Abstract: An item of interest may be located in a scene image by scanning a reference image containing the item (extracted from a previous image of the scene for example) over the scene image and, for each position of the reference image, correlating corresponding pairs of pixels from the reference and scene images. Herein, to avoid inaccuracies due to bright spots say affecting a small portion of the scene image, for each position of the reference image, all the pixel pairs are correlated and an average similarity value assigned to that reference image position.

Abstract: A releasable connection device for coupling a bucket 9 to a vehicle comprises a support 2 attached to the lifting vehicle, the support comprising two arms 4, 6 and a channeled member 8 connected between the two arms. Two plates 14, 16 are attached to the bucket 9 and have a bar 18 connected between them. In use, the bar 18 fits into the channelled member 8 and the bucket 9 and support 2 are secured by two hydraulically operated locking bolts 22 attached to the support 2, which pass through holes 20 in plates 14 and 16. When connected, the bucket and support may be manoeuvred by means of hydraulic rams attached to the support.