A tracking apparatus includes a photosensor. The apparatus includes a pattern emitting base station. The apparatus includes a computer that tracks the photosensor to sub-millimeter accuracy using the pattern emitted by the base station. A method for tracking.

A system for detecting placement or misplacement of an object includes a wireless tag; a first electronic device (“FED”) associated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the FED, transmit the position and status to an external electronic device or network (“EED”) in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are within a predetermined range, and transmit the position and status to the EED in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are outside of the predetermined range; and a second electronic device (“SED”) that is unassociated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the SED, determine an identifier for the tag using the signals, and transmit the position of the SED and the identifier to the EED.

A system for detecting placement or misplacement of an object includes a wireless tag; a first electronic device (“FED”) associated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the FED, transmit the position and status to an external electronic device or network (“EED”) in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are within a predetermined range, and transmit the position and status to the EED in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are outside of the predetermined range; and a second electronic device (“SED”) that is unassociated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the SED, determine an identifier for the tag using the signals, and transmit the position of the SED and the identifier to the EED.

A system for providing integrated detection and deterrence against an unmanned vehicle including but not limited to aerial technology unmanned systems using a detection element, a tracking element, an identification element and an interdiction or deterrent element. Elements contain sensors that observe real time quantifiable data regarding the object of interest to create an assessment of risk or threat to a protected area of interest. This assessment may be based e.g., on data mining of internal and external data sources. The deterrent element selects from a variable menu of possible deterrent actions. Though designed for autonomous action, a Human in the Loop may override the automated system solutions.

A system for providing integrated detection and deterrence against an unmanned vehicle including but not limited to aerial technology unmanned systems using a detection element, a tracking element, an identification element and an interdiction or deterrent element. Elements contain sensors that observe real time quantifiable data regarding the object of interest to create an assessment of risk or threat to a protected area of interest. This assessment may be based e.g., on data mining of internal and external data sources. The deterrent element selects from a variable menu of possible deterrent actions. Though designed for autonomous action, a Human in the Loop may override the automated system solutions.

A tracking apparatus includes a photosensor. The apparatus includes only a single, physically compact, optical pattern emitting base station. The apparatus includes a computer that tracks the photosensor to sub-millimeter accuracy using the optical pattern emitted by the base station. Alternatively, the computer determines angular position of the photosensor relative to the base station to a finer resolution than the size of an aperture of the photosensor from the light emitted by the base station. A method for tracking.

A tracking apparatus includes a photosensor. The apparatus includes only a single, physically compact, optical pattern emitting base station. The apparatus includes a computer that tracks the photosensor to sub-millimeter accuracy using the optical pattern emitted by the base station. Alternatively, the computer determines angular position of the photosensor relative to the base station to a finer resolution than the size of an aperture of the photosensor from the light emitted by the base station. A method for tracking.

A location tracking system using encoded light beams emitted from a stationary beacon and a receiver mounted onto an object within a three-dimensional (3D) space within the field of view of the stationary beacon. The receiver receives and processes the encoded light beams from two or more stationary beacons. The receiver is configured to decode information from the received light beams and to calculate the position of the object within the 3D space over a span of several meters, with resolution in the range of a few mm or cm. The receiver location is calculated as a single point at the intersection of three light beam or angular planes. A typical configuration of one-dimensional array beacon consists of a plurality of light sources mounted on a cylindrical curved surface of a particular radius. A vertical apodizing slit placed at the center of the circular curve limits the horizontal angular profile of encoded light beams as can be seen or received by the receiver in the far field to roughly 1-5 encoded light beams at a time. Each light source emits a light beam encoded with a unique code that allows the receiver to identify the light source that emitted the light beam. Certain signal processing techniques allow the receiver to detect, process, and decode information from the light beam including light intensity profile of each received light beam. This information is used by the receiver to infer a point where the receiver is located at the intersection of three angular planes where it is located relative to the beacons, and thus the location of the object is fully determined in 3D space.

A mobile body detection means 85: determines, in the case where a position of a first mobile body and a position of a second mobile body are approximately the same, that a mobile body is detected at the position; and determines, in the case where the position of the first mobile body and the position of the second mobile body are different and any of first reliability and second reliability exceeds a threshold, that a mobile body is detected at a position of a mobile body corresponding to the reliability exceeding the threshold.

A mobile body detection means 85: determines, in the case where a position of a first mobile body and a position of a second mobile body are approximately the same, that a mobile body is detected at the position; and determines, in the case where the position of the first mobile body and the position of the second mobile body are different and any of first reliability and second reliability exceeds a threshold, that a mobile body is detected at a position of a mobile body corresponding to the reliability exceeding the threshold.