Abstract:
A distance detecting device is mounted on a user&#39;s vehicle to detect a distance between the user&#39;s vehicle and a leading vehicle moving in front of the user&#39;s vehicle. The distance detecting device communicates with a processing device, which applies race based distance rules to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle is close to or incurring a penalty based at least on the distance between the user&#39;s vehicle and the leading vehicle. An indication can be given to the user regarding an impending penalty and/or when a penalty is incurred. Similarly, the device can be read to apply a penalty. Various modifications can be made to allow for recording, display, and transmission of racing and penalty statistics, enabling and disabling recordation of penalty occurrences, tailoring the penalty determinations to a given race, and mounting the distance detecting device to a vehicle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/788,226, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates generally to distance detectors and more particularly to a distance detector for use in enforcing distance based regulations and related penalties in a race setting. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In various race settings, a racer can obtain an advantage by racing closely behind another racer. This advantage is caused by the leading racer&#39;s causing a disturbance in the air. The following rider generally will experience less drag by racing in the disturbed air created by the leading racer. Therefore, the following racer will exert less energy and effort by traveling in the disturbed air. Traveling in the disturbed air caused by another racer is called drafting. 
     Because of this advantage gained by drafting, various races have various rules regarding how long a following racer may travel within a given distance behind another racer. For example, in the biking portion of a triathlon, riders can only race within a given distance behind and within lateral distance to the side of a leading racer for a particular amount of time for a penalty is assessed against the drafting rider. Accurately assessing such penalties is difficult in a bicycle race setting, however, because judges cannot be effectively placed to cover an entire race course in a typical event. 
     SUMMARY 
     Generally speaking, and pursuant to these various embodiments, apparatuses and methods are described for monitoring distance behind a moving vehicle. In one example, the distance detecting device is mounted on a user&#39;s vehicle to detect a distance between the user&#39;s vehicle and a leading vehicle moving in front of the user&#39;s vehicle. The distance detecting device communicates with a processing device, which applies race based distance rules to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle is close to or incurring a penalty based at least on the distance between the user&#39;s vehicle and the leading vehicle. An indication can be given to the user regarding an impending penalty and/or when a penalty is incurred. Various modifications can be made to allow for recording, display, and transmission of racing and penalty statistics, enabling and disabling recordation of penalty occurrences, tailoring the penalty determinations to a given race, and mounting the distance detecting device to a vehicle. 
     For instance, the distance detector and be configured to mount on any of several portions of a bicycle in an aerodynamic manner to notify a rider of whether he or she is riding within a penalty distance of another rider and whether a penalty is about to be assessed. This information can be transmitted to race officials to apply the correct penalty to the racer. So configured, race rules can be more accurately and consistently applied in a racing context. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example distance sensing device system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example distance detector in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of one end of the example distance detector of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the mount portion of the example distance detector of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example pin used with a mount in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an example process for reading signals from a distance sensing device in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of one example approach to a distance detector in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a circuit diagram of an example approach to a distance detector having two processors in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating an example process for reading signals from a distance sensing device in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , an example apparatus  100  for monitoring distance behind a moving vehicle will be described. The apparatus  100  includes a housing  105  configured to mount to a user&#39;s vehicle  110 . The housing  105  contains at least a distance sensing device  115  configured to output a signal proportional to a distance X between the distance sensing device  115  and a leading vehicle  120 . Any self-contained distance sensor (one not needing a corresponding device on the object from which distance is measured) can be used. In one example, a sonar based sensor can be used, such as the XL-MAXSONAR—WR1 or WR2 sonar range finder from MAXBOTIX, although other such devices can be used. In such an example, the distance sensing device  115  will output a signal such as a voltage that is proportional to the distance between the senor and a sensed object, such as a leading vehicle  120 . The leading vehicle  120  will change through the use of the apparatus as different vehicles take a position in front of the user&#39;s vehicle  110 ; accordingly, reference to a leading vehicle need not necessarily always refer to the same leading vehicle unless explicitly stated. The housing  105  also contains a processing device  125  in communication with the distance sensing device  115  to receive the signal. 
