Abstract: A lifting device sensor unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. A first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. A load monitor is coupled with the housing and is configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. A wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the sensor unit position, to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.

Abstract: There is described a method to synchronize the orientation of an IGD 3D Coordinate System and the orientation of a 3DM 3D Coordinate System, in which the IGD's gravity direction measurement device and electronic compass are used explicitly. There is also described how an IGD, once its orientation has been synchronized to the orientation of a 3DM, can be used to display 3D graphics that guide the measurement process.

Abstract: A method and system for estimation of inertial sensor errors is provided. The method includes receiving first inertial output data from a master inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on a host platform, with the first inertial output data comprising a change in velocity (delta V) and a change in angle (delta theta), and receiving second inertial output data from a remote IMU mounted on the host platform at a predetermined fixed distance from the master IMU, with the second inertial output data comprising a delta V and a delta theta. The first inertial output data is compared with the second inertial output data to determine a difference between the delta V of the first inertial output data and the delta V of the second inertial output data, and to determine a difference between the delta theta of the first inertial output data and the delta theta of the second inertial output data. The determined differences are applied to estimate inertial sensor errors in the remote IMU.

Abstract: An orientation measurement value acquisition unit (145) acquires an orientation measurement value measured by an orientation sensor (110) mounted on an image capturing apparatus (120), and an orientation measurement value measured by a sensor (115) mounted on a physical object (125). An image processing unit (135) acquires the image coordinates, on a captured image, of indices allocated on the physical object (125). A calibration unit (160) calculates at least one of allocation information of the sensor (110) with respect to the image capturing apparatus (120) and allocation information of the sensor (115) with respect to the physical object (125) using the two orientation measurement values and image coordinates.

Abstract: A method for restoring navigation failure information in a fluoroscopy-based imaging system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a plurality of receiver navigation information using a calibration target rigidly attached to a supporting member of the imaging system. The calibration target may include a plurality of receivers providing navigation information and the supporting member may be a C-arm. The method identifies a navigation failure and corresponding to the navigation failure a calibrated receiver navigation information is generated. The calibrated receiver navigation information is generated using a calibration information and a C-arm imaging position obtained during navigation failure. A receiver navigation information corresponding to the navigation failure is estimated using the calibrated receiver navigation information, and a transmitter navigation information.

Abstract: A magnetic-sensor controller includes an input section, a perpendicular-bisector calculation section, a storage section, and a setting section. The input section successively inputs a plurality of magnetic data sets successively output from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor. Each magnetic data includes three components. The perpendicular-bisector calculation section calculates, for each pair of two of the magnetic data sets, a perpendicular bisector of two points corresponding to the two magnetic data sets. The storage section stores a plurality of perpendicular bisectors. The setting section statistically approximates, by a single point, a region where the plurality of perpendicular bisectors stored in the storage section meet, and sets an offset of the magnetic data set on the basis of the single point. The magnetic-sensor controller enables accurate setting of an offset even when the magnetic field strength changes.

Abstract: A method for defining an antetorsion angle ? of a femur is provided. The antetorsion angle ? is defined by two angles ?? and ? that can be determined by means of two images of the femur, wherein the equation tan ?=tan ??/(cos ?·cos ?) can be used to calculate the antetorsion angle ?.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for determining the velocity vector, speed, and direction of moving vehicles traveling on roadways which change elevation and have curves. A camera mounted above a roadway observes at least one vehicles traveling in different directions on different roads. Each pixel in the two-dimensional optical image is mapped into a three-dimensional real world location to enable the moving vehicles to be analyzed in the three-dimensional real world as they travel on roads, which may change elevation and may have curves. The estimated vehicle velocities may be displayed on an image near the moving vehicle. Individual images with vehicle velocities may be posted on an Internet site. The sequence of optical images, or streaming video, with the displayed vehicle velocities may also be used for television news programs that show traffic moving on the roadways.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for three-dimensional scanning and digitization of the surface geometry of objects are claimed. The system includes a hand-held apparatus that is auto-referenced. The system is auto-referenced since it does not need any positioning device to provide the 6 degree of freedom transformations that are necessary to integrate 3D measurements in a global coordinate system while the apparatus is manipulated to scan the surface. The system continuously calculates its own position and orientation from observation while scanning the surface geometry of an object. To do so, the system exploits a triangulation principle and integrates an apparatus that captures both surface points originating from the reflection of a projected laser pattern on an object's surface and 2D positioning features originating from the observation of target positioning features.

