Methods and devices for detecting movement of an object includes: receiving a first set of output signal values and a second set of output signal values from a sound wave receiver, each output signal value in the first set and the second set being representative of amplitude of an acoustic signal reflected from the object; determining, based on the received first set and second set, a difference set including one or more difference values, each of the one or more difference values being representative of a difference between a first output signal value in the first set and a second output signal value in the second set; determining whether the difference set satisfies a predetermined condition based on whether each difference value of the difference set has a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold; and outputting a motion detection signal if the difference set satisfies the predetermined condition.

Methods and devices for detecting movement of an object includes: receiving a first set of output signal values and a second set of output signal values from a sound wave receiver, each output signal value in the first set and the second set being representative of amplitude of an acoustic signal reflected from the object; determining, based on the received first set and second set, a difference set including one or more difference values, each of the one or more difference values being representative of a difference between a first output signal value in the first set and a second output signal value in the second set; determining whether the difference set satisfies a predetermined condition based on whether each difference value of the difference set has a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold; and outputting a motion detection signal if the difference set satisfies the predetermined condition.

A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.

Embodiments are provided for managing the operation of sensors in an electronic device. According to certain aspects, the electronic device may detect a change in motion from a set of lower-sensitivity sensor data generated by a sensor(s) operating in a lower-sensitivity mode. When the change in motion is detected and during a timeout window, the sensor(s) may generate an additional set of lower-sensitivity sensor data and a set of higher-sensitivity sensor data. The electronic device may initially confirm the change in motion based on analyzing the set of higher-sensitivity sensor data. Further, the electronic device may determine that the additional set of lower-sensitivity does not indicate an additional change in motion, and may deem the confirmation of the change in motion as a false positive.

Embodiments are provided for managing the operation of sensors in an electronic device. According to certain aspects, the electronic device may detect a change in motion from a set of lower-sensitivity sensor data generated by a sensor(s) operating in a lower-sensitivity mode. When the change in motion is detected and during a timeout window, the sensor(s) may generate an additional set of lower-sensitivity sensor data and a set of higher-sensitivity sensor data. The electronic device may initially confirm the change in motion based on analyzing the set of higher-sensitivity sensor data. Further, the electronic device may determine that the additional set of lower-sensitivity does not indicate an additional change in motion, and may deem the confirmation of the change in motion as a false positive.

Multiple exemplary systems for preventing jackknifing are disclosed. The systems comprise an electric motor for extending a shaft into a fifth wheel coupling when a tractor trailer is traveling at above a predetermined speed in a forward direction, physically preventing the tractor trailer from jackknifing. In order to avoid dependence on integration with a tractor, sensors on a trailer are used to determine speed without communication with the tractor or any instruments therein, via reception of one or more emitted waves. When the trailer is determined to be traveling at below the predetermined speed in a forward direction, or at any speed in a backward direction, the shaft is retracted to allow the trailer to freely rotate with respect to the tractor.

A method comprising: providing an autonomous vehicle (AV) with a first estimated position of a target; directing the AV to travel toward the first estimated position at a constant velocity; receiving echo signals of transmitted sonar signals, the echo signals indicating a range and an azimuth of the target; determining a depth difference of the AV and the target based on the received echo signals, the depth difference being determined based on changes to the range and azimuth of the target over time; and in response to a depth difference existing, re-directing the AV toward a second estimated position of the target generated from the depth difference.

Provided is an obstacle detection system for a work vehicle, with which the reduction of costs or labor required for preparatory work can be achieved. In an obstacle detection system for a work vehicle, three left-side and three right-side ultrasonic sensors 103A-103C, 104A-104C are disposed on the left and right sides of a work vehicle 1, respectively, and the measurement ranges Na-Nc thereof are continuous in the front and rear direction. In addition, a control unit 105 for distance measurement performs: position detection processing for detecting the position of an object with respect to the vehicle in the front and rear direction on the basis of a distance measurement operation of the ultrasonic sensors 103A-103C, 104A-104C having the continuous measurement ranges Na-Nc; and displacement detection processing for detecting the movement of the object in the front and rear direction on the basis of the distance measurement operation sequence of the ultrasonic sensors 103A-103C, 104A-104C having the continuous measurement ranges Na-Nc.

Provided is an obstacle detection system for a work vehicle, with which the reduction of costs or labor required for preparatory work can be achieved. In an obstacle detection system for a work vehicle, three left-side and three right-side ultrasonic sensors 103A-103C, 104A-104C are disposed on the left and right sides of a work vehicle 1, respectively, and the measurement ranges Na-Nc thereof are continuous in the front and rear direction. In addition, a control unit 105 for distance measurement performs: position detection processing for detecting the position of an object with respect to the vehicle in the front and rear direction on the basis of a distance measurement operation of the ultrasonic sensors 103A-103C, 104A-104C having the continuous measurement ranges Na-Nc; and displacement detection processing for detecting the movement of the object in the front and rear direction on the basis of the distance measurement operation sequence of the ultrasonic sensors 103A-103C, 104A-104C having the continuous measurement ranges Na-Nc.

A railroad car location, speed and heading sensor system including at least one self-powered, tie-mounted sensor node that is applicable universally to different railroad settings without using track circuits, inductive loops, radar systems, and wheel counters and associated disadvantages. Reliable and relatively low cost deterministic and redundant car presence detection is realized when multiple sensor nodes are arranged in a network, which may be a wireless mesh network, that is not affected by environmental conditions.