A module for a towable sonar apparatus, comprising: a core component, comprising at least one sensor and a first connection part; a casing, comprising: a tubular member provided around the core component; a second connection part detachably connected to the first connection part of the core component.

An example sensor bracket assembly can include one or more cold plates forming a core bracket structure, wherein the core bracket structure and the one or more cold plates provide structural support for the sensor bracket assembly; a housing enclosing the core bracket structure; one or more sensor mounts for mounting one or more sensors on the sensor bracket assembly; and one or more attachment portions for attaching the sensor bracket assembly to a body of a vehicle.

A dispenser and methods for dispensing a material into a receptacle comprises a dispenser outlet for dispensing material into the receptacle; a support for receiving a receptacle; at least one lateral sensor positioned to laterally sense a receptacle received on the support; an upper sensor positioned to sense a receptacle received on the support from above; and a controller operatively connected to the lateral and upper sensors. The controller is configured to sense the presence of a receptacle received on the support, calculate the volume of the receptacle and/or the volume of material within the receptacle from data received from the lateral and upper sensors, and control the volume of material dispensed from the dispenser outlet into the receptacle based upon the calculated volume of the receptacle and/or the volume of material within the receptacle.

A method for detecting a moving object in a scene includes providing sampled ultrasonic echo signals from the scene; determining echo envelopes of the sampled ultrasonic echo signals; determining differentials of successive echo envelopes for providing echo envelope differentials; determining the absolute values of the echo envelope differentials; and conducting a classification based on the determined absolute values of the echo envelope differentials for determining a relative movement of the moving object.

An ultrasonic sensor includes a case, a piezoelectric element, and two weight portions. The case includes a circumferential wall portion extending in an axial direction. The two weight portions are provided on the circumferential wall portion outside the case so as not to overlap each other as seen in the axial direction. When a bottom portion of the ultrasonic sensor bends toward one side in the axial direction during vibration at a frequency of a first vibration mode, the two weight portions incline toward the other side in the axial direction. When the bottom portion bends toward one side in the axial direction during vibration at a frequency of a second vibration mode, the two weight portions incline toward one side in the axial direction.

An ultrasonic sensor includes a case, a piezoelectric element, and two weight portions. The case includes a circumferential wall portion extending in an axial direction. The two weight portions are provided on the circumferential wall portion outside the case so as not to overlap each other as seen in the axial direction. When a bottom portion of the ultrasonic sensor bends toward one side in the axial direction during vibration at a frequency of a first vibration mode, the two weight portions incline toward the other side in the axial direction. When the bottom portion bends toward one side in the axial direction during vibration at a frequency of a second vibration mode, the two weight portions incline toward one side in the axial direction.

A LiDAR sensor (41) is configured to sense information of an outside of a vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor (42) is configured to sense information of the outside of the vehicle in a different manner from the LiDAR sensor (41). A first bracket (43) supports the LiDAR sensor (41) and the ultrasonic sensor (42). A first sensor actuator (44) is configured to adjust a sensing reference position of the LiDAR sensor (41) relative to the first bracket (43). A second sensor actuator (45) is configured to adjust a sensing reference position of the ultrasonic sensor (42) relative to first bracket (43). A first bracket actuator (46) is configured to adjust at least one of a position and a posture of the first bracket (43) relative to the vehicle.

A LiDAR sensor (41) is configured to sense information of an outside of a vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor (42) is configured to sense information of the outside of the vehicle in a different manner from the LiDAR sensor (41). A first bracket (43) supports the LiDAR sensor (41) and the ultrasonic sensor (42). A first sensor actuator (44) is configured to adjust a sensing reference position of the LiDAR sensor (41) relative to the first bracket (43). A second sensor actuator (45) is configured to adjust a sensing reference position of the ultrasonic sensor (42) relative to first bracket (43). A first bracket actuator (46) is configured to adjust at least one of a position and a posture of the first bracket (43) relative to the vehicle.

A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes two or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to create arcs of sonar coverage extending forward from a watercraft, from each side of the watercraft, and downward of the watercraft. Accordingly, multiple 2D live sonar images can be formed. One or more of the multiple sonar return beams can be selected and used to form sonar images that anglers are used to, without requiring separate transducer elements.

A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes two or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to create arcs of sonar coverage extending forward from a watercraft, from each side of the watercraft, and downward of the watercraft. Accordingly, multiple 2D live sonar images can be formed. One or more of the multiple sonar return beams can be selected and used to form sonar images that anglers are used to, without requiring separate transducer elements.