A power generation system for wheeled objects comprises a generator mechanically coupled to one or more of the object's wheels to convert wheel rotational energy into electrical energy. The power generation system may comprise an electrical storage device configured to store the electrical power produced by the generator. Power from the generator and/or the electrical storage device can be used to provide power to other electrical systems in or on the object. In certain embodiments, the electrical storage device comprises a bank of high-capacity capacitors connected in series. Some embodiments use a control circuit, for example, to regulate the charging and discharging of the capacitor bank and to provide suitable voltages for other systems. The power generation system may be disposed within an object's wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

A power generation system for wheeled objects comprises a generator mechanically coupled to one or more of the object's wheels to convert wheel rotational energy into electrical energy. The power generation system may comprise an electrical storage device configured to store the electrical power produced by the generator. Power from the generator and/or the electrical storage device can be used to provide power to other electrical systems in or on the object. In certain embodiments, the electrical storage device comprises a bank of high-capacity capacitors connected in series. Some embodiments use a control circuit, for example, to regulate the charging and discharging of the capacitor bank and to provide suitable voltages for other systems. The power generation system may be disposed within an object's wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

The present invention relates to the efficient use of both local and remote computational resources and communication bandwidth to provide distributed environment mapping using a plurality of mobile sensor-equipped devices. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of determining a global position of one or more landmarks on a global map, the method comprising the steps of determining one or more differences between sequential sensor data captured by one or more moving devices; determining one or more relative localisation landmark positions with respect to the one or more moving devices; determining relative device poses based one or more differences between sequential sensor data relative to the one or more relative localisation landmark positions; and determining a correlation between each device pose and the one or more relative localisation landmarks positions.

The present invention relates to the efficient use of both local and remote computational resources and communication bandwidth to provide distributed environment mapping using a plurality of mobile sensor-equipped devices. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of determining a global position of one or more landmarks on a global map, the method comprising the steps of determining one or more differences between sequential sensor data captured by one or more moving devices; determining one or more relative localisation landmark positions with respect to the one or more moving devices; determining relative device poses based one or more differences between sequential sensor data relative to the one or more relative localisation landmark positions; and determining a correlation between each device pose and the one or more relative localisation landmarks positions.

An underwater celestial navigation beacon configured to provide position information is disclosed. The underwater celestial navigation beacon can include a data store configured to store an astronomical model of the moon. The underwater celestial navigation beacon can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) operable to capture IMU data that includes three-axis acceleration data and three-axis rate gyroscopic data. The underwater celestial navigation beacon can include a controller. The controller can determine a latitude of the underwater celestial navigation beacon using the three-axis rate gyroscopic data. The controller can determine a longitude of the underwater celestial navigation beacon based on a gravitational pull of the moon, using the three-axis acceleration data and the astronomical model of the moon. The controller can determine the position information for the underwater celestial navigation beacon based on the latitude and longitude.

An underwater celestial navigation beacon configured to provide position information is disclosed. The underwater celestial navigation beacon can include a data store configured to store an astronomical model of the moon. The underwater celestial navigation beacon can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) operable to capture IMU data that includes three-axis acceleration data and three-axis rate gyroscopic data. The underwater celestial navigation beacon can include a controller. The controller can determine a latitude of the underwater celestial navigation beacon using the three-axis rate gyroscopic data. The controller can determine a longitude of the underwater celestial navigation beacon based on a gravitational pull of the moon, using the three-axis acceleration data and the astronomical model of the moon. The controller can determine the position information for the underwater celestial navigation beacon based on the latitude and longitude.

This provides methods and systems for the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) combined with the dead-reckoning (DR) technique, which is expected to provide a vehicle positioning solution, but it may contain an unacceptable amount of error due to multiple causes, e.g., atmospheric effects, clock timing, and multipath effect. Particularly, the multipath effect is a major issue in the urban canyons. This invention overcomes these and other issues in the DR solution by a geofencing framework based on road geometry information and multiple supplemental kinematic filters. It guarantees a road-level accuracy and enables certain V2X applications which does not require sub-meter accuracy, e.g., signal phase timing, intersection movement assist, curve speed warning, reduced speed zone warning, and red-light violation warning. Automated vehicle is another use case. This is used for autonomous cars and vehicle safety, shown with various examples/variations.

This provides methods and systems for the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) combined with the dead-reckoning (DR) technique, which is expected to provide a vehicle positioning solution, but it may contain an unacceptable amount of error due to multiple causes, e.g., atmospheric effects, clock timing, and multipath effect. Particularly, the multipath effect is a major issue in the urban canyons. This invention overcomes these and other issues in the DR solution by a geofencing framework based on road geometry information and multiple supplemental kinematic filters. It guarantees a road-level accuracy and enables certain V2X applications which does not require sub-meter accuracy, e.g., signal phase timing, intersection movement assist, curve speed warning, reduced speed zone warning, and red-light violation warning. Automated vehicle is another use case. This is used for autonomous cars and vehicle safety, shown with various examples/variations.

An object positioning method and apparatus is disclosed. The object positioning apparatus may obtain a reference position of an object, obtain a map-based heading angle of the object based on waypoints on a map, and determine a current position of the object based on the reference position and the map-based heading angle.

An object positioning method and apparatus is disclosed. The object positioning apparatus may obtain a reference position of an object, obtain a map-based heading angle of the object based on waypoints on a map, and determine a current position of the object based on the reference position and the map-based heading angle.