Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system including a robot having a payload for carrying out a domestic task within a working area. The robot also includes a plurality of sensors, including one or more local environment sensors that are configured to receive signals from exterior sources local to the robot. The system further includes data storage, which is operable to store boundary information that defines the path of a predetermined boundary within which the robot is permitted to move. The robot is programmed to operate in at a reference trail recording mode and a navigation mode. In the reference trail recording mode, the robot moves along a reference trail while receiving sensor information from its sensors, with the path of the reference trail being calculated by the system based on the stored boundary information so as to be spaced apart from the path of the predetermined boundary.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength hand. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength hand. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band.

Abstract: A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength band. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system including a robot having a payload for carrying out a domestic task within a working area. The robot also includes a plurality of sensors, including one or more local environment sensors that are configured to receive signals from exterior sources local to the robot. The system further includes data storage, which is operable to store boundary information that defines the path of a predetermined boundary within which the robot is permitted to move. The robot is programmed to operate in at a reference trail recording mode and a navigation mode. In the reference trail recording mode, the robot moves along a reference trail while receiving sensor information from its sensors, with the path of the reference trail being calculated by the system based on the stored boundary information so as to be spaced apart from the path of the predetermined boundary.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method for remote identification of at least one gas includes sampling a plurality of spectral images of a scene wherein each spectral image is sampled at a different wavelength, providing a reference spectral image, and generating a spatial displacement expression by detecting the spatial misregistration in at least one region of the spectral images between the reference spectral image and at least one of the plurality of spectral images. At least one reference spatial displacement expression is provided corresponding to at least one gas, and at least one identification process is implemented to identify at least one gas. The identification process employs the generated spatial displacement expression and the at least one reference spatial displacement expression.

Abstract: A method for reducing the effects of background radiation introduced into gaseous plume spectral data obtained by an aerial imaging sensor, includes capturing spectral data of a gaseous plume with its obscured background along a first line of observation and capturing a second image of the previously obscured background along a different line of observation. The parallax shift of the plume enables the visual access needed to capture the radiometric data emanating exclusively from the background. The images are then corresponded on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce a mapping. An image-processing algorithm is applied to the mapped images to reducing the effects of background radiation and derive information about the content of the plume.

Abstract: The invention is a method for converting a monoscopic video movie passively acquired using a single camera to a stereoscopic video movie. The method comprises generating stereoscopic pairs comprising, for each frame in the original sequence, a transformed original frame selected from the monoscopic video movie and a transformed alternate frame. The transformed frames are generated from the original and the alternate frame.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method for remote identification of at least one gas includes sampling a plurality of spectral images of a scene wherein each spectral image is sampled at a different wavelength, providing a reference spectral image, and generating a spatial displacement expression by detecting the spatial misregistration in at least one region of the spectral images between the reference spectral image and at least one of the plurality of spectral images. At least one reference spatial displacement expression is provided corresponding to at least one gas, and at least one identification process is implemented to identify at least one gas. The identification process employs the generated spatial displacement expression and the at least one reference spatial displacement expression.

Abstract: A method for reducing the effects of background radiation introduced into gaseous plume spectral data obtained by an aerial imaging sensor, includes capturing spectral data of a gaseous plume with its obscured background along a first line of observation and capturing a second image of the previously obscured background along a different line of observation. The parallax shift of the plume enables the visual access needed to capture the radiometric data emanating exclusively from the background. The images are then corresponded on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce a mapping. An image-processing algorithm is applied to the mapped images to reducing the effects of background radiation and derive information about the content of the plume.

Abstract: The invention is a method for converting a monoscopic video movie passively acquired using a single camera to a stereoscopic video movie. The method comprises generating stereoscopic pairs comprising, for each frame in the original sequence, a transformed original frame selected from the monoscopic video movie and a transformed alternate frame. The transformed frames are generated from the original and the alternate frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a series of stereoscopic pairs of images that can be displayed one after the other as a stereoscopic movie. The sequence of stereoscopic pairs is derived from a sequence of consecutive images of a scene that is obtained by standard techniques using standard equipment. A first image of a pair of images comprising the right and left images of each frame of the stereoscopic series of images is selected from the original sequence of images. Its stereo partner is either selected from the original sequence and/or is generated by transforming images selected from the original sequence of images.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a series of stereoscopic pairs of images that can be displayed one after the other as a stereoscopic movie. The sequence of stereoscopic pairs is derived from a sequence of consecutive images of a scene that is obtained by standard techniques using standard equipment. A first image of a pair of images comprising the right and left images of each frame of the stereoscopic series of images is selected from the original sequence of images. Its stereo partner is either selected from the original sequence and/or is generated by transforming images selected from the original sequence of images.