Abstract: Near and far imagers image close-in and far-out targets over relatively wider and relatively narrower imaging fields of view, respectively. An aiming assembly directs to a target a visible aiming light pattern having an aiming light spot and a pair of collinear aiming light lines. The aiming light spot is substantially centered between the aiming light lines. A controller determines a distance to the target based on a position of the aiming light spot in the imaging field of view of a default one of the imagers, selects at least one of the imagers based on the determined distance, and enables both the close-in and the far-out targets to be positioned substantially entirely within the respective imaging field of view of the selected imager.

Abstract: A pallet building apparatus for automatically building a pallet load of pallet load article units onto a pallet support including a frame defining a pallet building base, at least one articulated robot to transport and place the pallet load article units, a controller to control articulated robot motion and effect therewith a pallet load build, at least one three-dimensional, time of flight, camera to generate three-dimensional imaging of the pallet support and pallet load build, wherein the controller registers, from the three-dimensional camera, real time three-dimensional imaging data embodying different corresponding three-dimensional images of the pallet support and pallet load build, to determine, in real time, from the corresponding real time three-dimensional imaging data, a pallet support variance or article unit variance and generate in real time an articulated robot motion signal, the articulated robot motion signal being generated real time so as to be performed real time by the at least one artic

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging systems and methods are disclosed for use in commercial trailer loading. In various aspects, a 3D-depth camera is configured and oriented in a direction to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A depth-detection application (app) executing on one more processors determines, based on the 3D image data, a void data region, and a floor data region within the 3D image data. Based on the determination of the void data region and the floor data region, the depth-detection app generates an out-of-range indicator that indicates that a wall (e.g., a package wall) situated at a rear section of the vehicle storage area is not detected. The determination that a package wall is not detected causes a dashboard app to modify a graphical representation of the capacity of the vehicle storage area.

Abstract: A mobile device with edge activation is provided. The mobile device comprises: a housing; a data capture component; an actuator disposed on a side of the housing and configured to activate the data capture component when actuated; a display, disposed within the housing; a touch screen disposed on the display; a tactile indicator at the housing between the actuator and the touch screen; and, an activation area of the touch screen, adjacent the tactile indicator, the activation area configured to initiate a digital location for activating the data capture component when touch input is received at the activation area.

Abstract: A method of recovering label positions in an imaging controller includes: receiving (i) a definition of a plane containing edges of the shelf, and (ii) a plurality of initial label indicators having locations on the plane; assigning the initial label indicators among a plurality of candidate subsets each representing a single physical label; for each candidate subset of initial indicators: generating, for each of a plurality of projection depths relative to the plane, a set of projections of the initial indicators in the candidate subset; determining an aggregate surface area for each set of projections; selecting, as a recovered depth for the candidate subset, one of the projection depths corresponding to the minimum aggregate surface area; and generating a recovered position for the candidate subset based on the recovered depth; and storing the recovered positions.

Abstract: A computing device for generating a navigational path for a mobile automation apparatus includes: a memory storing, for each of a plurality of pairs of poses having predetermined orientations, a group of pre-computed path segments, each path segment traversing the pair of poses and corresponding to one of a set of entry poses and one of a set of exit poses; a navigational controller configured to: obtain a coarse path defined by a sequence of guide poses each having one of the predetermined orientations, the coarse path having a start location and an end location; for each successive pair of the guide poses, retrieve a selected one of the path segments from memory based on orientations of (i) the pair of guide poses, (ii) a preceding guide pose, and (iii) a following guide pose; and generate a final path for navigation by the apparatus by combining the selected path segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving RFID coverage using an antenna array having an adaptive antenna beam. The apparatus includes an RFID reader including an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements. Subsets of the plurality of antenna elements are selectively activating in order to direct an antenna beam to communicate with at least one RFID tag. The method includes transmitting an interrogation signal from an antenna array by activating one or more subsets of a plurality of antenna elements forming the antenna array. In this way, the interrogation signal is directed thereby improving antenna coverage.

Abstract: Ultrasonic locationing interleaved with alternate audio functions includes a plurality of transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals. A backend controller schedules the ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals from each transmitter. The backend controller can characterize an interference effect of defined interference parameters for each alternate audio signal, with respect to the ultrasonic bursts, and modify interleave scheduling of the ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals in accordance with the respective interference effect. A mobile device can receive the ultrasonic bursts for locationing of the mobile device, while a user or other device that can act on information in the alternate audio signals. Input from a user to an interface device can trigger the backend controller to schedule an alternate audio signal containing information related to the input.

