Embodiments include apparatus and method for collecting observation data for updating a geographic database. An initial observation is collected by a first mobile device, a first vehicle, or a first sensor. Along with the geographic position, data indicative of the first observation is send to a server. The central server may analyze of the initial observation data to determine if additional observations should be made and define a bounding box from the geographic position of the first mobile device and the analysis of the initial observation data. A request for additional observations is generated and sent to at least one second mobile device, second vehicle, or second sensor based on the bounding box.

A sensor control device includes a plurality of drive units for oscillating respective transducers included in a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, a driving signal generation section for generating driving signals capable of oscillating the respective plurality of transducers, a control unit having a control signal output section for outputting, to each one of the plurality of drive units, a control signal as an input command for the driving signal to the respective transducer and a bus line configured to connect the control unit to the plurality of drive units in form of a daisy-chain, the bus line being used for bidirectional communication of communication data between the control unit and the plurality of drive units based on preset time-division, the communication data being comprised of a data structure having a first band that allows superimposition of audio data thereon. Control data based on the control signal is included in the first band.

A sensor control device includes a plurality of drive units for oscillating respective transducers included in a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, a driving signal generation section for generating driving signals capable of oscillating the respective plurality of transducers, a control unit having a control signal output section for outputting, to each one of the plurality of drive units, a control signal as an input command for the driving signal to the respective transducer and a bus line configured to connect the control unit to the plurality of drive units in form of a daisy-chain, the bus line being used for bidirectional communication of communication data between the control unit and the plurality of drive units based on preset time-division, the communication data being comprised of a data structure having a first band that allows superimposition of audio data thereon. Control data based on the control signal is included in the first band.

Disclosed is a system of tracking location of the listener's ears for 3D perception of audio signals sent from an array of acoustic sources. In addition to the array of acoustic sources, the system contains a video camera for finding a location of the listener's ears and one or more ultrasonic transducers for locating positions of the listener's ears by sending ultrasonic signals and receiving echoes reflected from the sought objects. The use of ultrasonic transducers enhances the action of the video camera and accuracy in positioning the listener's ears by calculating the distance from the acoustic sources to the plane in which the ears are located in the direction of axis Z, while the X, Y coordinates of the ears in the X, Y, Z coordinate system are determined by an image processor of the video camera.

Disclosed is a system of tracking location of the listener's ears for 3D perception of audio signals sent from an array of acoustic sources. In addition to the array of acoustic sources, the system contains a video camera for finding a location of the listener's ears and one or more ultrasonic transducers for locating positions of the listener's ears by sending ultrasonic signals and receiving echoes reflected from the sought objects. The use of ultrasonic transducers enhances the action of the video camera and accuracy in positioning the listener's ears by calculating the distance from the acoustic sources to the plane in which the ears are located in the direction of axis Z, while the X, Y coordinates of the ears in the X, Y, Z coordinate system are determined by an image processor of the video camera.

Disclosed is a method and system for diffraction-aware non-line of sight (NLOS) sound source localization (SSL) that may reconstruct an indoor space, may generate acoustic rays into the indoor space based on an audio signal collected from the indoor space, and may estimate a position of an NLOS sound source based on a point at which one of the acoustic rays is diffracted.

Disclosed is a method and system for diffraction-aware non-line of sight (NLOS) sound source localization (SSL) that may reconstruct an indoor space, may generate acoustic rays into the indoor space based on an audio signal collected from the indoor space, and may estimate a position of an NLOS sound source based on a point at which one of the acoustic rays is diffracted.

Various techniques are described herein for using smell sensor-based Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices to detect and identify individual users based a unique scent or smell print. Interconnected networks of such devices may be used in collaboration, along with other devices such as IoT devices and home monitoring system devices, to track user movements and activities. Such smell sensor device also may be used to detect weapons, explosives, narcotics, and other prohibited items that may be concealed and/or not detectable using security cameras. The data received from the smell sensors and smell-based IoT devices may be used, alone or in combination with other security sensors and systems, to perform safety and security screening within homes, airports or other secure areas, or within any public indoor or outdoor location.

A system including a beamforming-sensor configured to acquire sensor-data representative of a swath in an agricultural field; and a controller configured to determine swath-property-data based on the sensor-data.

A system including a beamforming-sensor configured to acquire sensor-data representative of a swath in an agricultural field; and a controller configured to determine swath-property-data based on the sensor-data.