A method of tracking an object including producing a guided surface wave with a guided surface waveguide probe, the guided surface wave having sufficient energy density to power object identification tags across an area of interest; receiving return signals from a tag of interest at plural receivers, the tag of interest associated with an object and the receivers that receive the return signals change over time as the tag moves with the associated object in the area of interest; and identifying a series of geolocations at which the object was present as a function of time according to the received reply signals from the tag.

Systems and method are provided for using millimeter-wave radar for terrain-aided navigation in support of autonomous guidance, landing, and mapping functions in all weather for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). In an embodiment, a UAV can generate a map, based on millimeter-wave (MMW) radar returns, that rejects a large number of radar measurements as clutter and generates a flight path using waypoints based on the map. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a means of correlating MMW radar returns with high resolution terrain maps to enable navigation in GPS-denied environments. This process significantly reduces cost, development time, and complexity when compared to conventional approaches.

Systems and methods are provided for autonomous airborne vehicle control using a millimeter-wave (MMW) radar. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable a MMW radar system to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in accomplishing missions involving interacting with peers. In an embodiment, a MMW radar module of a UAV in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the UAV to take a measurement (e.g., regarding the location of another UAV) using the MMW radar, classify a return (e.g., a MMW radar return), determine whether the detected object is a peer, and update the vehicle velocity accordingly.

Systems and methods are provided for autonomous airborne vehicle control using a millimeter-wave (MMW) radar. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable a MMW radar system to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in accomplishing missions involving interacting with peers. In an embodiment, a MMW radar module of a UAV in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the UAV to take a measurement (e.g., regarding the location of another UAV) using the MMW radar, classify a return (e.g., a MMW radar return), determine whether the detected object is a peer, and update the vehicle velocity accordingly.

A light source emits a modulated light, and a radio-frequency transceiver disposed therewith emits a radio-frequency signal. A mobile device may receive either or both signals and determine its position based thereon. The light and radio-frequency sources may be disposed in node in a network of said sources, and the nodes may communicate via the radio-frequency transceivers.

Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting missing or miss positioned labels. The system can include a portable scanning device to scan machine-readable elements included on labels at a first and second location. The portable scanning device can detect the acceleration and the cumulative change between the first and second location. The portable scanning device or a computing system can determine the distance between the first and second location based on the acceleration data. The computing system can place a data point on a map of an estimated location of the location of the first scan and the location of the second scan.

A light source emits a modulated light, and a radio-frequency transceiver disposed therewith emits a radio-frequency signal. A mobile device may receive either or both signals and determine its position based thereon. The light and radio-frequency sources may be disposed in node in a network of said sources, and the nodes may communicate via the radio-frequency transceivers.

A control system of an article according to an embodiment includes a first transmitter having a first radio signal range, being mounted at a first location, and transmitting first position information relating to the first location, a second transmitter having a second radio signal range, being mounted at a second location, and transmitting second position information relating to the second location, the second radio signal range being narrower than the first radio signal range, an acquirer acquiring the first position information and the second position information, and a memory part, information relating to the article is associated with the first position information or the second position information and stored in the memory part.

A control system of an article according to an embodiment includes a first transmitter having a first radio signal range, being mounted at a first location, and transmitting first position information relating to the first location, a second transmitter having a second radio signal range, being mounted at a second location, and transmitting second position information relating to the second location, the second radio signal range being narrower than the first radio signal range, an acquirer acquiring the first position information and the second position information, and a memory part, information relating to the article is associated with the first position information or the second position information and stored in the memory part.

Drone-based wireless communications systems are provided, as are methods carried-out by such wireless communications systems. In one embodiment, the wireless communications system includes a Satellite Signal Transformation (SST) unit and a plurality of aerial network drones, which can be deployed over a designated geographical area to form a multi-drone network thereover. During operation, the SST unit transmits a network source signal, which contains content extracted from a satellite signal. The multi-drone network receives the network source signal, disseminates drone relay signals containing the content through the multi-drone network, and broadcastings user device signals containing the content over the designated geographical area. In embodiments, the multi-drone network may broadcast multiple different types of user device signals for reception by various different types of user devices located within the designated geographical area, such as an area containing communication infrastructure disabled by a natural disaster, a hostile attack, or other catastrophic event.