Abstract: A method for detecting a substantially invariant rotation axis of a motion of a mobile body equipped with at least one inertial or magnetic sensor with three sensitive axes that includes acquiring physical measurements with respect to the three sensitive axes of the sensor, the physical measurements including at least three samples at different times, estimating a substantially invariant rotation axis in the physical measurements space, and identifying the estimated axis as the substantially invariant rotation axis of the motion. In one aspect, the method is applicable for estimating the motion of a mobile body rotating about a substantially invariant axis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying wireless devices in close physical proximity are described. When two wireless devices are brought into close proximity, one of the devices displays an optical indicator, such as a light pattern. This device then sends messages to other devices which are within wireless range to cause them to use any light sensor to detect a signal. In an embodiment, the light sensor is a camera and the detected signal is an image captured by the camera. Each device then sends data identifying what was detected back to the device displaying the pattern. By analyzing this data, the first device can determine which other device detected the indicator that it displayed and therefore determine that this device is in close physical proximity to it. In an example, the first device is an interactive surface arranged to identify the wireless addresses of devices which are placed on the surface.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for providing a 3 dimensional (3-D) user interface display images in a 3-D coordinate system. Sensors are configured to sense user interaction within the 3-D coordinate system, so that a processor may receive user interaction information from the sensors. The sensors are able to provide information to the processor that enables the processor to correlate user interaction with images in the 3-D coordinate system. The system may be used for interconnecting or communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the location and attitude (roll, pitch, and yaw) of a moving object relative to an external reference frame by tracking unique two-dimensional patterns in the external reference frame from the moving object with displacement sensors. The displacement sensors lock onto the unique two-dimensional patterns by means of a steering mechanism which steers an optical path element capable of deviating the optical path using the displacement information from the relative movement of the two-dimensional patterns. The system is able to detect position and attitude to sub-millimeter accuracy without a physical connect between the moving object and the external reference frame and without a physical connection between the moving object and the external reference frame.

Abstract: An electric power generator system is provided with improved power efficiency due to a reduced sensitivity to errors in the sensing of angular rotor position. The system includes a power generator with a rotor, and a position encoder connected to sense angular position of the rotor and to generate a position signal accordingly. A processor receives the position signal, calculates an angular position in response, calculates an estimated angular position based on earlier received position signals, and finally generates a processed angular position based on the calculated angular position and the estimated angular position. This processed angular position is a more reliable measure of the rotor position, reducing the influence of short-term errors in the position signal, allowing normal wind turbine operation during temporary position encoder failure, and allowing an orderly shutdown during complete position encoder failure.

Abstract: Combination is disclosed for deriving and displaying the full complement of nine dynamic parameters associated with a mechanical motion transmission system; the parameters comprise: (1) angular displacement, (2) angular velocity, (3) angular acceleration, (4) moment of force (i.e. torque), (5) kinetic energy, (6) work, (7) power, (8) momentum and (9) impulse. Quasi-instantaneous, absolute measurements are derived from elapsed-time measurements between successive sensing of fixed, equal, position events such as electric pulses generated by an incremental shaft encoder. The parameters are displayed on the X and Y axes of a Cartesian or other suitable graph where the X-axis (i.e. the independent axis) indicates the angular displacement of the encoder expressed as a succession of fixed, equal position events in the units of radians. The Y-axis (i.e. the dependent axis) indicates the absolute value of the parameters.

Abstract: An information processing method for obtaining placement information of a first position and orientation sensor attached to an object with respect to the object includes an image input step of inputting an image of the object captured by an image capturing device, and a sensor measurement value input step of inputting a first measurement value of the first position and orientation sensor and a second measurement value of a second position and orientation sensor attached to the image capturing device. An index detecting step detects information about image coordinates of an index attached to the object from the image, and a placement information calculating step calculates the placement information by using the first and second measurement values of the first and second position and orientation sensors and the information about the image coordinates of the index.

Abstract: The instant invention discloses a method for an orientation measuring instrument to isolate and separate gravitational and non-gravitational components of acceleration from accelerometer measurements by using an ambient magnetic field, typically the earth's magnetic field, as a fixed rotation reference. Using magnetic field measurements, one can track changes in orientation of a device and use that information to determine the gravitation direction, during periods when acceleration measurements include non-gravitational acceleration combined with gravitational acceleration components. In addition to determining orientation, a method and associated instrument provide a non-gravity acceleration vector of the device.

