code: public static float parseFloat (@Nullable final Object aObject, final float fDefault)
    {
      if (aObject == null)
        return fDefault;
      if (aObject instanceof Number)
        return ((Number) aObject).floatValue ();
      return parseFloat (aObject.toString (), fDefault);
    }
docs: Parse the given {@link Object} as float. Note: both the locale independent
  form of a float can be parsed here (e.g. 4.523) as well as a localized form
  using the comma as the decimal separator (e.g. the German 4,523).
  
  @param aObject
  The object to parse. May be <code>null</code>.
  @param fDefault
  The default value to be returned if the passed object could not be
  converted to a valid value.
  @return The default value if the object does not represent a valid value.