Abstract: A digital media rental and return kiosk includes a store arranged to store physical digital media items. The kiosk further includes a user interface (i) having a dispense and return slot, and (ii) arranged to enable a customer to interact with the kiosk to either rent a digital media item or return a digital media item through the slot. The kiosk also includes a delivery system arranged to (i) transport a digital media item to be rented from the store to the slot, and (ii) transport a digital media item to be returned from the slot to the store. The kiosk further includes a gate mechanism including a gate which is (i) movable from a closed position to a first opened position to allow a digital media item to be rented to be dispensed through the slot to a customer, and (ii) movable from the closed position to a second opened position which is different from the first opened position to allow a digital media item to be returned to be inserted through the slot by the customer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a plant selling device and a control method thereof, by which a ripe plant to be sold can be moved from a plant growth room to a sales room according to the information in a purchase order after the purchase order is generated. According to the technical solution of the present invention, plant factory technology can be combined effectively with automatic plant selling so that plants are sold automatically after ripening, thus providing a more convenient mode of production and sale.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a dispenser configured for storing one or more items and dispensing the stored items to authorized users. According to various embodiments, the dispenser generally includes a housing defining an interior portion dimensioned to receive one or more items and a laterally sliding access door comprised of a flexible barrier configured to provide restricted access to items stored within the dispenser. In various embodiments, the dispenser also includes a biasing system configured bias the access door to a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating payment using a payment card includes a computerized sales transaction device structured to determine a monetary amount for a sale, and a secure card activated terminal (CAT) device in electronic communication with the computerized sales transaction device. The computerized sales transaction device sends the monetary amount to the secure CAT device. The secure CAT device is structured to: (i) obtain sensitive payment card information from the card, (ii) automatically request in a secure, encrypted manner authorization for the sale using the monetary amount and the sensitive payment card information, (iii) receive in a secure, encrypted manner authorization approval for the sale, and (iv) in response to receiving the authorization approval, send purchase authorization approval information to the computerized sales transaction device. The computerized sales transaction device never receives the sensitive payment card information.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to a player (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). This allows a player to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). A player who purchases such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith. In some embodiments, the player may request such outcomes by presenting and/or selecting a session object and/or by interfacing with a tangible medium recording or production device (e.g., on a casino floor).

Abstract: Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate an autonomous agent hybrid system including a real world controller constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of credits; an entertainment software controller constructed to execute an entertainment game providing outcomes based upon an autonomous agent action; and a game world controller coupled to the entertainment software controller and the real world controller via a network, and constructed to trigger the credit wager, wherein the game world controller utilizes an agency module that: configures an autonomous agent player profile which determines the autonomous agent action; detects the autonomous agent action taken by the autonomous agent where the autonomous agent action is a direct utilization by the autonomous agent of the enabling element within the entertainment game, wherein the autonomous agent action is taken by the autonomous agent without the player's supervision; and communicates, to the real world controller, an agent w

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a cabinet, a peripheral device coupled to the cabinet, a curved video display, and a processor is provided. The curved video display includes a cutout, wherein a perimeter of the cutout surrounds the peripheral device, and wherein the processor is programmed to display, on the curved video display, a graphic adjacent to and associated with the peripheral device.

Abstract: An in-game advertising system that provides benefits to gamers, game publishers and casinos by offering in-game awards as part of the electronic game plot that the gamer is playing on the gamer's mobile device.

Abstract: A bet sensor for sensing values of gaming tokens may include a bet placement surface configured and oriented to support a stack of gaming tokens thereon and an image sensor located and oriented to capture an image of a lateral side surface of at least one gaming token located on the bet placement surface. The image may depict the lateral side surface in a radial format. The bet sensor may include a processor in communication with the image sensor. The processor is configured to acquire image data from the image and analyze the image data to determine a wager value of the at least one token. A gaming table may include such a bet sensor. The disclosure includes methods of operating such a gaming table.

Abstract: A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine located in a casino or other gaming environment, may be configured to provide simultaneous play by both an in-person player and one or more remote players. Session identifiers may be assigned to the gaming machine that correspond to the game session of the in-person player and the game session of any remote players.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations include detecting, via a first web widget presented via a casino website, identifying information for a casino user account. The casino user account is hosted by a casino server. The first web widget is hosted by a second server separate from the casino server. The operations can further include determining, by at least one of one or more processors, a relationship between the casino user account and a second user account associated with the second server. The determining the relationship can be in response to detecting the identifying information. The operations can further include associating, by at least one of the one or more processors, the casino user account and the second user account in response to determining the relationship.