Abstract: A system for integrating dispersed point-clouds of an object is provided. The system includes a fixture for fixing an object, a measurement machine to scan all surfaces of the object and a computer. The fixture, which has three reference balls, is 360-degree rotatable. The computer includes a point-cloud reading module, a sphere fitting module, a computing module, a matching module and an aligning module. The system utilizes three reference objects to integrate dispersed point-clouds of multiple scans of the object, restore original space location relations of the point-clouds, so as to obtain a complete space point-cloud of the object with simple operation and higher precision. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for determining condyle displacement during jaw articulation includes a physical model with corresponding reference points. The physical model is positioned and scanned to obtain positional data representing a first and second bite position. This positional data is used to generate a transformation matrix. The position of at least one condyle is determined in reference to positional data scanned from the physical model. The transformation matrix is used to map the position of the condyle with respect to the second bite position.

Abstract: This application generally relates to methods and systems for detecting spectrophotometer misalignment. In particular, the application may characterize the noise of a spectral measurement relative to a reference substrate known to exhibit a generally linear (flat) spectral output over a known spectrum. From the spectral measurement, a linear regression may be performed on a portion of the spectral output to determine a best fit line and a correlation of determination (“R-squared value”) may be determined correlated the measured data to the best fit line. Finally, the R squared value may be compared to a predetermined threshold R squared value to determine if the sensor is misaligned beyond an acceptable amount. If so, an alert may be generated.

Abstract: A seat folding apparatus is provided with a passive Rf frequency link that requires that a person be within a certain limited distance from the vehicle to operate the seat folding mechanism. A foreign object detection system, such as a plurality of weight sensors, is provided in the seat to detect foreign objects on the seat.

Abstract: A method and system for azimuth measurements using one or more gyro sensors is disclosed. The method includes acquiring a first data from each of the gyro sensors with an input axis aligned to a first angular orientation and acquiring a second data from each of the gyro sensors with the input axis flipped to a second angular orientation opposite to the first angular orientation. An earth rate component at the first angular orientations is determined based on a difference between the first data and the second data to cancel out bias of each of the gyro sensors. The method may include acquiring a third data of the gyro sensor with the input axis aligned to the same angular orientation as the first angular orientation. An average of the first data and the third data may be used instead of the first data for determining the earth rate component.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that generates a simulated vibration pattern in a computer subsystem. During operation, a vibration pattern is monitored at a location in the computer subsystem, wherein the vibration pattern is monitored while the computer subsystem is incorporated into the computer system and the computer system is operating. Then, the vibrations of the computer subsystem are mimicked by generating the simulated vibration pattern at the same location in the computer subsystem based on the monitored vibration pattern.

Abstract: A system and method are provided in which an element of a structure may be reliably identified. For example, a system may include a part selection element configured to interact with at least one positional marker having a predefined location. The part selection element is also configured to select at least a portion of a structure, with the structure being positioned at a predetermined location and orientation. The part selection element may also be configured to identify a depth within the structure. The system also includes a computing device configured to identify an element of the structure based upon the position and orientation of the part selection element and the portion of the structure selected by the part selection element. In instances in which a depth is identified, the computing device may also be configured to identify the element of the structure at the depth identified within the structure.

Abstract: Acceleration data which is output from an acceleration sensor is obtained. A rotation motion of an input device around a predetermined direction as a rotation axis is determined by comparing a start point in a two-dimensional coordinate system which is represented by the first acceleration data obtained in a predetermined period, and an end point in the two-dimensional coordinate system which is represented by the last acceleration data obtained in the predetermined period. Coordinate axes of the two-dimensional coordinate system are defined based on components of the two axial directions of the acceleration data, and an origin of the two-dimensional coordinate system represents a value of the acceleration data in the state where no acceleration including the acceleration of gravity acts upon the acceleration sensor. Motion data including at least the determined rotation motion is output.

Abstract: An apparatus for tracking an posture of a moving object in a three-dimensional space having a z-axis facing a reference surface of the moving object, an x-axis perpendicular to the z-axis in a virtual vertical plane including the z-axis, and a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis in a virtual horizontal plane including the x-axis is described. A reference surface direction determination unit detects which direction the reference surface is facing with the x-axis as an axis of rotation. The x-axis deviation determination unit detects how far an x-axis direction of the moving object is relatively deviated from a magnetic north direction. The determination unit determines the posture of the moving object based on how far the x-axis of the moving object is deviated and which direction the reference surface is facing in response to detection signals of the reference surface direction determination unit and the x-axis deviation determination unit.

