Other

Agile Systems, Inc.

Hugh A Griffin

A video object identification system used to identify an object, to locate its position in the view, and to determine its angular orientation. It digitizes a field of image view and subdivides the viewed area into a grid pattern of small cells. It then encodes the angle of a tangent line segment within each cell (when present) at the boundary of objects in the view. It determines rate-of-curvature of the boundary to develop a linear signature for the object. The system breaks the linear signature into segments that can be normalized to be constant regardless of the scale of the image. It then generates identification numbers to identify the object through a mathematics process. The system utilizes pipeline processing to the point where the results are applied to a microprocessor. The microprocessor analyzes a stored image field of view in encoded format to determine object perimeter cell locations (a chaining process).

System and method for video object identification

An image pre-processing sub-system providing very high speed image data evaluation to supply condensed, real time boundary linkage data to a controlling computer of an operational system. The sub-system provides for an electronic video camera capable of the operations on an image of aiming, magnifying, and rotationally orienting. The camera direction, magnification and orientation control from the system computer results from visual image processed feedback from the image pre-processor with user tailored software providing the desired responses. Dual sub-systems, or a single sub-system at two sequentially different locations, provides triangulation information necessary for high speed distance measurements of objects from the camera. Visual data, detected by the camera, are processed to locate image boundaries, to filter noise, to enhance the boundary, to provide linkage boundary information, to provide texture data, and to provide shades of gray data to the computer in a condensed form. The sub-system adjustable magnification and rotation capability, of selected sub-areas of the full image, permit very high resolution image evaluation compatible with template matching techniques for object identification or inspection operations.

Image pre-processing sub-system

A vehicle drive system providing abrupt turning capability under control of local or remote steering commands. The vehicle consists of a platform supported by two drive wheels and at least one castor wheel. An engine powers a hydraulic pump which drives two independently controlled hydraulic motors transmitting power to the drive wheels. Hydraulic fluid flows from the pump to the motor and is controlled through a network of valves to provide torque limiting capabilities to the drive wheels which prevents slippage with the ground. Free wheeling capability is also selectively applied during dynamic turning maneuvers to permit minimal energy changes and resulting in a short turning radius.

Vehicle drive system

An automatic lawn mower operable to cut about the periphery of a lawn, moving inwardly, and automatically shutting off at the conclusion of the cutting operation. A cut border is placed about the periphery of the lawn to be mowed and also about any obstacles within the area. The mower utilizes an array of light sensitive resistors and a columnized light source to detect the transition between cut and uncut grass in order to track in an irregularly shaped spiral to the center of the lawn. A portion of the sensor system provides for proper guidance of the mower around the cut perimeter of any obstacles in the cutting area. The mower may utilize an array of light sensitive resistors, a columnized light source and actuated light reflectors to detect the transition between cut and uncut grass in order to track in an irregularly shaped spiral to the center of the lawn.

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Greenfield, IN, United States of America

Hugh A Griffin