Abstract: A method for playing a wagering game includes receiving wager inputs from a player for a wagering game. A randomly-selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving the wager inputs. The selecting of the randomly-selected outcome is determined in accordance with a gaming math feature. A data set representing a game-play characteristic is stored before discontinuing game-play in a gaming session. In response to the player continuing the wagering game in a subsequent gaming session, the data set is accessed. The gaming math feature for the wagering game in the subsequent gaming session is altered based on the game-play characteristic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a gambling hybrid game that provides a fixed shooter game as an entertainment game are disclosed. In a fixed shooter game, a shooter controlled by a player is on a fixed plane and the player shoots at game targets by moving the shooter along at least one axis within the fixed plane. The entertainment system engine in a gambling hybrid game provides the fixed shooter game and determines interactions between the shooter and targets in the game. A game world engine of the gambling hybrid game determines when a gambling event in a gambling game is to be provided based upon the interactions in the fixed shooter game. The game world engine then requests that a real world engine of the game world engine resolve the gambling event in the gambling game. The real world engine then resolves the gambling event and associated wagers.

Abstract: A system that includes a first input/output (I/O) device configured to generate a code based at least in part on a unique machine identifier of the first I/O device, and a second I/O device communicatively coupled to the first I/O device via a network. The second I/O device is configured to read the code from a tangible medium, parse the code to determine the machine identifier, transmit a validation request directly to the first I/O device via the network, and receive a response message directly from the first I/O device, wherein the response message indicates a number of credits available to a user at the second I/O device.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer program product is tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium and includes instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for detecting collision between objects. The method includes identifying a first edge of a first object, and a second edge of a second object, presented on a display, the second object associated with a transformation. The method includes performing an inverse of the transformation on the first object while not performing the transformation on the second object. The method includes generating an output on the display that indicates whether the first and second objects collide, the output based on performing the inverse of the transformation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a casino wagering game using a processor to determine random event outcomes by: the processor recognizing selection of individual player selections of individual sub-outcomes collectively forming a total player selection set; the processor providing a total selection outcome of a final set of symbols randomly selected by the processor from a total symbol set of individual outcomes; the individual total player selection set totaling fewer symbols than the total symbol set of individual outcomes; a player input system enabling player wagers to be selected from among multiple total selection outcomes to be selected by the processor from among multiple available sets of total selection outcomes; the processor providing differing paytables dependent upon numbers of symbols provided by the processor with respect to each total selection outcome provided by the processor from among the multiple available sets of total outcome selections.

Abstract: A game machine includes a display device that displays a game screen in which virtual reels formed by symbols are arranged so as to correspond one-to-one to cells as symbol stop positions. And, a game machine determines the symbol to stop in each cell through drawing, and controls a movement to change the symbol and a stop of the movement for each virtual reel based on a drawing result. Furthermore, a game machine determines a number of specific symbols that stop in the cells, and controls a movement of each virtual reel, which causes the specific symbols to appear in the cells, as one virtual reel group and a stop of the movement in units of virtual reel group.

Abstract: A multi-functional, multi-directional wearable safety lighting device is disclosed herein that includes a main light housing and a magnetic mounting assembly coupleable to a bottom surface of the main light housing. The mounting assembly is configured to secure the wearable safety lighting device to a user. The main light housing includes warning light elements coupled front and rear side surfaces. A directional work light is coupled to the front side surface of the main housing and is distinct from the warning light elements. A power source supplies power to the warning light elements and the work light. A controller is programmed to energize the warning light elements in select subgroups following depression of a first control button or a second control button, and energize the directional work light following depression of a third control button.

Abstract: A system for generating haptic effects includes a virtual environment having environmental properties, virtual objects, and object property information. A programmatic virtual sensor is placed on a virtual object in the virtual environment. A rendering engine for the virtual environment renders the virtual environment. A module for the virtual sensor receives virtual sensor data including position and time for the sensor and calculates sensor output data including acceleration data and object interaction data for the virtual sensor. A haptic track generator generates a haptic track based on the sensor output data.

Abstract: A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermine period of time.

Abstract: An illumination system and methods to control a light source are provided. An illumination system includes a light source, a two-dimensional non-Passive Infrared (non-PIR) imager, and a controller. The light source provides at least two levels of illumination. The non-PIR imager images an area and to produce image data representative of images across at least part of a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. The controller is communicatively coupled to receive the image data from the non-PIR imager and process the received image data to detect at least one ambient environmental characteristic of the area in the part of the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, where the ambient environmental characteristic is indicative of a presence or imminent presence of a body in the area. The controller is also coupled to control operation of the light source based on, at least in part, detection of the ambient characteristic of the environment.

