Abstract: A proximity sensor including a structure suspending at least one lens above a circuit board, light emitters operable to project light beams through the lens along a common projection plane, light detectors operable to detect amounts of light arriving through the lens at the detector, wherein an object in the projection plane reflects light from an emitter to one or more of the detectors, and wherein each emitter-detector pair, including one of the emitters and one of the detectors, when synchronously activated, is expected to generate a greater detection signal at the activated detector than the other detectors, were they to be synchronously activated with any of the emitters, when the object is located at a specific 2D location in the projection plane corresponding to the emitter-detector pair, and a processor identifying gestures performed by the object based on amounts of light detected by the detector of each emitter-detector pair.

Abstract: An augmented-reality system is combined with a surveying system to make measurement and/or layout at a construction site more efficient. A reflector can be mounted to a wearable device having an augmented-reality system. A total station can be used to track a reflector, and truth can be transferred to the wearable device while an obstruction is between the total station and the reflector. Further, a target can be used to orient a local map of a wearable device to an environment based on a distance between the target and the wearable device.

Abstract: An augmented-reality system is combined with a surveying system to make measurement and/or layout at a construction site more efficient. A reflector can be mounted to a wearable device having an augmented-reality system. A total station can be used to track a reflector, and truth can be transferred to the wearable device while an obstruction is between the total station and the reflector. Further, a target can be used to orient a local map of a wearable device to an environment based on a distance between the target and the wearable device.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for monitoring railway track geometry. In one aspect, some such tools and techniques can determine a location of a platform along a railway, capture one or more images of the railway, and/or analyze the rail configuration at that point. In another aspect, some solutions might employ photogrammetric techniques to analyze the rail configuration and thereafter store data about the rail configuration, perhaps correlated with the location of the images, in a data store.

Abstract: A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location includes providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor and positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location. The method also includes interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track and determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags. The method further includes determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.

Abstract: A method of surveying may include determining a location of a surveying tool, determining a location of a position of interest, detecting an RFID tag associated with the position of interest, and decoding information stored in the RFID tag. The information stored in the RFID tag may include a reference to information stored remote from the RFID tag.

Abstract: A method of surveying may include determining a location of a surveying tool, determining a location of a position of interest, detecting an RFID tag associated with the position of interest, and decoding information stored in the RFID tag. The information stored in the RFID tag may include a reference to information stored remote from the RFID tag.

Abstract: A method of surveying includes detecting an RFID tag associated with a position of interest and decoding information stored in the RFID tag to extract data associated with the position of interest. The method also includes presenting the data associated with the position of interest to an operator of a surveying tool.

Abstract: A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location includes providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor and positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location. The method also includes interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track and determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags. The method further includes determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for monitoring railway track geometry. In one aspect, some such tools and techniques can determine a location of a platform along a railway, capture one or more images of the railway, and/or analyze the rail configuration at that point. In another aspect, some solutions might employ photogrammetric techniques to analyze the rail configuration and thereafter store data about the rail configuration, perhaps correlated with the location of the images, in a data store.

Abstract: A method of surveying includes detecting an RFID tag associated with a position of interest and decoding information stored in the RFID tag to extract data associated with the position of interest. The method also includes presenting the data associated with the position of interest to an operator of a surveying tool.

Abstract: A Q-switched laser, which is pumped by at least one pump source (8), providing pulses. The laser comprises two mirrors (3,5) providing a laser cavity, in which a gain medium (2), a saturable absorber (4) and a controllable active modulator (6) is situated. Loss can be introduced in the modulator (6) by a control device (10). In a first phase, said control device (10) introduces loss in the active modulator, setting a threshold inversion density band to a level (B) high enough to be above the actual inversion density in the gain medium means. In a second phase, the control device lowers said loss instantly, which will lower the threshold inversion density band to a level (A) lower than the actual inversion density in order to activate emission of said Q-switched pulse.

Abstract: A working machine which is intended for demolishing and excavating work comprises a chassis, an upper part carried by said chassis and arranged for rotational movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, and an arm arrangement carried by the upper part and including a jib structure which is connected at one end thereof to the upper part and the other end of which carries, via an intermediate arm, a fitting for a tool, such as an excavator bucket, a chiseling device or like tool. The jib structure and the intermediate arm are connected to the upper part and to each other respectively via pivots and can be pivoted in a vertical plane by means of first and second pressure piston-cylinder devices active between the upper part and the jib structure and between the jib structure and the intermediate arm respectively. The jib structure is divided into a first, short jib section which is pivotally connected to the upper part, and a second, longer jib section which is pivotally connected to the first jib section.