Abstract: A control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has an electromagnetic radiation source attached to the marker for producing a mark pattern on the roadway surface. An imager permits the control system to image both the pre-existing roadway surface mark and the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. A computer is responsive to the imager for producing an error signal based upon the location difference between (a) the image of the pre-existing roadway surface mark and (b) the image of the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. An actuator is responsive to the error signal for positioning the marker over the pre-existing.

Abstract: A system for striping a roadway marking onto roadway surface either for rehabilitating the current roadway marking or duplicating a previously recorded roadway marking with a computer having a machine learning program to process the roadway marking image and position the marker at the desired roadway marking location.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A field programmable controller for controlling the components of roadway marking equipment mounted on a vehicle. The controller includes a general-purpose computer and a microcontroller for controlling and monitoring roadway marking equipment and which further maintains the operational state of the roadway marking equipment during reprogramming of the microcontroller. A wireless transceiver in communication with the internet for receiving software update data is also included. Finally, the controller has a configurable state machine responsive to the microcontroller and configured for: defining the start-up operational state of the components; maintaining a predetermined operational state of the components during the time the computer and microcontroller is being reprogrammed with software update data; and maintaining the operational state of the components for normal operation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has an electromagnetic radiation source attached to the marker for producing a mark pattern on the roadway surface. An imager permits the control system to image both the pre-existing roadway surface mark and the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. A computer is responsive to the imager for producing an error signal based upon the location difference between (a) the image of the pre-existing roadway surface mark and (b) the image of the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has an electromagnetic radiation source attached to the marker for producing a mark pattern on the roadway surface. An imager permits the control system to image both the pre-existing roadway surface mark and the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. A computer is responsive to the imager for producing an error signal based upon the location difference between (a) the image of the pre-existing roadway surface mark and (b) the image of the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. An actuator is responsive to the error signal for positioning the marker over the pre-existing roadway mark.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has an electromagnetic radiation source attached to the marker for producing a mark pattern on the roadway surface. An imager permits the control system to image both the pre-existing roadway surface mark and the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. A computer is responsive to the imager for producing an error signal based upon the location difference between (a) the image of the pre-existing roadway surface mark and (b) the image of the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. An actuator is responsive to the error signal for positioning the marker over the pre-existing roadway mark.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating, inspecting, or placing marks on a roadway. The apparatus includes a GPS-based machine vision locator for sampling discrete geographical location data of a pre-existing roadway mark evident on the roadway. A computer may determine a continuous smooth geographical location function fitted to the sampled geographical location data. A marker is responsive to the GPS-based locator and geographical location function for replicating automatically the pre-existing roadway mark onto the roadway. The apparatus is typically part of a moving vehicle. A related method is disclosed for locating, inspecting, and placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. A similar apparatus can be used to guide a vehicle having a snow plow along a snow-covered roadway, or a paving machine along an unpaved roadway surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating, inspecting, or placing marks on a roadway. The apparatus includes a GPS-based machine vision locator for sampling discrete geographical location data of a pre-existing roadway mark evident on the roadway. A computer may determine a continuous smooth geographical location function fitted to the sampled geographical location data. And a marker is responsive to the GPS-based locator and geographical location function for replicating automatically the pre-existing roadway mark onto the roadway. The apparatus is typically part of a moving vehicle. A related method is disclosed for locating, inspecting, and placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. A similar apparatus can be used to guide a vehicle having a snow plow along a snow-covered roadway, or a paving machine along an unpaved roadway surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for determining the geographical location of a roadway mark or portion thereof not meeting roadway mark standards data. The system includes a GPS antenna; a GPS receiver responsive to the GPS antenna for determining the geographical location of the GPS antenna; and a system responsive to the GPS receiver. The system (a) determines the GPS geographical location of the roadway mark or portion thereof, (b) determines characteristic data of the roadway mark or portion thereof, (c) inputs roadway mark standards data, (d) compares the roadway characteristic data with the roadway mark standards data, and (e) determines the geographical location of the roadway mark or portion thereof based upon the comparison of the roadway characteristic and standards data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for determining the geographical location of a roadway mark or portion thereof not meeting roadway mark standards data. The system includes a GPS antenna; a GPS receiver responsive to the GPS antenna for determining the geographical location of the GPS antenna; and a system responsive to the GPS receiver. The system (a) determines the GPS geographical location of the roadway mark or portion thereof, (b) determines characteristic data of the roadway mark or portion thereof, (c) inputs roadway mark standards data, (d) compares the roadway characteristic data with the roadway mark standards data, and (e) determines the geographical location of the roadway mark or portion thereof based upon the comparison of the roadway characteristic and standards data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for determining characteristics of a roadway mark at a remote location. The system includes a vehicle having at least one imager for producing image data containing at least one actual roadway mark evident on a roadway surface. A GPS antenna is mounted on the vehicle. A GPS receiver is responsive to the GPS antenna for determining a GPS location of the GPS antenna. An apparatus responsive to the imager and the GPS receiver determines a GPS location of the roadway mark and filters and compresses the image data, the filtered and compressed image data containing the image data of the roadway mark. An apparatus communicates the filtered and compressed image data to the remote location for analyzing the roadway mark characteristics from the image data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for determining characteristics of a roadway mark at a remote location. The system includes a vehicle having at least one imager for producing image data containing at least one actual roadway mark evident on a roadway surface. A GPS antenna is mounted on the vehicle. A GPS receiver is responsive to the GPS antenna for determining a GPS location of the GPS antenna. An apparatus responsive to the imager and the GPS receiver determines a GPS location of the roadway mark and filters and compresses the image data, the filtered and compressed image data containing the image data of the roadway mark. An apparatus communicates the filtered and compressed image data to the remote location for analyzing the roadway mark characteristics from the image data.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. The apparatus includes a GPS-based locator for sampling discrete geographical location data of a pre-existing roadway mark evident on the roadway before resurfacing. A computer determines a continuous smooth geographical location function fitted to the sampled geographical location data. And a marker is responsive to the GPS-based locator and geographical location function for replicating automatically the pre-existing roadway mark onto the resurfaced roadway. The apparatus is typically part of a moving vehicle. A related method is disclosed for placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. A similar apparatus can be used to guide a vehicle having a snow plow along a snow covered roadway, or a paving machine along an unpaved roadway surface.