Abstract: In a work system which measures 3D information of a target object by a light-section method, high measurement precision is realized. The invention includes a robot arm, a hand position detection member which is arranged at the distal end portion of the robot arm, a slit laser projector which irradiates slit light, a camera which is fixed at a position independent of the robot arm, and senses an image of the target object, and a computer which calculates a light-section plane of the slit light based on a light-section line formed on the hand position detection member which is included in image data of the target object obtained by image sensing by the camera, and calculates the position and orientation of the target object based on the calculated light-section plane and the light-section line formed on the target object.

Abstract: The invention relates to motion tracking system (10) for tracking a movement of an object (P) in a three-dimensional space, the said object being composed of object portions having individual dimensions and mutual proportions and being sequentially interconnected by joints the system comprising orientation measurement units (S1, S3, . . .

Abstract: An electronic system that produces an enhanced spatial television-like audio-visual experience is disclosed. Unlike normal television, the system enables the viewer to control both the viewing direction and relative position of the viewpoint with respect to the movie action. In addition to a specific hardware configuration, this patent also relates to a new video format which makes possible this virtual reality like experience including a system by which multi-channel audio can be recorded in addition to visual information onto a single data channel which is compatible with existing television and audio-visual standards and an optical tracking system to provide both angular and spatial position information to control the display of said imagery and spatial audio.

Abstract: A target signal analyzer having at least one receiving antenna configured to receive the target signal, and a parallel array of oscillator rings. Each oscillator ring is operatively coupled to receive the target signal from the receiving antenna. Each oscillator ring has an odd number of at least three bistable, nonlinear oscillators circularly coupled to each other such that only one-way signal flow is allowed between the oscillators in each oscillator ring. Each of the oscillator rings is configured to oscillate and thereby produce a response signal only when the target signal frequency is within a designated frequency band. For every designated frequency band in a spectrum of interest, at least one of the oscillator rings is configured to produce a response signal.

Abstract: A vehicle seat, an adjusting system and a method for moving at least one vehicle seat arranged in a vehicle cabin, particularly an aircraft seat, comprising seat components that are coupled or guided together, such as a seat part, a backrest and a leg rest, the location and/or inclination of which can be adjusted by means of at least one or more adjusting units. The adjusting system allows a separation of the basic functions from driving devices, with an electronic device for collision-free movement and for adjusting custom-designed functions and facilitating the adaptation of the custom-designed functions. The movement sequences and movements of the respective individual seat components and the seat components in relation to one another and the movements of the components or seats within an environment or group of seats are accomplished by means of a movement model in a coordinate system.

Abstract: An orientation sensing system uses an algorithm that iteratively improves an estimate of the body attitude. In each iteration, an error vector is generated that represents the difference between the actually measured sensor signals on the one hand, and a model-based prediction of these sensor signals, given the attitude estimate of the previous iteration, on the other hand. From the compound sensor data error vector, an attitude estimation error (a 3 degrees-of-freedom rotation) is calculated by multiplying the compound error vector by the pseudo-inverse of a sensitivity matrix. An improved attitude estimate is then obtained by applying the inverse of the attitude estimation error to the old attitude estimate.

Abstract: The method estimates movement of a solid mobile in a medium capable of generating disturbances defined by a three-variable vector, wherein the movement is defined by a six-variable vector and the solid is equipped with at least one sensor sensitive to acceleration having at least three sensitive axes and at least one sensor sensitive to the magnetic field having at least three sensitive axes. The method for estimating the movement of a solid includes a step of calculating a nine-variable vector consisting of the six-variable movement vector and of the three-variable disturbance vector and a step of weighting the nine-variable vector capable of transforming the nine-variable vector into a vector with not more than five variables to be estimated.

Abstract: An index detection unit (2030) detects indices allocated or set on an object from a sensed image. An evaluation amount calculation unit (2060) calculates evaluation amounts of the indices using two-dimensional geometric features of the indices on the image and/or three-dimensional geometric features that represent relationships between an image sensing device (2010) and the indices on a three-dimensional space. A reliability calculation unit (2070) calculates reliabilities of the indices according to the calculated evaluation amounts of the indices. A position and orientation calculation unit (2080) calculates the position and orientation of the object or the image sensing device (2010) using at least the calculated reliabilities of the indices and information associated with the image coordinates of the detected indices.

