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 control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has one or more imagers having a field of view for imaging an area of roadway mark surface encompassing the roadway mark and a computer having a machine learning network to process the roadway mark image and position 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 bulk loader system is disclosed that may include a conveyor unit in connection with a fuel-powered engine powering a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor may be used to operate the conveyor unit. The system may be configured to function while being mounted on a bed of a truck or be operated as a stand-alone unit. The unit may be sized such that an operator can stand on the deck of the truck along with the unit. The fuel-hydraulic powered motor can enable the conveyor unit to operate at variable speeds. The conveyor unit can be adjustable to facilitate controlling the direction of the material being transported via the conveyor. Some embodiments can include operating the hydraulics of the motor from the Power Take-Off (“PTO”) of the truck. Some embodiments can facilitate operation of the system in a hot or other harsh environment.

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 bulk loader system is disclosed that may include a conveyor unit in connection with a fuel-powered engine powering a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor may be used to operate the conveyor unit. The system may be configured to function while being mounted on a bed of a truck or be operated as a stand-alone unit. The unit may be sized such that an operator can stand on the deck of the truck along with the unit. The fuel-hydraulic powered motor can enable the conveyor unit to operate at variable speeds. The conveyor unit can be adjustable to facilitate controlling the direction of the material being transported via the conveyor. Some embodiments can include operating the hydraulics of the motor from the Power Take-Off (“PTO”) of the truck. Some embodiments can facilitate operation of the system in a hot or other harsh environment.

Abstract: A bulk loader system is disclosed that may include a conveyor unit in connection with a fuel-powered engine powering a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor may be used to operate the conveyor unit. The system may be configured to function while being mounted on a bed of a truck or be operated as a stand-alone unit. The unit may be sized such that an operator can stand on the deck of the truck along with the unit. The fuel-hydraulic powered motor can enable the conveyor unit to operate at variable speeds. The conveyor unit can be adjustable to facilitate controlling the direction of the material being transported via the conveyor. Some embodiments can include operating the hydraulics of the motor from the Power Take-Off (“PTO”) of the truck. Some embodiments can facilitate operation of the system in a hot or other harsh environment.

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 bulk loader system is disclosed that may include a conveyor unit in connection with a fuel-powered engine powering a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor may be used to operate the conveyor unit. The system may be configured to function while being mounted on a bed of a truck or be operated as a stand-alone unit. The unit may be sized such that an operator can stand on the deck of the truck along with the unit. The fuel-hydraulic powered motor can enable the conveyor unit to operate at variable speeds. The conveyor unit can be adjustable to facilitate controlling the direction of the material being transported via the conveyor. Some embodiments can include operating the hydraulics of the motor from the Power Take-Off (“PTO”) of the truck. Some embodiments can facilitate operation of the system in a hot or other harsh environment.

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: 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: 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.