A sensor and a 3-D position detection system are disclosed. In an embodiment a sensor includes at least one sensor chip configured to detect radiation, at least one carrier on which the sensor chip is mounted and a cast body that is transmissive for the radiation and that completely covers the sensor chip, wherein a centroid shift of the sensor chip amounts to at most 0.04 mrad at an angle of incidence of up to at least 60°, wherein the cast body comprises a light inlet side that faces away from the sensor chip, and the light inlet side comprises side walls bounding it on all sides, wherein the side walls are smooth, planar and transmissive for the radiation, wherein a free field-of-view on the light inlet side has an aperture angle of at least 140°, and wherein the cast body protrudes in a direction away from the sensor chip beyond a bond wire.

In general, platforms, systems, and methods are provided for identifying and privacy protecting authorized persons, vehicles, and objects in motion in the field of view of a video security camera or set of networked security cameras for use in a residential or business community. Various embodiments incorporate a security identification system that includes one or more mobile devices such as a smartphone or smartwatch, one or more cameras situated within a community with processors connected to data centers via the internet, and software running a cloud service infrastructure communicating to both the smartphone or smartwatch. The system can also include the ability to translate locational information from a smartphone or smartwatch into corresponding identification and geolocation information on images from security cameras.

An optical detecting assembly includes: a photosensitive element configured to receive an optical signal and convert it into an electrical signal; and a light guide member comprising a first portion for receiving a first light beam from a rotating light source at a first time point and guiding the first light beam to the photosensitive element and a second portion for receiving a second light beam from the rotating light source at a second time point and guiding the second light beam to the photosensitive element. A distance between the optical detecting assembly and the rotating light source is calculated based on a distance between the first portion and the second portion, a time difference between the first time point and the second time point, and a rotating speed of the rotating light source.

Deployable navigation beacons can be deployed from a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), in an event of a loss of position or orientation of the vehicle. After deployment of the navigation beacons, the vehicle may detect locations of the navigation beacon, which may define a surface that may include surface features. The vehicle may then perform control operations based on the resolved locations. For example, UAV may maneuver to land proximate to the navigation beacons after resolving locations of the navigation beacons as a continuous surface. The navigation beacons may output a visual signal (e.g., a light), a auditory signal (e.g., a sound), and/or a radio signal. In some embodiments, each navigation beacon may include a different or unique signal.

The present disclosure relates to a ranging method and a ranging system, the ranging method includes using a first laser emitting portion of a laser emitting device to emit a vertical laser beam rotating in a vertical plane at a first rotation speed; calculating a time difference between the vertical laser beam passing through a first optical detection component and a second optical detection component by using the first optical detection component and the second optical detection component on a laser receiving device at least partially on the same vertical plane, wherein a distance between the two optical detection components is a first spacing; and calculating a first distance between the laser emitting device and the laser receiving device based on the first rotation speed, the first spacing, and the time difference.

A path finding system using a series of networked receiver beacons is disclosed. The system includes receiver beacons placed on a path. Each of the receiver beacons include a transceiver receiving and sending signals and a location indicator such as a LED, that when activated indicates the location of the receiver beacon. Each of the receiver beacons include a controller coupled to the indicator and the transceiver. The controller is operable to receive an activation signal to activate the indicator. A transmitter is paired with each of the receiver beacons. The transmitter includes a transceiver to send an activation signal to at least one of the receiver beacons. The receiver beacon receives the activation signal and activates the indicator. The receiver beacon also relays the activation signal to at least another receiver beacon.

Disclosed are an apparatus for implementing relative positioning and a corresponding relative positioning method. A positioning apparatus includes one or more first positioning markers and one or more second positioning markers. The first positioning markers define a plane. At least a subset of the second positioning markers is located outside the plane defined by the first positioning markers. The method includes: obtaining physical position information of the first positioning markers and the second positioning markers on the positioning apparatus; obtaining an image that is acquired by an imaging device and depicts the positioning apparatus; determining imaging position information of the first positioning markers and the second positioning markers based on the image; and determining, according to the physical position information and the imaging position information of the first positioning markers and the second positioning markers in combination with intrinsic parameter information of an imaging component of the imaging device, position information and/or attitude information of the imaging device relative to the positioning apparatus when the image is acquired.

Devices and techniques for managing power consumption of a position tracking device. The position tracking device may be a virtual reality (VR) controller having multiple optical sensors oriented to receive optical signals from different directions. A stationary optical emitter projects a laser line into a space and repeatedly scans the laser line through the space. For a given scan, some of the sensors may detect the laser line and some of the sensors may not detect the laser line. When an individual sensor fails to detect a laser scan, that sensor is disabled for at least a portion of one or more subsequent laser scans in order to reduce power consumption of the VR controller.

A path finding system using a series of networked receiver beacons is disclosed. The system includes receiver beacons placed on a path. Each of the receiver beacons include a transceiver receiving and sending signals and a location indicator such as a LED, that when activated indicates the location of the receiver beacon. Each of the receiver beacons include a controller coupled to the indicator and the transceiver. The controller is operable to receive an activation signal to activate the indicator. A transmitter is paired with each of the receiver beacons. The transmitter includes a transceiver to send an activation signal to at least one of the receiver beacons. The receiver beacon receives the activation signal and activates the indicator. The receiver beacon also relays the activation signal to at least another receiver beacon.

A system and method for maintaining a laser impinging on a laser detector assembly includes determining a location of the laser from a rotating laser transmitter impinging on a laser sensor. A current position of the laser sensor along a mast of the laser detector assembly is determined and a new position for the laser sensor along the mast is determined based on the location of the laser impinging on the laser sensor and a current position of the laser sensor. The laser sensor is then moved to the new position. The system and method provide an effectively long working range of the laser detector assembly by moving the laser sensor along the mast of the laser detector assembly. An inertial measurement unit is used to calculate position information in the period between laser strikes.