Detection method in conductive media

Abstract

Optionally, a method of detection in a conductive medium, possibly performed independently of a mobile system, is provided that can dynamically and automatically optimize the performance of the detection system in terms of object detection range or location or object shape or object properties determination. The method allows locating or identifying an object in a conductive medium by means of a detection system comprising n electrodes in direct electrical contact with the conductive medium. The n electrodes can be placed in at least three different states: transmitting, receiving, and disconnected. Before a series of measurements, the operating point of the detection system is determined by the configuration of the state of each electrode, the frequency of the sinusoidal component of the electrical signal emitted by the transmitting electrode, or the amplitude of the electrical signal emitted by one of the electrodes configured in the transmitting or receiving state, depending on a previously given command, a previous configuration of the system, or a previous measurement result of one of the electrodes.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for sensing in a conductive medium. [Background technology]

[0002] More precisely, the present invention relates to a method of detection in a conductive medium using a system including a number of electrodes that allows the use of electrical sensing. That is, an electric field is generated by a number of electrodes and measurements of electrical values ​​associated with this field are utilized to obtain information about the conductive medium itself or objects within the conductive medium.

[0003] In the field of detection in conductive media, it is known to measure electrical values ​​using receiving electrodes and to deduce therefrom information about the presence of objects or edges or geometric parameters such as these objects or edges as well as their orientation in the conductive medium, without prior knowledge of these geometric parameters.

[0004] For example, WO 2013 / 014392 describes a method for controlling the movement of a movable system in a conductive medium, the system including at least one electrode in contact with the medium. This method notably comprises the step of measuring an electrical property of the medium, (more precisely the current intensity) by means of this electrode, in this case called the receiving electrode. In one particular embodiment, the control method envisages a possibly automated management step of the electrical connectivity of electrodes, which may be generating electrodes and / or receiving electrodes, with the aim of optimizing the detection range or the positioning accuracy of the mobile system in relation to the detected object.

[0005] However, the method described by WO 2013 / 014392 aims at optimally managing the movements of the mobile system. The management of the electrical connectivity of the electrodes is based on the movement of a mobile system. In particular, three connectivity modes are defined: an attractive mode that allows approaching an object, a repulsive mode that allows moving away from an object, and an object boundary tracking mode that allows moving along an object. Similarly, it is possible to configure the electrodes in a mode in which detection coverage is optimal.

[0006] However, the measured electrical values ​​(amplitude of voltage or current intensity at a fixed frequency) as well as the possible states (generating state, transmitting state, or terminal common to several electrodes (called terminal B1 in this document)) of the electrodes do not allow to obtain maximum performance in terms of the size of the object for perception, other than the detection range or positioning accuracy of the mobile system, such as the shape, size or material properties of the detected object. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 014392 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention therefore aims at a method of detection in a conductive medium, optionally performed independently of a mobile system, which is able to dynamically and automatically optimize the performance of the detection system in terms of object detection range or location or object shape or object properties determination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of sensing in a conductive medium using a detection system that includes a plurality of electrodes in direct electrical contact with the conductive medium.

[0010] The detection system includes the following: - a number of electrodes (Ei) in direct electrical contact with said medium and having a state that can be selected from the list: {transmit, receive, disconnect}; - a measuring device for at least one electrical value for each of said electrodes configured in a transmitting or receiving state, selected from the list: {current intensity across the electrode, electrode potential}; - a switching device enabling each of said electrodes to be placed in a state selected from the list {transmit, receive, disconnect}; - at least one processor which exchanges information with the measuring device and the switching device;

[0011] The method includes the following steps. A processor: - Pre-given instructions, - and / or the previous configuration of the detection system, and / or the result of a previous measurement at the level of at least one of the electrodes transmitted by the measuring device, determining an operating point of the detection system in response to Determining the operating point of the detection system includes: - The state of each electrode, chosen among three states: transmit, receive, and disconnect; - the frequency of at least one sinusoidal component of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state; - the amplitude of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state, b. a switching device receiving information about an operating point of the system determined by the processor and configuring the detection system at the determined operating point; c. A series of measurements is performed by the measuring device, the series of measurements consisting of the evaluation of at least one electrical value at the level of each of the electrodes configured in a receiving or transmitting state, and the measuring device transmits the measurement data to a processor.

