An apparatus for locating an object of interest using offset. The object may be a mobile platform, or portion of same, associated with a vehicle, or a pavement segment or feature of or on a pavement segment on which the mobile platform is located. The vehicle includes first and second fixed points having a known offset from each other. An image sensor whose field of view includes the second fixed point and a segment of the pavement surface provides image data which is used with the known offset to calculate the precise location of the object of interest.

An example method includes storing marking data to specify at least one selected marking to apply at a target location along a vehicle path of travel, the marking data including a machine-readable description and a marking reference coordinate frame for the selected marking. The method also includes generating task plan data to apply the selected marking based on the marking data and at least one parameter of an application tool. The method also includes determining a location and orientation of the application tool with respect to the vehicle path of travel based on location data representing a current location of a vehicle carrying the application tool. The method also includes computing a joint-space trajectory to enable the application tool to apply the selected marking at the target location based on the task plan data and the determined location of the application tool.

An example method includes storing marking data to specify at least one selected marking to apply at a target location along a vehicle path of travel, the marking data including a machine-readable description and a marking reference coordinate frame for the selected marking. The method also includes generating task plan data to apply the selected marking based on the marking data and at least one parameter of an application tool. The method also includes determining a location and orientation of the application tool with respect to the vehicle path of travel based on location data representing a current location of a vehicle carrying the application tool. The method also includes computing a joint-space trajectory to enable the application tool to apply the selected marking at the target location based on the task plan data and the determined location of the application tool.

A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine includes at least one wheel contacting a ground surface, a battery powered electric motor, control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a sped of the driver, at least one pedal attached to a pedal axle and tiltable in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to the pedal axle, and at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal. The control circuitry is configured to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal, and to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal.

It is suggested to provide a line marking device having a GNSS receiver or prism for a robotic total station. The line marking device further has at least one spray nozzle and a comparator adapted to compare a detected location to a predetermined pattern. The comparator calculates a location and/or a direction error. Further the line marking device has a prompting device for providing steering information to a user. The provided information is the location and/or direction error. The at least one spray nozzle and the GNSS receiver or the prism are in a fixed spatial relation to a connecting element, which is connected or connectable to an unmovable receiving element of a cart.

A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine includes at least one wheel contacting a ground surface, a battery powered electric motor, control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a sped of the driver, at least one pedal attached to a pedal axle and tiltable in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to the pedal axle, and at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal. The control circuitry is configured to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal, and to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal.

A method of resurfacing a length of roadway or other paved surface having markers thereon includes covering the markers with respective marker covers, applying a coating material to the road and the marker covers, then removing the covers. The marker covers mask the markers from the coating material. An inside dimension of the marker covers should approximate the widest outside dimension of the markers. The inside height of the marker cover can be higher than the height the marker extends over the surface. The cover should rest on the surface and not on the marker, for preferred masking and stability. The weight and shape of the covers should permit them to stay in place despite various disrupting forces. After coating, the covers can be removed or crushed in place.

The invention involves a low speed control system and method for automatically regulating the speed of work vehicles or equipment and, more particularly, vehicles that apply, remove or modify roadways or road markings. The system includes a controller, a speed display, at least one rotary encoder or the like, and one or more Eddy current or mechanical brakes for inhibiting motion of the vehicle at the operator's control. The brakes may be pneumatic, spring operated, Eddy current, or hydraulic that are controlled in response to feedback from the at least one rotary encoder for compliance with the preset speed on the speed display. In another embodiment, a throttle control is also provided.

A method for applying contrasting thermoplastic markings to a roadway in a single pass. The contrast road marking apparatus includes two or more ribbon guns configured to apply a first thermoplastic marking to a roadway surface area and a second thermoplastic marking, which comprises a color that contrasts with a color of the first thermoplastic marking, to another roadway surface area. The resulting contrast road marking has no visible or substantially negligible overlap or gap between the individual thermoplastic markings.

Methods, systems, and apparatus are described herein for providing operational efficiency at a construction site through a connected system of on-board mobile computers.