Abstract: Predictive tractor path adjustments improve implement tracking performance by enabling agricultural autopilots to anticipate the effect of curves, slopes, changing soil conditions and other influences.

Abstract: A method of determining an azimuth and elevation of a point in an image is provided. The method comprises positioning an imaging device at a first position and acquiring a first image. The method also comprises rotating the imaging device and acquiring a second image at the first position. The first image includes the point, and a portion of the first image overlaps a portion of the second image. The method also includes determining correspondences between features in overlapping portions of the images, determining a first transformation between coordinates of the first image and coordinates of the second image based on the correspondences, and determining a second transformation between the coordinates of the second image and a local coordinate frame. The method also includes computing the azimuth and elevation of the point based on the first transformation and the second transformation.

Abstract: A method for tracking an entity is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of messages conveying an identification of an entity are received using a wireless identification component. A geographic location of the wireless identification component is determined by a position determining component wherein the geographic location describes a respective geographic location of the wireless identification component when each of the plurality of messages is received. A geographic position of the entity is determined based upon a known spatial relationship between the position determining component and the wireless identification component.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing historical data in an asset management environment are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method generates an asset information report from a database, wherein the asset information report comprises at least a portion of real-time information about the asset when the real-time information about the asset is available. In addition, the asset information report is augmented by extrapolating at least a portion of historical asset information stored at the database when at least a portion of the real-time information is not available.

Abstract: An integrated field-portable device comprising an image capture device configured to capture an image of a survey target area and a position determination system for determining a position of the integrated field-portable device, and an annotation system configured to access the image and associate the image with the position of at least one target in the survey target area and to associate with the image an instance of additional data comprising an identifier of the survey target area. The integrated field-portable device further comprises a storage system configured to generate a digital representation when the image is captured comprising the image, the position of the at least one target and the instance of additional data.

Abstract: A collaborative sharing workgroup comprising a plurality of assets is disclosed. An integrated manager module is fixedly coupled with each asset, the integrated manager module comprising an asset systems monitor; a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) position information monitor; and an environment information monitor. In addition, a communications module is fixedly coupled with each asset. The communications module automatically shares information from each integrated manager module to each of the plurality of assets in the workgroup and similarly receives the shared information from each of the plurality of assets in the workgroup. A user guidance module is also coupled with each asset. The user guidance module utilizes the shared information to automatically update guidance information for an asset. Moreover, the user guidance module operates independently on each asset in a workgroup without utilizing a central managing device.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring wireless communication of survey sensors and controllers is recited. In one embodiment, a survey device controller is configured to receive a first wireless communication comprising a sequence indicating that a survey device is configured to participate in an automatic configuration process with the survey device controller. The system further comprises the survey device which is configured to generate a second wireless communication indicating the reception of a selection event to communicatively couple the survey device with the survey device controller. The survey device controller is further configured to automatically initiate a wireless communication connection comprising the survey device controller and the survey device in response to receiving the second wireless signal contemporaneous with receiving a signal which is generated by the survey device controller to communicatively couple the survey device controller with the survey device.

Abstract: In a survey operation, survey measurement data obtained at each location is transmitted in real time as the measurement is made to avoid the limitations of the disk or other storage medium used in saving the data, to avoid loss or corruption of the data prior to the disk being delivered to its final destination, and to allow users to immediately view the results of the measurements while the rovers are still out in the field and readily capable of redoing measurements or supplementing the results with additional measurement points.

Abstract: In a method of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference station integrity monitoring, network Real Time Kinematic (RTK) information is accessed for a location associated with a GNSS reference station. At least one aspect of GNSS information local to the location of the GNSS reference station is compared with a corresponding aspect of the network RTK information. The results of the comparing are monitored for indication of occurrence of compromise to operational integrity of the GNSS reference station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented using rover observations comprising code observations and carrier-phase observations of GNSS signals on at least two carrier frequencies over multiple epochs. Correction data is received for each of the epochs at least one code bias per satellite. Synthetic reference data is generated for each of the epochs from the correction data for a synthetic station location. A determination is made for each epoch whether a cycle slip has occurred. Upon determining that a cycle slip has occurred, values of any variables of a set of state variables which are affected by the cycle slip are reset. Each epoch of rover observations and correction data is used to estimate updated values for the set of state variables including a set of ambiguities and coordinates of a precise rover position.

Abstract: A lifting device sensor unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. A first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. A load monitor is coupled with the housing and is configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. A wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the sensor unit position, to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.

Abstract: A computer-implemented imaging process method includes generating a progression of images of a three-dimensional model and saving the images at a determined location, generating mark-up code for displaying image manipulation controls and for permitting display of the progression of images in response to user interaction with the image manipulation controls, and providing the images and mark-up code for use by a third-party application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the two-frequency ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each two-frequency ionospheric combination comprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residual carrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency and observations of a second frequency.

Abstract: In a method for requesting network-derived position data from a mobile geographic position aware receiver, a mobile geographic position aware receiver having a first IP address is communicatively coupled with a first port on a router. A wireless transceiver is communicatively coupled with a second port on the router. A wireless communication device is communicatively coupled with a third port on the router. A processor is communicatively coupled with the router; the processor for executing a communications access command sequence. The command sequence comprises: testing for a wireless network connectivity; contacting a source of position data if wireless network connectivity exists; and generating a data message to be sent via the wireless transceiver if the wireless network connectivity does not exist, the data message comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the router, an approximate current location of the mobile geographic position aware receiver, and a request for correction data.

Abstract: A method of operating a laser reference system orients a reference plane of laser light generated by a transmitter so compensation is made for rake angles between the first and second axes of the transmitter and first and second non-orthogonal alignment axes. The transmitter includes an optical system arranged to generate a laser beam, the optical system projecting said laser beam radially along a rotational arc defined about a central rotational axis, thereby substantially defining a reference plane of laser light, and a positioning arrangement, coupled to said optical system, for adjusting the angular orientation of the optical system with respect to a first transmitter axis and with respect to a second transmitter axis. Detectors are arranged to detect reception of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method of measuring an angle includes orienting a measurement device at a reference position characterized by a reference angle. A first panoramic image defined by a predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the first panoramic image includes an object. A first bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined and the measurement device is rotated to a measurement position characterized by a measurement angle. A second panoramic image defined by the predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the second panoramic image includes the object. A second bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined. The measurement angle is computed as a function of the first bearing and the second bearing.

Abstract: A fluid analyzing system wherein an electronic control module is coupled with an asset and a telematics device. The electronic control module initiates the acquisition of a sample of an asset's fluid and analyzes the sample in response to an analysis trigger. An asset management system located remotely from the asset and telematics device receives the results of the fluid analysis wirelessly via the telematics device.