     With momentary reference to  FIG. 6 , one approach to reading the signal from the distance sensing device  115  will be described. To avoid having random erroneous signals causing erroneous determinations, the processing device  125  averages samples of the signal and uses the average in the algorithms discussed below for making determinations regarding the sensed distance. In the example of  FIG. 6 , after starting up  605  and completing a warm up routine  610 , the processing device  125  reads an analog signal from the distance sensing device  115  and performs an analog to digital (ADC) conversion  615  to allow the processing device  125  to process digital signals corresponding to the analog signals output by the distance sensing device  115 . To process the digital signals, they are stored  620 . After the first signal is stored  620 , a timer is started, and the process checks  625  whether the timer has reached 1000 milliseconds (1 second). If not, after 100 milliseconds has passed  630 , another sample of the analog signal is read  615 , converted to digital, and stored  620 . In response to determining that the timer reached 1000 milliseconds  625  whereupon ten samples are stored, the stored samples or digital signal readings are averaged  635  (thus effecting a sampling rate of ten Hertz), and the timer is re-set to zero. The processing device  125  then uses the average result to determine the state  640  of the distance detector, i.e., how far away is a detected object such as a leading vehicle  120 . Alternatively, the average result can be sent via a serial bus connection to another processing device for determining the state  640 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , in various applications, the housing  105  of the apparatus  100  can be mounted using a mount  128  to the user&#39;s vehicle  110  in any suitable manner so that the distance sensing device  115  can reliably detect a leading vehicle  120 . When used in a bicycle context, the housing  105  can be mounted to, for example, the handle bars, center support, wheel support, or the like. With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , one example mounting system suitable for use on bicycles will be described. A mount  205  includes a base  210  defining a curved side  215  configured to engage a support surface of the user&#39;s vehicle  110 . A shaft  220  extends from a side  225  of the base  210  opposite that of the curved side  215 . The shaft  220  includes at least one flange  230 . The housing  240  of this example defines a curved slot  242  on at least two of the housing&#39;s  240  sides  244 ,  246 ,  248 . The curved slot  242  is sized to engage and receive the shaft  220  and the at least one flange  230  to securely position the housing  240  relative to the user&#39;s vehicle&#39;s  110  structure. This curved shape of the curved slot  242  allows for multiple places and angles at which the housing  105  can be mounted. Although the housing  105  is illustrated having a particular shape and size, the housing  105  can have a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations and still meet any combination of the teachings of this disclosure. The mount  205  in this example includes a plurality of inwardly facing hooks  250  configured to hold an elastic member that can engage the hooks  250  and wrap around a portion of the bicycle to secure the mount  205 . The curved side  215  of the mount  205  may include a friction surface to further secure the mount to the bicycle, preventing slipping. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a pin  260  that inserts into the mount  205  through the middle of the shaft  220 . The pin shaft  262  extends through the shaft  220  to engage an inner portion of the curved slot  242  of the housing  240 . A flanged portion  264  of the pin  260  engages and is pressed by the user vehicle portion on which the mount  205  is attached. So configured, the pressure of the user vehicle portion on the flanged portion  264  pushed the pin  206  through the shaft&#39;s  220  aperture  232  to engage the housing  240  thereby locking the mount  205  and the housing  240  in place. 
     With respect to mounting on a bicycle, the device may be mounted at any of various different locations on a bicycle. For example, the device may be mounted directly on the handlebars, the head tube, or the front fork. Mounting on the front fork may be less than ideal because the front wheel may interfere with the device&#39;s operation. If the device is mounted on the left side of the front fork, for example, the device may have difficulty in reliably detecting a leading bicycle positioned ahead but slightly to the right. Also, if mounted on the front fork in proximity to the wheel, the device may be susceptible to damage in the event that it is displaced into contact with the wheel. As one possible solution to these problems, the device may be mounted on a cantilever extending forward from the fork or from the frame or handlebars. Alternatively, to provide a more rigid support, the device may be mounted on a strut extending from the fork to the handlebars. The strut may be rigidly connected to the handlebars and to the fork and may provide a range of positions for the device such that the device may be adjusted upward or downward along the strut to a suitable position. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , an indicator  130  is operatively connected to receive signals from the processing device  125  to control provision of an indication to the user regarding application of distance based rules to the user&#39;s vehicle  110 . The indicator  130  can comprise any indicator suitable to notify the user of the information regarding the distance and penalty aspects discussed herein.  FIG. 2  illustrates three lights that can light in three different colors corresponding to three different conditions of the sensed distance. For instance, the first light  231  may light green to indicate that the distance detector does not sense a leading vehicle within a penalty distance of the user&#39;s vehicle. A second light  233  may light yellow to indicate that the user&#39;s vehicle is within a penalty distance but that the user has not violated a time limit for being within the penalty distance. A third light  235  may light red to indicate that the user&#39;s vehicle has violated a drafting rule. Other indicators may include an alphanumeric display, an audio output, or the like that can communicate to a user. Other options for communicating racing distance and penalty information are discussed herein. Accordingly, the indicator  130  may be mounted on or within the housing  105  or be separate from the housing  105  and located in a different place on or within the user&#39;s vehicle  110 . The indicator  130  may be connected to communicate with the processing device  115  wirelessly or via a wired connections. 
