A video guidance system for visually displaying a row mark traced on the surface of a field during a previous traverse to the operator of a farm tractor pulling a planter has left and right row markers depending respectively from opposite outer sides of the planter for tracing row marks on the field; a video monitor on the tractor in the field of view of the operator; left and right video cameras mounted on the planter adjacent the outer edges thereof with the optical axis of each camera directed forwardly and inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal so that it images a substantial length of a row mark traced on a previous swath; and switch means for selectively connecting the video monitor to the left or to the right video cameras, whereby each scanning line of the video monitor raster creates a different spot on the image of the substantial length of the sensed row mark and such spots on successive scanning lines of the monitor raster are images of points spaced apart in said sensed row mark so the spots on the multiplicity of scanning lines forms an elongated steering vector which indicates to the tractor operator the direction the tractor is to be steered in order to maintain constant and consistent spacing between rows sown during successive swaths.
The invention provides a vehicle for evaluating the properties of road surfaces wherein a road surface cross-section profile evaluating means, a crack-evaluating means, and a road surface longitudinal profile evaluating means are mounted on a predetermined vehicle. The measuring intervals of the respective means can be controlled in accordance with a signal from a single speedometer/range finder. Three kinds of road surface property values which are matched with each other can be obtained. Even if the evaluation system (evaluation vehicle) and the object system (road surface) have a relative speed, the road surface property values can be accurately determined irrespective of the relative speed. Therefore, accurate and reliable evaluation data can be obtained, and the vehicle can cope with high speed and heavy traffic.
A method and apparatus for the surveying of road length, road width and height, and ascent and incline of the road, wherein approximately equally spaced measuring marks are applied onto the road surface along the axis of the road, which measuring marks are then approached by a surveyor vehicle and the actual straight line distance between the measuring marks is exactly measured by a gauging system provided on the surveyor vehicle. The measuring marks are scanned by video cameras measurably adjustable on X, Y tables or are scanned by electromagnetic sensors while the position of the video cameras or sensors on the serveyor which can exactly be measured. For height measurements, a vertical reference line is defined by means of perpendicular bars and laser devices and the distance thereof relative to the road surface is measured at locations, the positions of which can exactly be defined by the video cameras. The measured data are stored digitally and/or as monitor images, on magnetic tapes.
A rear viewing arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle to permit the operator to view traffic conditions to rearward from left and right sides of the vehicle, as well as directly behind the vehicle. Left and right video cameras are mounted on the left and right sides of the motor vehicle forwardly of the drivers position. Each camera attachment has a miniature video camera viewing angle directed generally rearwards, and a housing or shroud that is in the form of an aerodynamic fairing disposed over the associated camera to protect the same and to minimize the amount of protuberance laterally from the side of the vehicle. The fairing also avoids unnecessary airflow turbulence, thereby streamlining the vehicle. The images viewed from these camera assemblies reproduced on an LCD viewing screen, which is integrated with the instrument cluster on the vehicle dashboard. The operator can easily observe the conditions to rearward without having to divert his or her attention from the road ahead.
A method and apparatus for guiding an agricultural implement having transversely extending arms by spraying the ground with a band of a fluorescent chemical from an end of one of the extending arms of the agricultural implement to mark the end of the area covered by a first pass of the agricultural implement, directing an optical beam having a width substantially greater than the band of fluorescent chemical onto the band of fluorescent chemical to fluoresce a portion of the band of fluorescent chemical which produces a fluoresced region on the band of fluorescent chemical, and positioning a detector on the band of fluorescent chemicals to detect the fluoresced region on the band of fluorescent chemical to determine the position of the implement with respect to the fluoresced region and thereby maintain the implement on course.
The invention comprises a toy vehicle such as a train, for moving about a track and which includes an optical sensing apparatus. The vehicle includes a charge coupled device to sense radiant energy external of the vehicle. The vehicle includes sensing circuitry to convert the image into a video signal. The video signal is FM modulated and supplied to the track by a transmitter on the vehicle for transmission to a receiver. The receiver receives the FM signal and demodulates same to produce a video signal adapted to be received by a monitor for viewing by the user of the toy vehicle as the vehicle moves along the track.