Abstract: A client device and method for analysis of a predetermined set of parameters associated with a radio coupling to a WLAN is provided. The client device includes a memory and a radio coupled to at least one processor. The at least one processor executes in the memory a first client Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) stack having a plurality of layers configured to couple the radio to a WLAN. The at least one processor also executes in the memory a second client WLAN stack emulating the plurality of layers of the first client WLAN stack. The at least one processor is configured to receive, at the second client WLAN stack, data from the plurality of layers of the first client WLAN stack and analyze a predetermined set of WLAN parameters of the client device based on the data received from the plurality of layers of the first client WLAN stack.

Abstract: A method of dynamic path generation in a navigational controller includes: generating (i) a plurality of paths extending from a starting location to a goal location, and (ii) a cost for each of the paths; selecting, based on the costs, an optimal path for execution from the plurality of paths; storing a subset of the costs in a cost history queue; responsive to detecting an obstacle during execution of the optimal path, retrieving one of the costs from the cost history queue; determining an initial re-planning search space based on the cost retrieved from the cost history queue; and initiating generation of a re-planned path within the initial re-planning search space.

Abstract: A technique for non-echo pulsed ranging of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of emitters within the environment transmitting signal pulses of a predefined frequency to a mobile device that can receive a signal pulse, convert the signal pulse into a digital waveform, store the digital waveform into a buffer having a predetermined length of time, and analyze the digital waveform to detect a signal pulse at the predefined frequency. If a signal pulse is detected, the mobile device can re-analyze the digital waveform that was stored in the buffer to see if another signal pulse can be detected within the waveform, indicating the existence of a reflected signal. If another signal pulse is detected, the mobile device can select the signal pulse that was received first in time, i.e. the direct signal, for use in ranging of the mobile device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is an imaging engine including: a first imaging assembly having a first FOV; a second imaging assembly having a second FOV; and an aiming assembly configured to emit an aiming light pattern, the aiming light pattern including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion configured to correlate with the first FOV, the second portion configured to correlate with the second FOV, wherein the aiming light pattern is configured such that a combined power of any part of the aiming light pattern encompassed by a 7 mrad cone, as measured from the aiming assembly, is less than or equal to 1 mW, and the total combined power of the entire aiming light pattern is greater than 1 mW.

Abstract: A tag having a fixed physical location comprising a processor, a memory storing a first identifier, and a wireless communication interface configured to broadcast a first transmission including the first identifier. The processor is configured to receive, from the wireless communication interface, second identifiers of neighboring tags. The processor then configured to store the second identifiers of the neighboring tags in the memory and then modify the first transmission of the first identifier to include the second identifiers of the neighboring tags.

Abstract: First and second photodetectors having first and second collection areas receive return laser light that is reflected and scattered from a target, and generate first and second analog electrical output signals having first and second magnitudes. The second collection area is in close proximity to the first collection area. The first output signal is processed to obtain information related to the target. The first and the second output signals are processed, preferably by determining a ratio of the second magnitude to the first magnitude. A working distance to the target is determined based on the determined ratio. One or more reading parameters by which the target is electro-optically read are adjusted based on the determined working distance.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for segmenting and dimensioning objects are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein includes determining a first sensor of a plurality of sensors toward which a vehicle is moving based on image data generating by the plurality of sensors; designating the first sensor as a reference sensor; combining the image data from the plurality of sensors to generate combined image data representative of the vehicle and an object carried by the vehicle, the combining based on reference sensor; generating a plurality of clusters based on the combined image data; and identifying a first one of the clusters nearest the reference sensor as the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods associated with optical data capture. In some embodiment, the present invention is a chassis for use in an imaging apparatus having an imaging sensor positioned fixedly relative to the chassis and a window. The chassis includes a cavity; a slot extending through a cavity wall, the cavity wall defining at least a portion of the cavity; and a lens assembly having a protrusion, the lens assembly being positioned within the cavity such that the protrusion is positioned within the slot, where the lens assembly is fixedly secured to the chassis only via a hardened adhesive.

Abstract: A mobile device captures information from a document. The mobile device selects a template stored in a memory of the mobile device. The selected template describes data content of at least one document. The mobile device then captures an image of a document, determines that the image corresponds to one document described by the selected template by verifying that at least one first region in the image corresponds to a region of the document described by the selected template, identifies at least one region in the image that corresponds with a region in the document described by the selected template, and processes information in the identified region in the image. The mobile device then aggregates application specific information from the processed information and presents the aggregated application specific information to a user program operating on the mobile device.