Abstract: Video monitoring and alarm verification technology, in which a first connection is established between a first device and a camera located in a monitored property associated with a user of the first device and image data captured by the camera is received over the first connection and at the first device. A determination is made to establish a second connection with a second device that enables sharing of the received image data with the second device and, in response to the determination, the second connection is established between the first device and the second device. The received image data is shared with the second device over the second connection and the second device is restricted from directly accessing image data captured by the camera located in the monitored property.

Abstract: A cordless indicia reader including a multifunction coil that can be configured to either transmit or receive electromagnetic energy is disclosed. In this way, the multifunction coil facilitates both the wireless charging of a battery and the wireless deactivation of electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. The multifunction coil, and a plurality of modules to perform these functions, are integrated within the cordless indicia reader's hand-supportable housing.

Abstract: An operator system for a machine, in particular for a beverage processing machine, the system comprising a mobile operator device for the machine, a signal emitter for reporting alarm and/or warning signals and safely glasses for protecting the eyes of a user. The safety glasses have a display system that is designed in particular as a head-mounted display, or a virtual retina display, or a projector and the operator device and/or the signal emitter and/or the safety glasses have a respective data transmitter for exchanging machine information and/or alarm and/or warning signals.

Abstract: A method with a warning function includes: determining whether an electronic device is in a first preset state, wherein, the first preset state of the electronic device can be a state that the electronic device is being charged or a state in which the temperature of the electronic device is greater than a preset temperature; determining, when the electronic device is in the first preset state, whether the electronic device is contacted by a user via a sensing unit; controlling, when the electronic device is contacted by the user, a timer to record a contact duration; determining whether the contact duration recorded by the timer is greater than a first preset time; and controlling, when the contact duration is greater than the first preset time, a prompt unit to generate a warning signal.

Abstract: A system and method for finding an object at distance, the system having a parent device (1) and at least one child device (2, 3, 4) that is attachable to or integratable into the object, wherein the parent device (1) and the child device (2, 3, 4) are adapted to communicate over a distance. In order to provide a better adaptability, in particular with respect to a selection of objects that shall be kept track of and combined with an improved object detectability, the invention suggests that the child device (2, 3, 4) has an identity memory (11) storing at least one identity code and the parent device (1) has an identity reader (10) for reading the identity code from the child device (2, 3, 4), an object memory (9) for storing the identity code, an object learner (5) configured with logic (7) to store the identity code in the object memory (9), and an object finder (6) configured with logic (8) to send a search signal to the child device (2, 3, 4) based on the identity code.

Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the present invention are Hand Hygiene Compliance Confirmation Systems (HHCCS) that include a Hand Hygiene Composition Dispenser (HHCD); a Hand Hygiene Composition Dispenser Monitor (HHCDM) and a Hand Hygiene Compliance Monitor (HHCM). In some embodiments, the HHCDM detects when said HHCD dispenses Hand Hygiene Composition (HHC) and signals said HHCM to start a clock so that if the hands of a person are presented to said HHCM within a pre-defined period of time from the time that said HHCDM sends said signal to said HHCM, said HHCM sends a signal to at least one display to indicate hand hygiene compliance, referred to as a Green Light Condition or GLC. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: An emergency alert system comprising one or more access-controlled wireless transmitters and a plurality of wireless wearable receivers that can be deployed locally to privately warn users of potential danger, by allowing authorized users to use the transmitters to send alert signals to the receivers.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the presence of personnel within a facility (S) and of monitoring the evacuation of the facility. A personnel registration system (2, 2a, 2b, 4) obtains data indicating the presence of a person. An interface computer (6) continuously receives data about people at the facility from a personnel server, and continuously supplies data to a monitoring server (9). A portable device (10a, 10b, c) is in data communication with the monitoring server and continuously receives data from the monitoring server. Upon evacuation of the facility, the portable device is taken to a mustering point (A, B, C) outside of the facility, and communicates (10) wirelessly with the monitoring server and continuously receives data from and sends data to the monitoring server. During evacuation of the facility the portable device logs the attendance of people at the mustering point and continuously communicates information to the monitoring server about people logged.

Abstract: Energy harvesting devices provide power to devices of emergency equipment stations (e.g., fire extinguisher station, fire alarm pull station, defibrillator station, etc.) distributed throughout a facility to monitor one or more internal or external conditions (e.g., identifiable objects detected near the station, presence of an obstruction restricting access to the station, etc.) and relay information about the monitored conditions to a central station.

