A landing zone designation system is provided that includes a master and a slave landing strobes. A detector on an aircraft can detect master and slave optical signals, and a processor can be coupled to the detector to compute placement of the aircraft relative to the master and slave landing strobes. A method is provided for designating a landing zone for an aircraft. The method includes emitting first and second optical signals, where a determination is made whether the aircraft is to land at a first landing zone or a second landing zone depending on a difference between the first optical signal and the second optical signal. A distance to landing within the determined first landing zone or the second landing zone can also be determined.

Some embodiments provide a system comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer comprising: a transceiver, a control circuit and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: receive a request from a customer requesting location information for a requested item; identify the requested item is a category of items, and identify category location information; communicate routing instructions to the motorized transport unit based on the category location information causing the motorized transport unit to initiate physical movement; and communicate to the motorized transport unit a species clarification inquiry instruction configured to cause the motorized transport unit, while implementing routing instructions to move toward the category location, to present a clarification inquiry to the customer seeking clarification in narrowing the identified category to one or more products categorized within the identified category.

A system having a transceiver and a receiver. The transceiver may be configured to generate a light signal having a plurality of bands of light across a number of defined angles. Each of the light bands relates to a height of the transceiver relative to a road. The receiver may be configured to (i) receive the light signal and (ii) calculate a distance to the transceiver based on a detected one of the bands of light. The distance is used to provide localization in an autonomous vehicle application.

A path finding system using a series of networked receiver beacons is disclosed. The system includes receiver beacons placed on a path. Each of the receiver beacons include a transceiver receiving and sending signals and a location indicator such as a LED, that when activated indicates the location of the receiver beacon. Each of the receiver beacons include a controller coupled to the indicator and the transceiver. The controller is operable to receive an activation signal to activate the indicator. A transmitter is paired with each of the receiver beacons. The transmitter includes a transceiver to send an activation signal to at least one of the receiver beacons. The receiver beacon receives the activation signal and activates the indicator. The receiver beacon also relays the activation signal to at least another receiver beacon.

A target reflector search device. This device comprises an emitting unit for emitting an emission fan, a motorized device for moving the emission fan over a spatial region, and a receiving unit for reflected portions of the emission fan within a fan-shaped acquisition region, and a locating unit for determining a location of the reflection. An optoelectronic detector of the receiving unit is formed as a position-resolving optoelectronic detector having a linear arrangement of a plurality of pixels, each formed as an SPAD array, and the receiving unit comprises an optical system having an imaging fixed-focus optical unit, wherein the optical system and the optoelectronic detector are arranged and configured in such a way that portions of the optical radiation reflected from a point in the acquisition region are expanded on the sensitivity surface of the optoelectronic detector in such a way that blurry imaging takes place.

An auxiliary apparatus for a lighthouse positioning system is provided. The lighthouse positioning system includes a first positioning base station and a second positioning base station, wherein the first positioning base station includes a first signal transmitter and a second signal transmitter and the second positioning base station includes a first signal transmitter and a second signal transmitter. The auxiliary apparatus calculates a first signal time sequence of the first signal transmitters, calculates a second signal time sequence of the second signal transmitters, and determines a third signal time sequence according to the first signal time sequence and the second signal time sequence. The third signal time sequence is not overlapped with the first signal time sequence and the second signal time sequence. The auxiliary apparatus transmits a plurality of signals according to the third signal time sequence.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

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.