[0012] These measures make it possible to automatically and dynamically configure the conditions of the different electrodes so as to maximize the detection performance in relation to the detection objectives determined before each series of measurements. For example, the goal may be to optimize the detection range in one or more directions in space, as well as the accuracy of localization of a detected object, and as well as the accuracy of recognition of the shape and / or properties of this object.

[0013] In one embodiment, the detection method further comprises a complementary step, referred to as step d, in which the processor calculates at least one mapping data of the conductive medium from the measurement data.

[0014] This measure allows the detection system to provide a mapping of all or part of the space surrounding the detection system after completing a series of measurements. This mapping can then be utilized to move the mobile system.

[0015] In one embodiment, the steps of the method are repeated at least once in the same order and instructions are transmitted to the processor to control the repetition of the steps before a first step a of the distal or non-distal operator detection method or during the distal operator detection method.

[0016] By this measure, the mapping provided by the detection system can be enriched with complementary information derived from successive series of measurements, possibly adapting in real time. This mapping may then be utilized to navigate the mobile system and to track the evolution of the nature and / or location of one or more objects within the surrounding space.

[0017] In one embodiment of the method, the operating point of the system determined in step a may be selected from the list: {'Range' mode, 'Localization' mode, 'Identification' mode}, where 'Range' mode enables obtaining maximum detection range in a given direction or directions of the medium, 'Localization' mode enables obtaining maximum accuracy for localization of previously detected objects, and 'Identification' mode enables obtaining highest resolution for the shape and / or composition of previously detected objects.

[0018] In one embodiment of the method, the operating point of the detection system automatically transitions from one step a to the next step, i.e. if an object is detected and this object is located at a distance less than the threshold distance d2, if the system was in the "Range" mode, it transitions from this mode to the "Location" mode, - if an object is detected and located at a distance less than the threshold distance d3 or with a shape and / or properties corresponding to the command, if the system was in the "location" mode, it transitions from this mode to the "identification" mode, If an object is detected and the distance at which the detected object is located is greater than the threshold distance d2, if the system was in the “Location” mode, it will transition from this mode to the “Range” mode.

[0019] These measures allow the detection system to automatically transition from range mode to location mode when approaching a detected object, then to identification mode when approaching even closer to the object, and finally back to range mode when moving away from the object after transitioning to location mode.

[0020] In one embodiment of the method, the shape and / or frequency and / or amplitude of the signal emitted by the electrodes configured in an emitting state for the operating point determined in step a) is selected at the end of the frequency scan.

[0021] By this measure, the optimum operating frequency for a series of subsequent measurements is determined without prior knowledge of the surrounding space.

[0022] In one embodiment of the method, the signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state for the operating point determined in step a) is a combination of at least two sinusoidal signals of different frequencies.

[0023] By this measure, information corresponding to each frequency is collected, allowing the detection of specific elements of the surrounding space, such as the interface between two different media.

[0024] In one embodiment of the method, if an object is detected in step d, the amplitude and / or shape and / or frequency of the sinusoidal components of the electrical signal emitted by each of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state for an operating point determined in the subsequent step a) is determined depending on the distance from the detected object.

[0025] This measure likewise makes it possible to build up a mapping of the surrounding space step by step and even to move the mobile system dynamically, i.e. by optimizing the operating point of the subsequent series of measurements depending on the detection results of the last series of measurements carried out.

[0026] In one embodiment of the method, if an object is detected in step d, the position on the system of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state for the operating point determined in the subsequent step a is determined depending on the shape and / or position of the detected object.

[0027] This measure makes it possible to build up a mapping of the surrounding space step by step and even to move the mobile system dynamically, i.e. by optimizing the operating point of the subsequent series of measurements depending on the detection results of the last series of measurements carried out.

[0028] In one embodiment of the method, a known reference is used to determine the at least one mapping data in step d.

[0029] This measure makes it possible, for example, to use a chart containing the electrical signature of an object in order to draw conclusions about the nature of the detected object.

[0030] Correspondingly, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of the detection method when the program is executed on a computer.

[0031] The invention also relates to a detection system in a conductive medium, comprising: - a number of electrodes (Ei) in direct electrical contact with said medium and having a state that can be selected from the list: {transmit, receive, disconnect}; - a measuring device for at least one electrical value for each of said electrodes placed in transmitting or receiving state, selected from the list: {current intensity across the electrode, electrode potential}; - a switching device enabling each of said electrodes to be placed in a state selected from the list {transmit, receive, disconnect}; - exchanging information with measuring and switching devices, and - Pre-given instructions; and / or the previous configuration of the system; and / or the result of a previous measurement at the level of at least one of said electrodes transmitted by a measuring device, at least one processor configured to determine an operating point of the detection system in response to A system comprising: Determining the operating point of the system includes: - the state of each electrode, selected from at least three states: transmit, receive, and disconnect; - the frequency of at least one sinusoidal component of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the transmitting electrodes; - the amplitude of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state; the processor transmitting information about the determined operating point to the switching device; It also concerns the system.