     The processing device  125  is configured to monitor the signal from the distance sensing device  115  to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within a penalty distance and to monitor an amount of time that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that such a processor can comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform or can include a plurality of processors working together. All of these architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one example circuit diagram for the apparatus  100 . This includes a power source  702  such as a battery that provides a five volt power signal for the circuit and a power switch  704  that can turn on and off the apparatus  100  by connecting and disconnecting the power source  702 . The distance sensor  715  is wired to a processor device  725  that is connected to a quartz crystal oscillator  727 , which provides the timing signal for the processor device  725 . Here, the indicator includes three separately wired light emitting diodes  731 ,  733 , and  735  that are controlled by the processing device  725 . This example also includes a user switch  737  that can start and stop the processing device&#39;s  725  tracking distance. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another example circuit diagram, which example illustrates a two processor approach where a first processor  824  takes and averages signals from the sensor  715 , which averaged results are provided over the serial line  821  to a second processor  825  (using a second oscillator  827 ) that makes the distance and penalty determinations as described herein. 
     The processing device  125  is further configured to control the indicator  130  to provide a first indication in response to determining that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance from a leading vehicle  120 . This would correspond to the example of lighting a yellow light  233  as discussed with reference to  FIG. 2 . The processing device  125  can be further configured to control the indicator to provide a second indication in response to determining that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance from a leading vehicle  120  for more than a threshold amount of time. In the context of a triathlon, this second indication would be provided in response to sensing that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance of a leading vehicle  120  for more than 15 seconds. This second indication would correspond to the example of lighting a red light  235  as discussed with reference to  FIG. 2 . Similarly, the processing device  125  can be further configured to control the indicator  130  to provide an indication that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is outside of the penalty distance of a leading vehicle  120 . This indication would correspond to the example of lighting a green light  231  as discussed with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The processing device  125  can be further configured to take into account various race conditions that could determine whether a penalty is ultimately assessed. The following examples relate to triathlon rules governing the bicycle portion of the competition, but similar rules governing other situations can be applied. For instance, the processing device  125  can be configured to account for passing rules. In one example, the processing device  125  is configured to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is decreasing the distance between the distance sensing device  115  and the leading vehicle  120  while the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance. In response to determining that the distance is continually decreasing, the processing device  125  will not provide the second indication in response to determining that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance from a leading vehicle  120  for more than the threshold amount of time, thereby accounting for the user&#39;s vehicle  110  executing a pass of the leading vehicle  120 . 
     In another example, various race courses may have stretches where drafting penalties are waived because of inevitable bunching of riders such as during long hill climbs or in particularly curved portions of the race course. Accordingly, the apparatus  100  can be configured to not indicate or record a penalty against the user when riding through these areas of the course. In one approach, the apparatus  100  includes a wireless receiver  140  operatively connected to the processing device  125 . The wireless receiver  140  receives a disable wireless signal from a wireless transmitter  145  located along a race route. The processing device  125  in this case is configured to not monitor the signal from the distance detecting device  115  to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance in response to receiving a disable signal from the wireless receiver  140 . The monitoring may automatically restart after a period of time after receiving the disable signal. In another approach, the wireless receiver  140  can be further configured to receive an enable wireless signal from a wireless transmitter  145  located along the race route such that the processing device  125  re-enables monitoring of the signal to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance in response to receiving an enable signal from the wireless receiver  140 . These enable/disable transmitters  145  can be any short range or other wireless communication system that can signal to the apparatus  100  that is has passed a given point on the race course. This can include radio frequency identification signals (RFID) or others. Such systems are known for use in race situations to track timing of racers. Other such systems can be used. By still another approach, a GPS type system can be incorporated into the apparatus  100  to track location sufficient to toggle between an enabled and disabled mode with respect to tracking drafting penalties. In other approaches, the apparatus  100  can be configured to receive signals from transmitters  145  along the course to tag in time where the apparatus  100  passed the transmitters  145 , and the course location can be correlated to a point in time in the apparatus  100  by the processing device  125 . These methods may also be applied to activate and deactivate the apparatus  100  at the beginning and end of a race. So configured, the apparatus  100  is self-sufficient and does not require any other external hardware. 
