Accurate Camera Head Tracking in Pipe Inspection Systems
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Summary
Problems
Existing pipe inspection systems face challenges in accurately tracking the location of a camera head within a pipe or cavity due to issues such as signal loss from pipe Sondes, electromagnetic interference, and difficulty in locating the pipe Sonde signal at the ground surface, leading to inefficiencies and frustration for users.
Innovation solutions
A video inspection and camera head tracking system that includes a push-cable, cable storage drum, camera head with image sensors, and radio communication module to wirelessly communicate camera head position data to utility locator devices, utilizing inertial navigation and motion estimation algorithms to determine and display the camera head's position relative to the cable storage drum, enabling accurate tracking and mapping.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If a pipe Sonde with electromagnetic signals is used for tracking, then the camera head position can be sensed at the ground surface, but the signal may be lost due to deeply buried pipes, nearby conductive elements, or electromagnetic signal interference
Why choose this principle:
The patent introduces an intermediary wireless communication system between the camera head and ground surface equipment. Instead of relying solely on electromagnetic signals from the pipe Sonde that can be blocked or interfered with, the system uses wireless data transmission to relay position information, ensuring continuous tracking even when electromagnetic signals are lost
Principle concept:
If a pipe Sonde with electromagnetic signals is used for tracking, then the camera head position can be sensed at the ground surface, but the signal may be lost due to deeply buried pipes, nearby conductive elements, or electromagnetic signal interference
Why choose this principle:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic signal-based tracking system with an inertial navigation system that uses mechanical sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) to track camera head position. This substitution eliminates dependency on electromagnetic signals that are susceptible to interference from conductive elements and deeply buried pipes
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A video inspection and camera head tracking system that includes a push-cable, cable storage drum, camera head with image sensors, and radio communication module to wirelessly communicate camera head position data to utility locator devices, utilizing inertial navigation and motion estimation algorithms to determine and display the camera head's position relative to the cable storage drum, enabling accurate tracking and mapping.
Abstract
Various systems and methods are disclosed for tracking a camera head deployed into a pipe or other cavity. The systems and methods may include inertial navigation sensors for generating inertial navigation data to direct a user towards a location where the signal emitted by a pipe Sonde may be found at startup or, when in use, the pipe Sonde signal has been temporarily lost by the utility locator device. Various other sensors and elements may generate camera head position data.