A tracking device for use when performing astrophotography comprises a guider camera and at least one tilt stage, with the topmost of the tilt stages arranged to support an astrophotography camera and the guider camera. Actuators are coupled to the tilt stages such that the astrophotography and guider cameras can be tilted about three axes. The guider camera and actuators are connected to electronics which include a computer programmed to operate in a calibration mode and a tracking mode. In calibration mode, a calibration procedure determines the effect of each actuator on the positions of at least two objects within the field-of-view (FOV) of the guider camera. In tracking mode, the actuators are operated as needed to maintain the positions of the at least two objects constant within the said FOV.

Automatic tracking by a camera (16) of an object (12) such as on-air talent appearing in a television show commences by first determining whether the object lies within the camera field of view matches a reference object. If so, tracking of the object then occurs to maintain the object in fixed relationship to a pre-set location in the camera's field of view, provided the designated object has moved more than a threshold distance from the pre-set location.

Methods and apparatus for tracking movement over the ground or other surfaces of a buried utility locator during a utility locate operation are disclosed.

A method may include orienting a set of solar power units in a first position in which rows of solar power units are shaded by adjacent rows of solar power units; and monitoring energy generated by the set of solar power units over a window of time, that includes from when the set of solar power units are oriented in the first position until a sun angle corresponds to none of the rows being shaded by the adjacent rows. The method may include identifying a knee in energy generation during the first window of time, where the knee indicates a transition from higher to lower rates of change of energy generation at a given solar angle. The method may include plotting a trajectory of future orientation positions over time of the set of solar power units that include an orientation and time corresponding to the given solar angle.

A solar tracker assembly comprises a support column, a torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torsion beam, and a torsion limiter connected to an output of the drive system. When an external force causes a level of torsion on the drive system to exceed a pre-set limit the torsion limiter facilitates rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly in the direction of the torsion, thereby allowing the external force to rotate about a pivot axis extending through the torsion beam. Exemplary embodiments also include methods of aligning a plurality of rows of solar trackers.

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 hybrid system which detects and tracks objects in three-dimensional space using a light source disposed in spaced relation to a projection surface, defining a volume of space illuminated by said light source. A light sensor responsive to illumination falling on the projection surface measures illumination levels over a predefined image plane associated with the light sensor, producing a projected image signal. A structured light source projects a structured light within the volume of space and a structured light sensor records reflected structured light from objects occupying the volume of space producing a structured light signal. A correlation processor receptive of the projected image signal and said structured light signal and adapted to compute a hybrid signal indicative of the position of an object within said space and from which other information about the object may be extracted.

A computer-implemented method includes receiving, with a vehicle computing system, global position system (GPS) data associated with a vehicle, determining a solar position relative to the vehicle, receiving trip information associated with the vehicle, and executing one or more vehicle actuators based at least in part on the GPS data, the trip information and the solar position relative to the vehicle. Determining the solar position can include determining a sun glare period during a future time period based at least in part on the trip information associated with the vehicle. The vehicle computing system may display a warning indicative of the sun glare period, generate a window tint command that causes the window to tint and/or generate a vent control command that causes the vent to change one or more of an airflow temperature, and an airflow velocity.

A method for automatically generating a three-dimensional reference model as terrain information for a seeker head of an unmanned missile. A three-dimensional terrain model formed from model elements obtained with the aid of satellite and/or aerial reconnaissance is provided. Position data of the imaging device at least at one planned position and a direction vector from the planned position of the imaging device to a predetermined target point in the three-dimensional terrain model are provided. A three-dimensional reference model of the three dimensional terrain model is generated that incorporates only those model elements and sections of model elements from the terrain model, which in the viewing direction of the direction vector from the planned position of the imaging device, are not covered by other model elements and/or are not located outside the field of view of the imaging device.

A monitoring area is scanned by an area sensor device (e.g., an optical distance meter) detects objects. Moving objects are identified among the detected objects, and, among the identified moving objects, a moving object which is present in the monitoring area and which has been newest identified is set as a tracking target. The moving object which has been set at the tracking target is automatically tracked by a camera device. As a result, even if there are present a plurality of moving objects in the monitoring area, tracking targets can be switched from one to another, so that it is possible to designate, as a tracking target, a moving object desired by an observer.