Abstract: An apparatus is provided for maintaining control of a machine which produces thrust, rotation or other outputs in response to input signals. The apparatus has two distinct parts, namely the operator input portion and the output portion. The operator input portion consists of the primary thrust, rotation and other output control, and the input signal generation, signal maintenance and signal resume control. Through these controls, the operator enters the desired operation at conditions and levels for rotation, thrust, and other input signals. The output portion consists of an information processing and control portion and the power units for rotation, thrust and other outputs generated from the machine. The information processing and control system interprets all of the desired operational conditions and levels from the input portion and sends commands to the thrust, rotation and other power units to produce the desired outputs in response to the input signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for maintaining control of a machine which produces thrust, rotation or other outputs in response to input signals. The apparatus has two distinct parts, namely the operator input portion and the output portion. The operator input portion consists of the primary thrust, rotation and other output control, and the input signal generation, signal maintenance and signal resume control. Through these controls, the operator enters the desired operation at conditions and levels for rotation, thrust, and other input signals. The output portion consists of an information processing and control portion and the power units for rotation, thrust and other outputs generated from the machine. The information processing and control system interprets all of the desired operational conditions and levels from the input portion and sends commands to the thrust, rotation and other power units to produce the desired outputs in response to the input signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.

Abstract: An inductive displacement sensor includes an oscillator circuit that is characterized by primary and secondary pairs of coils disposed on opposing surfaces of adjacent optical segments. Each coil in both coil pairs is alternately positioned along a respective axes perpendicular to a segment displacement axis. The secondary coils are respectively tuned to frequencies above and below the oscillator circuit resonant frequency. Any motion between segments along the displacement axis induces a detectable change in phase between the current and voltage of the oscillator signal.