Abstract: A method for mapping acoustic properties of water bottom sediments includes penetrating a piling into the water bottom sediments at a first of a plurality of locations. A first distributed acoustic sensor is inserted adjacent to the first piling. A second piling is driven into sediments at a second location. Acoustic signals are detected at the first acoustic sensor while penetrating the second piling. The detecting is indexed to a depth of the second piling as it is driven. A second acoustic sensor is inserted adjacent to the second piling. Penetrating a piling, detecting acoustic signals at each acoustic sensor and inserting a sensor are repeated until a piling is driven at all the locations. The signals are used to generate a map of properties of the sediments bounded by the plurality of locations. The properties comprise attenuation excluding effects of diffractors in the sediments.

Abstract: A sub-bottom geophysical imaging apparatus includes a carriage assembly having at least one acoustic transmitter, and at least one acoustic receiver proximate the transmitter. A position determining transponder is mounted on the carriage. A plurality of position transponders is disposed at spaced apart positions to communicate with the transponder mounted on the carriage. A pair of tracks is provided for moving the carriage to selected positions above the bottom. Electrodes are provided for a resistivity sensor and a shear acoustic transmitter and receiver disposed in at least one of the pair of tracks. A signal processing unit is configured to coherently stack and beam steer signals detected by the line array, the electrodes and the shear transmitter and receiver. The signal processing unit is configured to record signals detected by the line array of acoustic receivers, the electrodes and the shear acoustic transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A method for locating an object in a facility includes determining position with respect to time of a material handling device associated with a movable vehicle within the facility Signal strength of a signal emitted by at least one identification tag affixed to the object is measured with respect to time. A time that the object is deposited at a fixed position by the material handling device is determined from the measured signal strength. The location in the facility of the fixed position is established using the determined time and the determined position with respect to time.

Abstract: A method for determining position of an aircraft with reference to a location on the ground includes transmitting an acoustic signal from a position on the aircraft to an array of spaced apart acoustic sensors proximate the location. The method includes at least one of (i) determining a time difference of arrival of the acoustic signal between each of the acoustic sensors and a reference acoustic sensor and (ii) determining an arrival time of the acoustic signal at each of the spaced apart acoustic sensors. The position of the aircraft is determined from the time differences of arrival and/or the arrival times.

Abstract: A method for imaging non-specular seismic events as well as correlating non-specular events with physically measurable quantites in a volume of Earth's subsurface. Includes entering as input to a computer signals detected by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed above and/or within the volume in response to actuation of at least one seismic energy source above and/or within the volume. Parameter analysis is performed to populate the initial model with point-wise, best-fit wavefront travel-time approximations. Imaging is performed to obtain undifferentiated specular and non-specular representations of the volume. Specular boundaries are mapped using the imaged volume and using the boundaries to form a model of specular components of the volume. Beamforming is used to characterize seismic attributes associated with specular and non-specular reflections as separate and differentiated data sets.

Abstract: A sub-bottom geophysical imaging apparatus includes a carriage assembly having at least one acoustic transmitter, and at least one acoustic receiver proximate the transmitter. A position determining transponder is mounted on the carriage. A plurality of position transponders is disposed at spaced apart positions to communicate with the transponder mounted on the carriage. A pair of tracks is provided for moving the carriage to selected positions above the bottom. Electrodes are provided for a resistivity sensor and a shear acoustic transmitter and receiver disposed in at least one of the pair of tracks. A signal processing unit is configured to coherently stack and beam steer signals detected by the line array, the electrodes and the shear transmitter and receiver. The signal processing unit is configured to record signals detected by the line array of acoustic receivers, the electrodes and the shear acoustic transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A tool for operating handles and buttons includes a tool body comprising a handle for insertion of human fingers. A first pushing surface is disposed at one end of the tool body, and a hook is formed in the tool body.

Abstract: A method for determining a spatial position of an object includes obtaining an image with at least one camera. The object is identified in the image. At least one of a pixel size of the object in the image and a pixel offset of the object from a center of an image plane of the at least one camera is determined. A distance between the object and the camera image plane is determined using either the pixel size and the pixel offset. The spatial position is determined using the distance and at least one known distance between the object and another element of the image.

Abstract: A method for determining a spatial position of an object includes obtaining an image with at least one camera. The object is identified in the image. At least one of a pixel size of the object in the image and a pixel offset of the object from a center of an image plane of the at least one camera is determined. A distance between the object and the camera image plane is determined using either the pixel size and the pixel offset. The spatial position is determined using the distance and at least one known distance between the object and another element of the image.

Abstract: A method for imaging non-specular seismic events as well as correlating non-specular events with physically measurable quantites in a volume of Earth's subsurface. Includes entering as input to a computer signals detected by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed above and/or within the volume in response to actuation of at least one seismic energy source above and/or within the volume. Parameter analysis is performed to populate the initial model with point-wise, best-fit wavefront travel-time approximations. Imaging is performed to obtain undifferentiated specular and non-specular representations of the volume. Specular boundaries are mapped using the imaged volume and using the boundaries to form a model of specular components of the volume. Beamforming is used to characterize seismic attributes associated with specular and non-specular reflections as separate and differentiated data sets.