Abstract: Object tracking using ultrasonic signals. A receiver receives a signal transmitted from a transmitter. The receiver uses at least two receiving elements for forming at least two analysis signals on the basis of the received signal. The receiver includes a detector, such as a phase detector, which examines the analysis signals and forms an indication on a difference between the analysis signals. The indication is, for example, indicative of a phase difference between the analysis signals. The transmitted signal is a modulated ultrasonic signal, wherein the receiver demodulates the signal to recover the modulating signal. The indication can be used to determine a heading angle information of the object to be tracked. The heading angle information may be a direction of the object with respect to the transmitter. The heading angle information can be used to make e.g. a corrective action to audio signals to be formed for listening.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that enable robot commands to be determined based on the pose of an object. A method is described for determining the orientation and pose of an object using indistinguishable points. The resolution of the pose detection is based on the robot'command vocabulary. A system is described for controlling a robot by pose detection using unlabelled points.

Abstract: A marker placement information estimating method includes a constraint condition setting step for setting a constraint condition that can be defined with a geometric condition regarding placement information of markers, a capturing step for capturing photographed images including a marker image, a marker detecting step for detecting markers from the photographed images, and an estimating step for estimating the placement information of the markers using the positions of the detected markers on the images and the constraint condition. Thus, even if a constraint condition regarding the placement of markers exists, the placement information can be obtained with precision so as to satisfy the constraint condition.

Abstract: Techniques for interpreting orientation invariant motion are disclosed. Unlike a prior art controller (e.g., a WII game controller) that has a specific physical design to induce or force a user to grip the controller in a consistent way, a disclosed controller does not have such a physical design and allow a user to grip the controller in any way that is comfortable to the user (e.g., around an axis z), one or more transformation or rotations are designed to transform or rotate readings from inertial sensors housed in the controller to readings independent from how the controller is being gripped by a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for closed-loop feedback control of controllable devices using motion capture systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a motion capture system configured to measure one or more motion characteristics of one or more controllable devices as the one or more controllable devices are operating within a control volume. A processor receives the measured motion characteristics from the motion capture system and determines a control signal based on the measured motion characteristics. A position control system receives the control signal and continuously adjusts at least one motion characteristic of the one or more controllable devices in order to maintain or achieve a desired motion state. The controllable device may be equipped with passive retro-reflective markers. The motion capture system, the processor, and the position control system comprise a complete closed-loop feedback control system.

Abstract: An orientation calculation apparatus obtains data from an input device comprising at least a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an image pickup means, so as to calculate an orientation of the input device. Firstly, the orientation calculation apparatus calculates an orientation of the input device in accordance with an angular rate detected by the gyro sensor. Secondly, the orientation is corrected in accordance with acceleration data detected by the acceleration sensor. Further, the orientation is corrected in accordance with an image of a predetermined subject to be taken by the image pickup means.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a selected object relative to a moving reference frame, the apparatus including at least one reference frame transceiver assembly firmly attached to the moving reference frame, at least one object transceiver assembly firmly attached to the selected object, an inertial measurement unit firmly attached to the selected object, an inertial navigation system firmly attached to the moving reference frame, and a tracking processor coupled with the object transceiver assembly, with the inertial measurement unit and with the inertial navigation system, the object transceiver assembly communicating with the reference frame transceiver assembly using magnetic fields, the inertial measurement unit producing IMU inertial measurements of motion of the selected object with respect to an inertially fixed reference frame, the inertial navigation system producing INS inertial measurements of motion of the moving reference frame with respect to the inertially fixed reference frame, the

Abstract: A movable game controller for controlling aspects of a computer controlled game display with apparatus for determining the linear and angular motion of that movable controller. The apparatus includes a plurality of self-contained inertial sensors for sensing the tri-axial linear and tri-axial angular motion of the moving controller. Each sensor is mounted at a fixed linear position and orientation with respect to the others. The linear and angular motion of the controller is computed from the correlated motion sensor readings of each of the plurality of self-contained inertial sensors.

Abstract: A method and system for azimuth measurements using one or more gyro sensors is disclosed. The method includes acquiring a first data from each of the gyro sensors with an input axis aligned to a first angular orientation and acquiring a second data from each of the gyro sensors with the input axis flipped to a second angular orientation opposite to the first angular orientation. An earth rate component at the first angular orientations is determined based on a difference between the first data and the second data to cancel out bias of each of the gyro sensors. The method may include acquiring a third data of the gyro sensor with the input axis aligned to the same angular orientation as the first angular orientation. An average of the first data and the third data may be used instead of the first data for determining the earth rate component.

