Abstract: Spatially variant apodization is a digital image processing technique for eliminating sidelobes produced by Fourier transform of finite data sequences without compromising mainlobe width. This process allows each sample or pixel in an image to receive its own frequency domain aperture amplitude weighting function from an infinite number of possible weighting functions. In its simplest form the weight is a function of the negative of the current sample divided by the sum of the neighboring samples, and the function is limited to a predetermined range such as the range between zero and one half.

Abstract: An automatic guiding system for an unmanned goods transportation vehicle is provided by a one dimensional optical detector responsive to specialized targets mounted along a side of the vehicle's path of motion. The specialized targets consist of combinations of retro-reflective and mirror-like devices in patterns allowing the vehicle to determine both the relative position and heading angle in a single set of measurements.