Abstract: A computer-aided farming system having a first control system which receives data defining a plurality of parameters. The first control system responsively determines a plurality of nodes located at an agricultural field, and determines a condition status associated with each node. The system also has a second control system located on an agricultural machine which receives data defining the nodes and the condition status at each node. The second control system then plans a path as a function of the nodes, and determines a desired work operation relative to each node. A machine controller controls the agricultural machine to perform the desired work operation at each node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement on an earthworking machine to preserve a crown on the surface of a road, including determining the position of the crown on the road surface, choosing a sloped grade on one side of the crown, positioning the earthworking implement on the sloped grade so that a first end of the earthworking implement is on the road surface. The processor determines a desired position of a second end of the earthworking implement so that the second end overlaps the crown and the earthworking implement does not cut the crown.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic shootout game and more specifically to such a game intended to be played by two contestants disposed in facing relation on a prescribed shooting field. The game accurately simulates the 19th Century gunfighting practice and is completely controlled by a programmable micro-processor which includes audio and visual display to control and track the progress of the game during play. The guns include a radio frequency transmitter and antenna system which broadcasts the firing and successful hit modes by wireless communication with the computer which provides an instantaneous readout of such game functions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the profile of a curvilinear surface is provided. The apparatus includes a light source for substantially uniformly delivering radiant energy along an illumination plane substantially tangent to the curvilinear surface. The delivered radiant energy is optically imaged at a first image plane. A first portion of the delivered radiant energy is blocked by an optical field stop having an accurately straight reference profile edge portion, and a second portion of the imaged radiant energy is focused on a transducer located at a second image plane. The transducer produces a coded data signal in response to the focused radiant energy. A microprocessor receives the coded data signal, determines the deviation of the profile of the curvilinear surface from the reference profile edge portion, and produces a straightness signal in response to the determined deviation. Nonuniformities of the apparatus are automatically compensated for.

Abstract: An arc welding head suitable for robotic welding has a fiber optic bundle and remotely located laser light source which is imaged onto an end of the fiber optic bundle and optically linked to substantially a single fiber of the fiber optic bundle. The light source is then repetitively scanned across the coherent arrangement of fibers within the bundle, such that, a substantial portion of the transmitted light will be sequentially delivered to each individual fiber within a row of fibers and subsequently delivered to a workpiece. This arrangement provides a high signal to noise ratio making the laser light reflected from the workpiece easily distinguishable from the optical "noise" generated by the welding arc flash.