Abstract: A motorized furniture drive assembly (10) comprises at least one motorized furniture drive (3); at least one drive control device having a receiving device for wireless radio transmission; and at least one communication device (4) for operating the furniture drive (3). The motorized furniture drive assembly (10) is provided with at least one communication adaptation device (5), which is designed to communicate with the at least one communication device (4) by means of a primary wireless transmission path and to communicate with the at least one receiving device by means of a secondary wireless transmission path. An assembly comprises the motorized furniture drive assembly (10) and a piece of furniture (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a device remotely and includes: transmitting a device selecting signal; receiving a response signal from a device to be controlled that receives the device selecting signal; identifying the device to be controlled by using the response signal; changing at least one of an angle of beam spread and direction of the device selecting signal if the identified device to be controlled is two or more in number; and generating a remote control signal by using device control information corresponding to the identified device to be controlled and transmitting the generated signal to the device to be controlled.

Abstract: A folding remote control with an inner touch surface such as a touch pad is disclosed. The touch surface is split in two sections which together span both inner surfaces of the two sections of the folding remote providing a large touch surface. This allows ease of use and also can provide features such as multi-touch control. Back lighting may provide a relatively large keyboard input spanning both sections which can be selected for display at the push of a button. Remote control embodiments without folding sections but large touch surface configurations are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance.

Abstract: A system, method, and device for automatic master control detection are provided. In embodiments, automatic master control detection may be utilized to determine a primary control device in a multi-control furniture environment, such as an automated furniture environment. In some aspects, a control device is initially programmed with a particular primary ID. Additionally, such control devices include an alternate ID that may replace the primary ID if it is determined that a conflict exists between the control device and another control device in the same network environment. In one embodiment of the invention, a control device/box/component communicates a startup query upon activation, which automatically signals to other devices in the network that it is the first control started and will retain master control status having the primary ID. Recipient control devices may process a received startup query as an indication to change their primary ID to an alternate ID.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of estimating a waiting time at an energy refilling facility for each of drive types. A center-side system includes a center-side receiver that receives, from a vehicle-side system, probe vehicle position information and drive type information that is information regarding a drive type of a probe vehicle. Then, the center-side system includes: a traffic condition estimation unit that estimates a traffic condition, which includes a drive type-classified number of vehicles, based on the probe vehicle position information and the drive type information, which are received by the center-side receiver; and a center-side transmitter that transmits, to an outside, the traffic condition estimated by the traffic condition estimation unit.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining traffic information from mobile Bluetooth detectors is disclosed. A mobile Bluetooth detector is a device located in a moving vehicle that includes Bluetooth and GPS firmware for collecting data from Bluetooth enabled devices. The mobile Bluetooth detector transmits the collected data to a remote facility where the data is processed to generate traffic information. A pair of mobile Bluetooth detectors may be used to collect data for generating ground truth.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for monitoring a one or more vehicles are disclosed. One system includes a plurality of road transceivers located along a vehicle roadway, wherein each road transceiver is operative to at least one of communicate with or sense the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles travels along the vehicle roadway. A controller interfaced with the plurality of road transceivers or a controller within at least one of the plurality of road transceivers is operative to determined one or more operative conditions of the one or more vehicles based on the communications with or the sensing of the one or more vehicles.

Abstract: A system includes one or more traffic guidance nodes (TGNs) and one or more mobile traffic navigating entities (TNEs). The traffic guidance nodes transmit updated information about the local traffic to the one or more mobile traffic navigating entities when the one or more mobile traffic navigating entities are within a range of the one or more traffic guidance nodes.

Abstract: Approaches for prioritizing multiple candidates for preemption of a traffic signal phase at an intersection are disclosed. Light signals transmitted from light-signaling vehicles approaching an intersection encode priority codes using a first set of values. Radio signals from radio-signaling vehicles approaching the intersection encode priority codes using a second set of values. A set of preemption candidates is determined from the light and radio signals, as well as from network-based requests, and a respective relative priority of each preemption candidate based on the priority code of each preemption candidate is determined. A request output for preemption of the traffic signal phase for a preemption candidate having a highest priority.

Abstract: Described herein is a vehicle system configured to identify and mitigate a risk associated with one or more hazards that may impact a vehicle. The vehicle system may include a service provider computer configured to maintain information related to one or more hazards. In some embodiments, a hazard may be identified based at least in part on its being located within the vicinity of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the service provider computer may generate a mitigation strategy to reduce or eliminate the risk posed by the identified hazard. The mitigation strategy may include one or more actions to be taken by a processor device within the vehicle. Upon being provided with a mitigation strategy, the processor device may execute one or more of the actions in the mitigation strategy without human interaction.

