A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.

A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.

A system is configured for confirming a mobile cooperative target being automatically tracked and measured by a total station or theodolite in order to automatically control a machine operation of a construction site machine. The system includes at least one total station or theodolite with a UWBST anchor-module having an anchor-ID, and a cooperative target associated with a UWBST tag-module having a tag-identifier (tag-ID) and being used for automatically controlling a machine operation of the construction site machine. The system can include a machine control unit associated with the construction site machine configured for controlling machine operations based on tracking and continuously measuring cooperative targets carried out by the total station or theodolite, and an ultra-wide band (UWB) distance meter associated with the UWBST anchor-module configured for measuring a distance (UWB-distance) between the UWBST anchor-module and the UWBST tag-module.

A system is configured for confirming a mobile cooperative target being automatically tracked and measured by a total station or theodolite in order to automatically control a machine operation of a construction site machine. The system includes at least one total station or theodolite with a UWBST anchor-module having an anchor-ID, and a cooperative target associated with a UWBST tag-module having a tag-identifier (tag-ID) and being used for automatically controlling a machine operation of the construction site machine. The system can include a machine control unit associated with the construction site machine configured for controlling machine operations based on tracking and continuously measuring cooperative targets carried out by the total station or theodolite, and an ultra-wide band (UWB) distance meter associated with the UWBST anchor-module configured for measuring a distance (UWB-distance) between the UWBST anchor-module and the UWBST tag-module.

A distance measuring camera 1 includes a first optical system for collecting light from a subject to form a first subject image, a second optical system for collecting the light from the subject to form a second subject image, an imaging part for imaging the first subject image formed by the first optical system and the second subject image formed by the second optical system, and a distance calculating part 4 for calculating a distance to the subject based on the first subject image and the second subject image imaged by the imaging part S. The first optical system and the second optical system are configured so that a change of a magnification of the first subject image according to the distance to the subject is different from a change of a magnification of the second subject image according to the distance to the subject.

A distance measuring camera 1 includes a first optical system for collecting light from a subject to form a first subject image, a second optical system for collecting the light from the subject to form a second subject image, an imaging part for imaging the first subject image formed by the first optical system and the second subject image formed by the second optical system, and a distance calculating part 4 for calculating a distance to the subject based on the first subject image and the second subject image imaged by the imaging part S. The first optical system and the second optical system are configured so that a change of a magnification of the first subject image according to the distance to the subject is different from a change of a magnification of the second subject image according to the distance to the subject.

A machine-tool including a machining module equipped with a tool-holder and a work-holder, and an optical measuring device-for the three-dimensional measurement of the relative position between the tool-holder and the work-holder. The optical measuring device includes an optical system mounted on the work-holder and a target mounted on the tool-holder. The target includes a useful face forming a positioning reference that can be placed in the optical axis of the optical system.

A machine-tool including a machining module equipped with a tool-holder and a work-holder, and an optical measuring device-for the three-dimensional measurement of the relative position between the tool-holder and the work-holder. The optical measuring device includes an optical system mounted on the work-holder and a target mounted on the tool-holder. The target includes a useful face forming a positioning reference that can be placed in the optical axis of the optical system.

System, including methods and apparatus, for identifying and picking spectrally distinct colonies. In an exemplary method, a filter may be received in an optical path extending from a light source to a grayscale image detector. The filter may be configured to increase an intensity difference between a first type of colony and a spectrally distinct second type of colony. Colonies including both types may be received in the optical path. An image of the colonies may be obtained with the grayscale image detector. At least one of the types of colony may be identified in the image. One or more colonies of the at least one type may be picked robotically.

System, including methods and apparatus, for identifying and picking spectrally distinct colonies. In an exemplary method, a filter may be received in an optical path extending from a light source to a grayscale image detector. The filter may be configured to increase an intensity difference between a first type of colony and a spectrally distinct second type of colony. Colonies including both types may be received in the optical path. An image of the colonies may be obtained with the grayscale image detector. At least one of the types of colony may be identified in the image. One or more colonies of the at least one type may be picked robotically.