A ground marking apparatus is configured to apply marking material to a ground surface. The ground marking apparatus includes a beam supported by a beam mount and extending along a beam axis. A carriage is disposed on the beam and movable on the beam along the beam axis. A carriage motor operably interfaces with the beam and is configured to move the carriage along the beam. A dispense arm is supported by the carriage and is configured to move relative to the beam as the carriage moves along the beam.

A sports field having automatic line marking capabilities. The sports field includes a robotic total station in communication with a mobile marking robot configured for marking and re-marking of lines on a sports field.

Provided is a method for marking a ground surface according to a predefined marking pattern using a system including a robot unit and a local base station including acts of providing two flag points, receiving global positioning data of the robot unit using a robot GNSS receiver, receiving global positioning data of the local base station using a base GNSS receiver, and establishing a local base station position using the received global positioning data of the local base station. A method wherein the predefined marking pattern is arranged relative to the two flag point positions and wherein the local base station position is a system reference point of the system. Also provided is a system for marking a ground surface according to a predefined marking pattern and the use thereof or parts thereof.

A method and system for use in the game of football to determine ball placement and position, as well as first down demarcations, is described, with various embodiments configured to track the location of a football to determine its position on the field and to determine and display the first down demarcation on the field. Certain embodiments employ software to assist in performing placement determinations, distance determinations, track movement of the ball, first down markers, as well as light emitting modules along a track that extends parallel to the field.

A synthetic ice panel system for use on a ground surface includes plurality of substantially flat panels that mutually interlock to form a rink, such as for ice skating. Each panel includes a top surface, a bottom surface adapted for resting on the ground surface, and a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge includes a plurality of interlocking tabs and recesses operative to mutually interlock with adjacent panels. Each panel is preferably made with a high-density polymer infused with a lubricant. As such, ice skates and the like are able to slide with relatively low friction on the top surface of the panel. Weather permitting; the panels may be inverted in some embodiments wherein the bottom surface of each panel includes a cooling channel containing a cooling tube through which a coolant flows to freeze water resting on the panel, thereby forming a layer of ice above the panel.

A backpack is disclosed for a personal transport vehicle including, in some embodiments, a back piece including a molded front panel, a securing device, a padded back panel, and a shoulder strap system. The molded front panel includes at least two ridges configured for placement of at least a portion of a body of the personal transport vehicle between the ridges. The securing device, which is attached to a first ridge of the ridges, is configured to cross over the molded front panel to a second ridge of the ridges to secure the body of the personal transport vehicle between the ridges when present. The padded back panel is configured to rest against a backpack wearer's back. The shoulder strap system includes a pair of shoulder straps extending from a top portion of the back piece, across the back panel, and to a medial portion of the back panel.

Methods and apparatus are discussed for an electric-powered personal transportation vehicle with a composite board to support a weight of a user, one or more wheels driven by one or more electric motors, where the electric motors are powered by one or more batteries. The composite board includes a heterogeneous mix of individual components making up the composite board. The composite board includes i) a spine of the composite board made of a hardwood material connected to ii) sides of the composite board made of a vibration-dampening, high-density, foam.

Methods and apparatus are discussed for an electric powered personal transportation vehicle with electric motors powered by one or more batteries. A battery pack storage enclosure i) contains a set of pocket cores. The first battery pack storage enclosure has a rigid internal structure that has a set of pocket cores that hold the battery cells in place and ii) contains a metal mid-plate that functionally transfers thermal heat rapidly through a metal mass of the metal mid-plate to smooth out spikes of local temperatures when an initial battery cell overheats and fails in order to minimize the heat from the initial battery cell failure from propagating and causing a neighboring battery cell to also fail from the heat.

Methods and apparatus are discussed for an electric powered personal transportation vehicle with electric motors powered by one or more batteries. A set of universal battery mounting hole locations and a reserved space for one or more battery housings exist on a board for the personal transportation vehicle. The reserved space on the board for the one or more battery housings that house one or more battery packs is set to not interfere with an operation of the motors or the wheels. A first battery pack containing the one or more batteries differs in at least one of i) a different amp-hour capacity, ii) a different length, width, or height, and iii) a different shape than another battery pack designed to be physically contained in the one or more battery housings and electrically connect with corresponding electrical connections in the one or more battery housings.

A personal transport system is provided including, in an embodiment, an electrically powered vehicle, a companion remote control, and a companion mobile phone application. The vehicle includes an operator-supporting deck, one or more deck-mounted trucks, one or more axle-mounted wheels on each of the one or more trucks, one or more batteries, and a deck lighting system. The one or more batteries power a motor configured to drive the wheels by way of a pulley system, at least one battery of which is disposed under a battery enclosure. The battery enclosure has a first light indicator system, and the companion remote control has a second light indicator system, each of which is configured for communicating with the operator. The deck lighting system includes a light strip of light-emitting diodes disposed in a groove of the deck configured to change state to communicate with the operator or others sharing a road.