length of the circumferential belt (5) is changed by adjusting the tension roller (4). A force measuring device (10) is provided, wherein the force measurement changes along with the adjustment path (6) of the tension roller (4). In order to make a reliable tensile stress detection possible, the sensitivities of the force measuring device (10) are determined with respect to the tensile stress for different points of the adjustment path. These sensitivities or calculated values are stored in a memory (32), which a controller (15) accesses. This calculates the tensile stress from the current adjustment path (6), the current bearing force and the stored sensitivities or values by means of interpolation.

In the case of a method for detecting a tensile stress of a circumferential belt (5), this is deflected around a tension roller (4). In this way, the running length of the circumferential belt (5) is changed by adjusting the tension roller (4). A force measuring device (10) is provided, wherein the force measurement changes along with the adjustment path (6) of the tension roller (4). In order to make a reliable tensile stress detection possible, the sensitivities of the force measuring device (10) are determined with respect to the tensile stress for different points of the adjustment path. These sensitivities or calculated values are stored in a memory (32), which a controller (15) accesses. This calculates the tensile stress from the current adjustment path (6), the current bearing force and the stored sensitivities or values by means of interpolation.

In a method of operating a payload-carrying vehicle having a system configured to provide torque to ground contacting elements, the method includes, repeatedly measuring a force applied by a user to the vehicle; determining a direction and a magnitude of the measured force; determining a respective amount of torque to apply to each of the ground contacting elements as a function of the determined direction and magnitude; and providing the respective determined amount of torque to each of the ground contacting elements.