Abstract: A navigation arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a first motor vehicle having a navigation system for ascertaining a suggested route for the first motor vehicle and at least one second motor vehicle having a navigation system for ascertaining a suggested route for the second motor vehicle, and an Internet connection being provided between the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle for transmitting information concerning the navigation system of the first motor vehicle from the first motor vehicle to the second motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method of determining an attribute of a parking structure includes monitoring vehicle status data (VSD) obtained by a first on-board processor operatively associated with a vehicle telematics unit. The first processor executes computer readable code encoded on a first non-transitory computer readable medium. The method includes recording, in a vehicle memory operatively associated with the first processor, the VSD based on an output of a vehicle on-board sensor. The method further includes communicating the recorded VSD to a data aggregator of a remote parking information system (RPIS) for storage as aggregated data in a computer memory associated with the RPIS. The method determines, via the data aggregator, whether the vehicle is in the parking structure based on the communicated recorded VSD. The method further includes determining the attribute via the RPIS based on the VSD stored in the computer memory, and storing the attribute in the computer memory.

Abstract: To improve traveling safety of a vehicle by continuing an alarm after the end of a crash prevention control for preventing a crash between an own vehicle and a target object, a drive support apparatus of the invention detects the target object which exists in a predetermined detection area ahead of the own vehicle, starts to issue an alarm with an alarm generating part to a driver of the own vehicle if probability of a crash between the own vehicle and the target object is greater than a predetermined value, start a crash prevention control in which an automatic driving operation is performed for preventing the crash with the target object, and continues to issue the alarm until a predetermined timing (timing when the driver of the own vehicle performs a predetermined driving operation, for example) after the crash prevention control by the crash prevention controlling part has been ended.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and signaling a traffic situation in the surrounding environment of a vehicle, a sensor acquiring a surrounding environment of the vehicle, an object at risk being recognized in the acquired environment, a collision probability and a prediction reliability being determined for the recognized object at risk, and when there is a given collision probability and a low prediction reliability an action of a first type being carried out, and when there is a given collision probability and a high prediction reliability an action of a second type being carried out. The present invention further relates to a driver assistance system for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a lane detector programmed to output a boundary signal representing a location of a lane boundary relative to a host vehicle. A processing device is programmed to determine, from the boundary signal, whether the host vehicle is performing a lane splitting maneuver. If so, the processing device is programmed to transmit a lane splitting signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for warning in case of wrong-way travel of a vehicle on a directional carriageway by means of an on-board unit carried by the vehicle, said on-board unit determining its position and direction of movement in a satellite-assisted manner, comparing the latter with a target direction of movement stored in a digital road map for this position and outputting a warning message when detecting a wrong-way travel, comprising: for a temporary change in course of a section of the directional carriageway, providing a radio beacon arranged upstream to said section and having a local radio coverage range; when the on-board unit enters the radio coverage range of the radio beacon, receiving a message sent by the radio beacon concerning the change in course in a transceiver of the on-board unit; and detecting the wrong-way travel depending on the received message.

Abstract: A driving safety system mounted in a vehicle includes an image acquisition module and a distance detection module connected to a vehicle-mounted computer and respectively acquiring at least one piece of barrier information and at least one frame of image information. The vehicle-mounted computer analyzes the barrier information and the image information, constantly receives barrier information in the course of driving, and performs a screen and analysis algorithm to screen out noise from the surrounding environment and a comparison analysis algorithm to eliminate noise reflected from objects on the ground, to accurately acquire front target information. Accordingly, the driving safety system can correctly determine barriers in the front when the vehicle is moving to achieve the goal of enhancing driving safety.

Abstract: A flight deck display system and method comprises a first source of host aircraft feature data and a second source of traffic data. A processor is coupled to the first and second sources and is configured to (a) receive host aircraft data; (2) receive traffic data; (3) filter traffic based on a predetermined set of separation criteria to identify vital traffic; (4) generate symbology graphically representative of vital traffic; (5) generate symbology graphically representative of the host aircraft; and (6) display the host aircraft and the vital traffic on an AMM display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and analyzing an aircraft landing site during flight is provided. The method includes the steps of using image capture means such as an infrared camera to capture in-flight images of the ground in the region of a possible landing site, using a database of computer modelled images of possible aircraft landing sites mapped to a global co-ordinate reference frame to compare the in-flight images with a modelled image of the possible landing site and optimizing correspondence between the two images to obtain an in-flight image optimally mapped to the global co-ordinate reference frame. Thereafter, the landing site which corresponds to the optimally mapped in-flight image is analyzed to ascertain the presence of any obstructions such as life forms, vehicles or newly erected buildings thereon.