Use of vector format graphics with robot marking, allowing the end user to design and use his own templates. By using vector graphics formats as a tool to let the user make his own templates, the user will have the flexibility of the CAD files in being able to draw any type of drawing, and at the same time having the flexibility of the templates by being able to move, scale and rotate the template freely.

A sports field having automatic line marking capabilities. The sports field includes a robotic total station in communication with a mobile marking robot configured for marking and re-marking of lines on a sports field.

A portable robotic platform system and method for automatically detecting, locating, and marking underground assets are provided. The portable robotic platform includes a housing with a sensor module including ground penetrating radar (GPR), LiDAR, and electromagnetic (EM) sensors. The robotic platform automatically collects GPR and EM data and uses onboard post-processing techniques to interpret the sensor data and identify the location(s) of underground infrastructure. The portable robotic platform can be deployed to apply paint to a ground surface to identify the located underground assets.

In an example, a method of operating a surface marking robot comprises receiving a first digital representation of a floor plan comprising a plurality of floor plan features, and identifying a specific floor plan feature corresponding to a specific printing resources consumption. In response to identifying the specific floor plan feature, the method comprises modifying the first digital representation to produce a second digital representation in which the specific floor plan feature is replaced by an alternative floor plan feature corresponding to an alternative printing resources consumption which is reduced compared to the specific printing resources consumption.

A kit is described for enabling an unskilled operator to set up an edge or cloud-connected autonomous distributed deposition robot (ADDR) 10 within minutes of unboxing, autonomously define a deposition zone 120 by following an automated instruction guide to accurately place a smart scanner 210 and other identifiable target objects 220 over a surface, and to use the ADDR and an accompanying Cloud-based automated deposition management software platform to print a design, or otherwise deposit material, accurately over an area such as a sports pitch. The system can also be used to deposit paint, ink, fertiliser, plant seeds or other necessary payload at a particular geographic reference location, indoor or outdoor.

A mobile printing robot prints layouts or other construction information on a construction surface. A line printing pathway optimization method performs at least one optimization of a listing of lines to be printed. In some examples, the line printing pathway optimization includes at least one of line sorting, line orientation, line cropping, and line splitting.

A GPS-based control system for positioning a nozzle projection onto a predetermined roadway mark path includes a vehicle having an attached paint carriage which is laterally movable with respect to the vehicle, a first GPS antenna, a first GPS receiver responsive to the first GPS antenna, a first signal processor for determining the geographical location of the first GPS antenna, a linear motion and position sensor, a GPS location processor for determining the absolute GPS location of the paint carriage, a coordinate transform processor for transforming the absolute GPS location of the paint carriage into a location in a coordinate system other than GPS, a comparator for comparing the location of the paint carriage in the other coordinate system to a desired roadway mark path according to the other coordinate system, and a control system for positioning the nozzle projection onto the roadway mark path.

A mobility platform is configured to execute one or more tasks in a worksite including a passive landmark. A mobility platform may include a first laser rangefinder and at least one processor configured to sweep the first passive landmark with the first laser rangefinder to collect a first plurality of distance measurements for a first plurality of yaw angles, fit a first shape to the first plurality of distance measurements based on a predetermined shape of the first passive landmark, and determine a position of a geometric center of the first passive landmark relative to the first location of the first laser rangefinder based on the fit first shape.

A system includes processing circuitry and a drone that includes a marking mount that receives a marking device, a motion guide that provides a sliding framework for a reciprocating motion of the marking mount, and a shock absorption sub-assembly positioned between the marking mount and the motion guide. Control logic of the drone is configured to navigate, based on navigation instructions received from the processing circuitry, the drone to an area associated with a misapplication of a tape as applied to a substrate or a substrate defect, such that a distal tip of the marking device makes contact with the area associated with the tape misapplication or the substrate defect, while activating the shock absorption sub-assembly to at least partially absorb a shock caused by the contact between the distal tip of the marking device and the area associated with the tape misapplication or the substrate defect.

A method for navigating an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) includes obtaining, by a sensor spaced apart from the UGV and at least temporarily fixed relative to a stretch of land on which the UGV is to operate, a three-dimensional map of the stretch of land. A navigation signal is generated based on the three-dimensional map and a user-specified task. The navigation signal is transmitted to a controller operatively coupled to the UGV, and configured to receive a navigation signal and operate the UGV in accordance with the navigation signal.