Abstract: First and second acceleration sensor elements for detecting the acceleration of a vehicle in the direction in which the vehicle travels, and the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction transverse to the travel direction of the vehicle are mounted on a sensor substrate which is mounted on a control substrate of a vehicle control device. With the sensor substrate positioned such that the sensing directions of the respective sensor elements are perpendicular to or parallel to the vertical line, the outputs of the respective sensor elements are detected as zero errors or gain errors. The sensor substrate is then mounted on a vehicle and with the vehicle placed on a horizontal surface, a signal is sent to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle control device so that the ECU can recognize that the vehicle is horizontal. Based on the outputs from the first and second sensor elements at this time, the deviation angles of the sensor elements about the X-axis and Y-axis directions are calculated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for compensating for an acceleration vector offset of an acceleration detector, a recording medium storing a program for executing the method, and an apparatus adapted to perform the method. The method comprises determining whether the acceleration detector is in a stable resting state; if the acceleration detector is determined to be in a stable resting state, then determining whether any one of at least two orthogonal axes is a main axis; and, if the acceleration detector is determined to be in a stable resting state and one of the at least two orthogonal axes is determined to be a main axis, performing an acceleration vector compensation operation to compensate for the acceleration vector offset of the acceleration detector.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for measuring and analyzing movements of a body and for communicating information related to such body movements over a network. In certain embodiments, a system gathers biometric and biomechanical data relating to positions, orientations, and movements of various body parts of a user performed during sports activities, physical rehabilitation, or military or law enforcement activities. The biometric and biomechanical data can be communicated to a local and/or remote interface, which uses digital performance assessment tools to provide a performance evaluation to the user. The performance evaluation may include a graphical representation (e.g., a video), statistical information, and/or a comparison to another user and/or instructor. In some embodiments, the biometric and biomechanical data is communicated wirelessly to one or more devices including a processor, display, and/or data storage medium for further analysis, archiving, and data mining.

Abstract: The present invention relates to computing reachable areas given a first point. More specifically, the present invention relates to the computation of an intersection between a first surface and a second surface for determining a set of points that are reachable from a first point. Using the present invention, a user can determine either (1) a locus of target sites that can be struck by a ballistic projectile from a given launch site, or (2) a locus of launch sites that can be used to hit a given target site. The disclosed system and method employs graphics hardware to determine an intersection between a first surface defined by trajectory paths, and a second surface defined by terrain.

Abstract: A device for detecting a motional position of an object in motion uses a first unit and a second unit which are communicably linked with each other. The first unit repeatedly produces positional information indicative of the motional position of the object in response to a change in motional position of the object. The change in position is detected by a positional sensor placed to sense a movement of the object and reflects therein a motion of the object. The positional information is pulsed information. The first unit repeatedly transmits produced positional information every time when change in motional position of the object reaches a given unit quantity of change. The second unit repeatedly calculates motional position of the object based on a predetermined procedure including repeatedly counting a starting edge of positional information transmitted from the first unit.

Abstract: Steric features inherent in the three dimensional disposition of atoms in molecules can be represented as multiplets using a defined set of steric descriptors. The resulting multiplets can be encoded in a compressed form of bitstring known as a bitmap. Such bitmaps can be generated in compressed form and used to compare individual conformers or ensembles of conformers of molecules to each other without decompression. Such comparisons are useful in molecular similarity analysis, in molecular diversity analysis, in database searching, and in conformational analysis.

Abstract: The invention concerns a surveying procedure for a structure (1?), more particularly a high-rise building, to be erected which has an ideal axis (a) oriented relative to the gravity vector. At least three reference points (A5?, B5?, C5?) are defined by receivers (AA, BB, CC) of a satellite-based positioning system (2), on the uppermost construction level (E5) of the structure (1?). The position of ?n electro-optical geodesic instrument (3) assigned to the structure (1?) is determined relative to the three reference points (A5?, B5?, C5?) and to a singular point (P5?) of structure (1?). The tilt (?5) of a real line (a?) developing from the ideal axis (a) under tilt effects acting on the structure (1; 1?) is acquired gravimetrically, more particularly with a gravimetric tilt sensor (I5).