Abstract:
The systems and methods disclosed herein include a path integration system that calculates optic flow, infers angular velocity from the flow field, and incorporates this velocity estimate into heading calculations. The resulting system fuses heading estimates from accelerometers, 5 gyroscopes, engine torques, and optic flow to determine self-localization. The system also includes a motivational system that implements a reward drive, both positive and negative, into the system. In some implementations, the drives can include: a) a curiosity drive that encourages exploration of new areas, b) a resource drive that attracts the agent towards the recharging base when the battery is low, and c) a mineral reward drive that attracts the agent 10 towards previously explored scientific targets.
Abstract:
An apparatus configured to receive, from a remote apparatus (master navigator), a bearing signal indicating the directional offset of a destination with respect to a directional reference, and use the bearing signal to indicate, on a portable apparatus (direction resolver), the heading of the destination with respect to a directional reference of the portable apparatus. Also discussed are a method, computer program code, and a bearing signal.
Abstract:
The invention deals with a compass and methods to detect the spatial direction of the predominant amount of free magnetic flux. The invention declares that it can be implemented by PMs (6, 7) on a flat plane with the possibility of rotation in three basic ways. In the first way, two PMs are used and they are rotated mechanically by 180° toward the main Earth's magnetic north. The second method implements two PMs where a freely moving PM is mechanically turned away by 180° from the main magnetic north and the fixed PM is simultaneously turned by 180° toward the main magnetic north. The third way uses 3 PMs, one movable PM (7) and one fixed PM (6) and their so-called mechanical 180°C turn to the Earth's main magnetic north and a simultaneous 180° turn of the other movable PM away from the Earth's main magnetic north.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for precise measurement of azimuth. An angular rate sensor is rotated so its sensitive axis periodically aligns with the horizontal component of the earth's spin rate (north). A preferably sinusoidal signal is analyzed with respect to the relative angle of the sensor and a desired direction in order to determine the azimuth of that direction.
Abstract:
Magnetoresistive sensors are commonly used for angular detection in many automotive applications. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sensor is provided in which a first half-bridge has magnetoresistive resistors with barber-pole stripes and in which a second half-bridge has magnetoresistive resistors without barber-pole stripes. One of the resistors without barber-pole stripes is rotated with respect to the other three resistors by 90°. This may provide for an improved angle determination with reduced angular errors due to offset.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to siding installation apparatus and methods of using such siding installation apparatus to install siding pieces on a structure. A siding installation apparatus includes a body having a first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a first dimension. The siding installation apparatus further includes a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along the first dimension of the body. Each of the projections is spaced apart from an adjacent projection by a first distance.
Abstract:
An attitude- and motion-sensing system for an electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, a game device and the like, is disclosed. The system (20), which can be integrated into the portable electronic device, inclu a two- or three-axis accelerometer (24) and a three-axis magnetic compass (22). Data about the attitude of t electronic device from the accelerometer and magnetic compass are first processed by a signal processing u (25) that calculates attitude angles (pitch, roll, and yaw) and rotational angular velocities. These data are then translated by a translator (29) into input signals (27) for a specific application program associated with the electronic device (Fig. 2).
Abstract:
A user interface for mobile devices, which is suitable for retrieving messages and services by pointing a specific point. The device must be equipped with a positioning system and orientation sensors for determining the pointing direction. Then, the direction is sent to a server which determines if there are any defined specific points in the pointing direction. If there are messages for the user for the calculate specific point, the messages will be transmitted to the device.
Abstract:
A system for capturing, calibrating and concatenating all-surface inspection and metrology data is herein disclosed. Uses of such data are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A system for graphic display of point-to-point distance measurements in an object measuring system includes display of a graphic drawing representing the object and depictions of measured points representing their locations on the object and displays of lines between the points of selected pairs of displayed points to indicate where a distance measurement is taken. For each line there is displayed an indication that the measured distance is (a) within tolerance limits of a standard distance, (b) shorter than the standard distance by a difference greater than a lower tolerance limit or (c) greater than the standard distance by a difference exceeding an upper tolerance limit. There may simultaneously be displayed an alphanumeric table indicating the points, the measured and standard distances and the differences, which table may utilize the same tolerance indication scheme as the graphical representation.