A laser-strike detection system includes an imaging sensor mounted on a platform, and a computing device. The imaging sensor outputs image frames that are each representative of a portion of the platform at a different time, during which a laser may be striking the platform. The computing device receives the image frames, and computes a delay map that indicates time-of-arrival delays of the laser beam at points on the portion of the platform. The computing device converts the delay map to a path-length variation map by multiplying the delay map by the propagation speed of light. The computing device fits a plane to the path-length variation map constrained by a topological model of the platform. The computing device computes angular deflections in x- and y-directions based upon the fit, which angular deflections define a direction from the platform to an emitter of the laser beam.

A laser-strike detection system includes an imaging sensor mounted on a platform, and a computing device. The imaging sensor outputs image frames that are each representative of a portion of the platform at a different time, during which a laser may be striking the platform. The computing device receives the image frames, and computes a delay map that indicates time-of-arrival delays of the laser beam at points on the portion of the platform. The computing device converts the delay map to a path-length variation map by multiplying the delay map by the propagation speed of light. The computing device fits a plane to the path-length variation map constrained by a topological model of the platform. The computing device computes angular deflections in x- and y-directions based upon the fit, which angular deflections define a direction from the platform to an emitter of the laser beam.

A device for receiving light having at least one wavelength for the detection of an object, includes: an optical phased array including a plurality of optical phased sub-arrays, each optical phased sub-array including (a) a plurality of antennas and (b) a detector for coherently receiving light; and an evaluation unit connected to the optical phased sub-arrays and configured to determine the angle at which the object is detected.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring windlass rotation are provided to determine the real time rate and length of rode release when anchoring a boat. The rotation can be monitored in real time using directional sound and/or electromagnetic radiation receivers and/or transmitter in a module attached to the windlass. Another windlass module can monitor windlass rotation using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) components such as accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units (IMU) to sense motion and/or position.

A position locating system to locate relative position information between a marine vessel and a trailer includes a laser scanner on a first object, that is one of a marine vessel and a trailer for the marine vessel, to reciprocatingly scan a predetermined range in a horizontal direction with laser light, a laser light receiver on a second object, that is the other of the marine vessel and the trailer, to receive laser light emitted from the laser scanner, and a position locator configured or programmed to locate relative position information between the marine vessel and the trailer based on light receiving timings when the laser light emitted from the laser scanner is received by the laser light receiver.

Optical ground terminals (OGT) allowing high optical rate communications for line of sight and non-line of sight operating conditions are disclosed. The described devices include a multifaceted structure where optical telescopes, phase array antennas, and arrays of optical detectors are disposed. Methods to calculate angle-of-arrival based the contributions from optical detectors are also disclosed.

A system for detecting placement or misplacement of an object includes a wireless tag; a first electronic device (“FED”) associated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the FED, transmit the position and status to an external electronic device or network (“EED”) in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are within a predetermined range, and transmit the position and status to the EED in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are outside of the predetermined range; and a second electronic device (“SED”) that is unassociated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the SED, determine an identifier for the tag using the signals, and transmit the position of the SED and the identifier to the EED.

A system for detecting placement or misplacement of an object includes a wireless tag; a first electronic device (“FED”) associated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the FED, transmit the position and status to an external electronic device or network (“EED”) in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are within a predetermined range, and transmit the position and status to the EED in response to the status indicating that the tag and the FED are outside of the predetermined range; and a second electronic device (“SED”) that is unassociated with the tag to automatically detect signals from the tag, determine a position of the SED, determine an identifier for the tag using the signals, and transmit the position of the SED and the identifier to the EED.

The invention relates to a method for establishing the presence of a misalignment of at least one sensor within a sensor group with two or more sensors which detects objects in the surroundings of a motor vehicle, wherein at least two of the sensors differ from each other in their measuring principle and the measurement signals from the sensors are compared with each other.

The invention relates to a method for establishing the presence of a misalignment of at least one sensor within a sensor group with two or more sensors which detects objects in the surroundings of a motor vehicle, wherein at least two of the sensors differ from each other in their measuring principle and the measurement signals from the sensors are compared with each other.