     In another approach, the processing device  125  can receive speed signals regarding a speed of the user&#39;s vehicle  110  from a speedometer  150  or  155 . The speedometer  150  can be mounted within the apparatus  100  or elsewhere on the user vehicle  110 . The processing device  125  can determine an approximate location of the user&#39;s vehicle  110  based on a recorded history of the user&#39;s vehicle&#39;s speed by referencing a stored record of portions of the race course where drafting penalties will not be applied. Accordingly, the processing device  125  will not monitor the signal from the distance sensing device  115  to determine whether the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance in response to determining that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is in a portion of a race course exempt from drafting penalties. In still another approach, if the speed of the user&#39;s vehicle  110  decreases in a set way (as may occur when approaching a curve, climbing a slope, trying to avoid an obstacle, or trying to avoid a crash), the device  100  may be set to not assess a penalty. 
     In yet another approach, the device may be configured with certain pattern recognition algorithms to determine whether the sensed distance should be penalized or disregarded as fitting a pattern consistent with permissible riding such as riding in conditions where being within a drafting zone is permitted. For instance, the apparatus  100  may include an accelerometer  165 , which is configured to detect vibration, connected to send signals to the processing device  125  regarding the amount of vibration detected. A rider may ride through a race course to record a vibration pattern for the course. A later rider can use the recorded vibration pattern as may be stored in the memory  160  by having the processing device  125  compare a presently detected vibration patterns sensed by the accelerometer  165  to determine where the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the course. The accelerometer  165  can further be used to sense deceleration or speed of the user&#39;s vehicle  110 , which information the processing device  125  can use to disable tracking of penalties by determining based on the deceleration or speed that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is in a portion of the race where drafting penalties are waived. For instance, the user&#39;s vehicle  110  can ride without drafting penalty when approaching a curve, climbing a slope, trying to avoid an obstacle, or trying to avoid a crash, each of which has a signature deceleration or speed reduction. By sensing the signature deceleration or speed reduction via the signals from the accelerometer  165  and/or other speed detection devices  150  and  155 , the processing device  125  can responsively disable distance detection or penalty tracking. 
     Several use cases further illustrate how the apparatus  100  may operate. In a typical triathlon, when passing a rider, you are allowed to be in their slipstream for a maximum of 15 seconds. After this time period, drafting is penalized. There are no regulations about exiting the draft and getting back into it. As a result, a Triathlete could use the apparatus  100  to take advantage of this situation by entering the illegal drafting zone for 15 seconds, exiting, and re-entering all over again. Algorithms may be applied to avoid this result. For example, the apparatus  100  may be configured to track time in between exiting and re-entering the illegal drafting zone and/or track how often over a given time period a rider exits and re-enters the illegal drafting zone. 
     In another example, a rider is passing another rider, and the analog voltage signal from the distance sensing device  115  increases proportionally with the speed at which the rider is passing. If the analog voltage signal continues to increase during a course of 15 seconds, and there is a jump in the signal that would not be proportional to the user vehicle&#39;s  110  passing speed, no penalty is recorded. This does not matter whether the rider enters another drafting zone of the rider in front of them as long as the rider is still progressing forward on the next rider. If the rider is progressing forward, the rider will enter another 15 second passing period for the next passing session. This step through of passing sessions is called “Passing Progression.” 
     Consider the example where a rider enters the draft of another rider, but the rider does not enter into a Passing Progression. If the rider does not progressively pass the Triathlete on the leading vehicle and instead exits the drafting zone before 15 seconds passes, penalties will be recorded for the duration that the rider traveled in the draft. 
     In still another example, a rider enters the draft of another rider beginning to progressively pass, but the rider fails to pass within 15 seconds. At the end of the 15 second passing period, recording of time in the penalty distance begins for reporting and assessment of penalties against the rider. 
     In yet another example, a rider enters the draft of another rider beginning to progressively pass, but the rider cannot manage the pass. Accordingly, the rider exits the drafting zone within the 15 second drafting period. The rider can either demonstrate a partial pass (Passing Progression for part of the drafting period, then exit left or right out of the draft—resulting in an analog jump in the signal from the distance sensing device  115 ), or the rider can perform a partial pass and then exit the draft in the reverse manner, in which case the analog voltage signal decreases as the distance between the riders grows. In either case, the apparatus does not record or indicate a penalty. These examples will be referred to as partial with bail, and partial with reverse exit, respectively. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates one example approach to detecting a Passing Progression. Here the processing device  125  waits  905  for a distance measurement and stores  910  it as a number. When using the sample collection method described above with reference to  FIG. 6 , a distance measurement is taken every second. Next, the processing device  125  determines  915  whether three samples have been taken. If not, the sample is stored  920  until a next sample is collected one second later. After three samples have been stored, the processing device  125  averages  925  the samples and stores  930  the averaged result in an array. Next the processing device  125  determines  935  whether the array stores five averaged results. If not, steps  905 ,  910 ,  915 ,  920 ,  925 , and  930  are repeated until the array stores five averaged results. Then, the processing device  125  determines whether the averaged results increased sequentially, which would indicate that a sensed object such as a leading vehicle  120  is getting closer to the distance sensing device  115  over the fifteen second of collecting the information in the array. If not, the processing device  125  will control  945  the indicator to show one indicator to indicate a possibility of assessment of a penalty. If so, thereby indicating a Passing Progression, the processing device  125  will control  950  the indicator to show another indicator to indicate no assessment of a penalty at that time. 