Abstract: A method for determining position of an aircraft with reference to a location on the ground includes transmitting an acoustic signal from a position on the aircraft to an array of spaced apart acoustic sensors proximate the location. The method includes at least one of (i) determining a time difference of arrival of the acoustic signal between each of the acoustic sensors and a reference acoustic sensor and (ii) determining an arrival time of the acoustic signal at each of the spaced apart acoustic sensors. The position of the aircraft is determined from the time differences of arrival and/or the arrival times.

Abstract: A method for imaging the Earth's subsurface includes taking summed recordings of signals acquired by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed above the volume in response to repeated actuations of a seismic energy source. A travel time of seismic energy is determined from a position of the source to a selected image point in the volume and from the image point to each seismic sensor. A time-delayed scanline gather is generated from the travel times using a model of spatial distribution of acoustic properties of formations in the volume. A template image of backscattered energy from the image point is generated based on the model. The flattened scanline gather is singular value decomposed. The template image is projected onto the decomposed time-delayed scanline gather. Components from the projection are used to determine signal and interference. Weights are calculated for beamforming of the determined signal component.

Abstract: A method for locating diffractors in subsurface formations includes actuating at least two seismic energy sources at spaced apart locations. Seismic energy is detected in the formations resulting from actuation of the two sources. Signals corresponding to the detected seismic energy are processed to remove components related to direct arrivals from each source. Arrival times of seismic energy in the signals corresponding to energy diffracted from at least one diffractor are identified. The at least one is located diffractor in a plane using the identified arrival times.

Abstract: A method for seismic surveying includes disposing a plurality of seismic sensors in a selected pattern above an area of the Earth's subsurface. A seismic energy source is repeatedly actuated proximate the seismic sensors. A signal used to actuate the source comprises a linear chirp having a starting frequency and an ending frequency less than twice the starting frequency. Recorded signals are processed to generate an image corresponding to at least one point in the subsurface, the processing includes stacking recordings from each sensor for a plurality of actuations of the source, cross correlating the stacked signals with an expected signal generated by non linearities in the subsurface and beam steering a response of the seismic sensors such that the at least one point is equivalent to a focal point of a response of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A system for locating a mobile electronic device includes a plurality of acoustic transmitters arranged in a selected pattern within a volume. A first processor is in signal communication with each of the acoustic transmitters. The processor is programmed to drive each of the transmitters with a different coded signal. The signals are substantially decorrelated with each other. An electromagnetic signal transceiver is in signal communication with the processor. The processor is programmed to communicate a time reference signal to the mobile electronic device. The mobile device includes an acoustic receiver for detecting signals from the transmitters and an electromagnetic transceiver for receiving the time reference signal. The mobile device includes a second processor programmed for cross-correlating signals detected by the acoustic receiver with a replica of each of the different coded signals.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic geophysical surveying according to one aspect of the invention includes disposing a plurality of electromagnetic receivers in a selected pattern above an area of the Earth's subsurface to be evaluated. An electromagnetic source is repeatedly actuated proximate the electromagnetic receivers. Signals generated by the receivers, indexed in time with respect to each actuation of the at least one electromagnetic energy source, are recorded. The recorded signals are processed to generate an image corresponding to at least one point in the subsurface. The processing includes stacking recordings from each receiver for a plurality of actuations of the sources and beam steering a response of the receivers such that the at least one point is equivalent to a focal point of a response of the plurality of receivers.

Abstract: A method for imaging the Earth's subsurface includes taking summed recordings of signals acquired by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed above the volume in response to repeated actuations of a seismic energy source. A travel time of seismic energy is determined from a position of the source to a selected image point in the volume and from the image point to each seismic sensor. A time-delayed scanline gather is generated from the travel times using a model of spatial distribution of acoustic properties of formations in the volume. A template image of backscattered energy from the image point is generated based on the model. The flattened scanline gather is singular value decomposed. The template image is projected onto the decomposed time-delayed scanline gather. Components from the projection are used to determine signal and interference. Weights are calculated for beamforming of the determined signal component.

Abstract: A method for locating diffractors in subsurface formations includes actuating at least two seismic energy sources at spaced apart locations. Seismic energy is detected in the formations resulting from actuation of the two sources. Signals corresponding to the detected seismic energy are processed to remove components related to direct arrivals from each source. Arrival times of seismic energy in the signals corresponding to energy diffracted from at least one diffractor are identified. The at least one is located diffractor in a plane using the identified arrival times.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic geophysical surveying according to one aspect of the invention includes disposing a plurality of electromagnetic receivers in a selected pattern above an area of the Earth's subsurface to be evaluated. An electromagnetic source is repeatedly actuated proximate the electromagnetic receivers. Signals generated by the receivers, indexed in time with respect to each actuation of the at least one electromagnetic energy source, are recorded. The recorded signals are processed to generate an image corresponding to at least one point in the subsurface. The processing includes stacking recordings from each receiver for a plurality of actuations of the sources and beam steering a response of the receivers such that the at least one point is equivalent to a focal point of a response of the plurality of receivers.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic geophysical surveying according to one aspect of the invention includes disposing a plurality of electromagnetic receivers in a selected pattern above an area of the Earth's subsurface to be evaluated. An electromagnetic source is repeatedly actuated proximate the electromagnetic receivers. Signals generated by the receivers, indexed in time with respect to each actuation of the at least one electromagnetic energy source, are recorded. The recorded signals are processed to generate an image corresponding to at least one point in the subsurface. The processing includes stacking recordings from each receiver for a plurality of actuations of the sources and beam steering a response of the receivers such that the at least one point is equivalent to a focal point of a response of the plurality of receivers.