     Unfortunately, some riders may try to trick the apparatus  100  by selectively entering and exiting the drafting zone or penalty distance to maximize drafting while not incurring a penalty as may be applied by the apparatus  100 . In addition to application of the above processes to help discern the behavior of the rider, trickery of the apparatus  100  can be mitigated by tracking a history of the user vehicle&#39;s  110  entering and exiting the penalty distance and assessing a penalty if the history indicates abusive racing behavior. In one such approach, the apparatus  100  will include a memory  160  operatively connected to the processing device  125  such that the processing device  125  can store a history of the user&#39;s vehicle  110  entering and exiting the penalty distance from a leading vehicle  120  and determine a successive pattern in the user&#39;s vehicle  110  entering and exiting the penalty distance from a leading vehicle  120 . In response to determining the successive pattern, the processing device  125  records in the memory device  170  a total amount of time that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  is within the penalty distance from a leading vehicle  120  during the successive pattern. For example, if a partial with bail and/or partial with reverse exit is repeated on the same rider and/or group of riders, the apparatus  100  can record the time that was spent in the drafting zone or penalty distance. 
     In addition to providing real time feedback to a user regarding distance determinations and the possible assessment of penalties, the apparatus  100  can be configured to store this information and provide it to a race official for assessment of any accrued penalties. In one approach, the apparatus  100  includes a memory device  160  operatively connected to the processing device  125  such that the processing device  125  stores in the memory device  160  a number of times that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  was within the penalty distance of a leading vehicle  120  for more than the threshold amount of time. This information can then be sent from the memory device  160  or accessed in the memory device  160  for assessment of the penalties. For instance, the apparatus  100  may include a wireless transmitter  170  configured to transmit information conveying the number of times that the user&#39;s vehicle  110  was within the penalty distance of a leading vehicle  120  for more than the threshold amount of time to a device reader  175 . The device reader  175  may be disposed at the end of a bicycle portion of a triathlon or held by a race official to read this information from the apparatus  100  immediately upon the user&#39;s completing the bicycle course. The transmitter  170  and receiver  140  may be separate or combined devices as known in the art and capable of supporting the wireless communication discussed here. By another approach, the processing device  125  can control the indicator  130  to provide relevant penalty information such as an indication conveying the number of times that the user&#39;s vehicle was within the penalty distance of a leading vehicle for more than the threshold amount of time, which indication can come at the end of the bicycle course for reading by a race official who will implement any penalties. Other options include having at least a portion of the memory device  160  being a removable memory that is readily read by another device to assess penalty related or other racing information. 
     It should be noted that various combinations of various aspects of the above described approaches and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For instance, the teachings of this disclosure may be readily modified to apply in a variety of other settings that deal with motion, patterns, proximity, or distance regulation/monitoring. Such settings include, for example, medicine where biomechanics or biochemistry use motion capture and motion recognition, monitoring and recognizing motions and movement patterns, or recognizing blood flow and fluid motion or musculoskeletal motions where the device was significantly reduced in size. Other settings include NASCAR or Formula One Racing for monitoring and/or regulating distance between cars, traffic monitoring systems for recognizing patterns and using them to communicate heavy traffic areas or road use, traffic safety where car distances are monitored for safety and for car/pedestrian distance monitoring, go-cart racing for keeping a safe distance between carts, driving lessons to monitor tailgating, road kill/animal-vehicle safety for alerting when animals cross roads, security systems to recognize patterns of movement and sound alarms, fitness monitoring systems for estimating energy expenditure by recognizing activities, motion pattern detectors for recognizing motions of people doing work in a factory, animals in their environment, and the like for research purposes, and weather monitoring for recording and monitoring movement of plants and trees to detect wind patterns (or wave patterns) to alert when storms are likely to occur. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.