[0032] In one embodiment, the mobile system further comprises a control module adapted to control movement of said mobile system based on measurement results of the detection system obtained according to the detection method in one of the embodiments described above.

[0033] This measure allows the mobile system to move without prior knowledge of the medium in which it will move.

[0034] In one embodiment of the mobile system, the electrodes of the detection system are distributed over at least a portion of the surface of said mobile system that is in contact with said medium.

[0035] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings which are briefly described below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 represents an embodiment of a mobile system equipped with a detection system comprising electrodes distributed at the level of the surface and in contact with the external medium. [Diagram 2] 2 illustrates the electrical architecture of a switching box. [Diagram 3] 1 shows an example of a switching cell for a given electrode in detail. [Figure 4] 1 represents the electrical circuit of the cell corresponding to electrodes i and j in a connected state, when electrode i is in measurement mode U and electrode j is in measurement mode I. [Diagram 5]1 represents the proportion of time that an electrode is activated as a function of its position on the detection system in the simplified case of a two-dimensional in-medium detection system in "isotropic" coverage mode. The detection system is stationary in the conductive medium in this particular example. [Figure 6] 14 represents the proportion of time that an electrode is activated as a function of its position on the detection system in the simplified case of an in-medium detection system in two dimensions in a particular embodiment of the "anisotropic" coverage mode. The detection system is in linear translation in a conductive medium in this particular example. [Figure 7] 1 represents the proportion of time that an electrode is activated as a function of its position on the detection system in the simplified case of an in-medium detection system in two dimensions in a particular embodiment of the "anisotropic" coverage mode, the detection system being rotated around one of its axes of symmetry in this particular example. [Figure 8] 1 represents an algorithm that allows a calibration mode to be realized. [Figure 9] 1 represents an algorithm that allows the range mode to be realized. [Figure 10] 1 represents an algorithm that allows for the realization of a location mode. [Figure 11] 1 represents an algorithm that allows realizing a discrimination mode. [Figure 12] 1 illustrates a schematic representation of different stages of the system in a "centralized electronics" embodiment. [Figure 13] 2 illustrates a schematic representation of different stages of the system in a "distributed electronics" embodiment;

[0037] In the drawings, the same references refer to the same or similar objects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The present invention therefore relates to a method for sensing in a conductive medium using a detection system.

[0039] The detection system for implementing the method includes a number of electrodes Ei for being in direct electrical contact with the conductive medium.

[0040] For example, the electrodes Ei can be distributed arbitrarily on the external surface of the mobile system 100 equipped with the detection system, so that the electrodes are in direct electrical contact with the conductive medium.

[0041] The conductive medium is, for example, water.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a mobile system 100 according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The mobile system 100 comprises a parallelepiped body with dimensions of approximately 1000 mm x 1000 mm x 1000 mm. The three axes of this parallelepiped, centered on its centre O, constitute a spatial reference system (Oxyz) for the coordinate system of the detection system.

[0043] The n electrodes Ei (i is an integer between 1 and n) of the detection system can be distributed on the surface of the mobile system 100 so as to be in contact with the conductive medium. In the particular embodiment described here, the surface exposed to the conductive medium of a given electrode Ei is disk-shaped, with 24 electrodes distributed on the edges and corners of a parallelepiped.

[0044] This embodiment is not limiting. The distribution and / or shape of the electrodes Ei can be adapted to the conductive medium to be probed and to the geometry of the mobile system. In particular, it is possible to place a portion of the electrodes on each face of the parallelepiped.

[0045] The mobile system 100 does not have to be a parallelepiped as well. For example, the mobile system may be cylindrical or of any shape.

[0046] If the mobile system 100 comprises several parts movable relative to one another, the electrodes Ei may be distributed over all these mobile parts or over only some of them.

[0047] The number of electrodes Ei can likewise be adapted to the dimensions of the mobile system. In the case of a parallelepiped with a characteristic dimension of approximately 1000 mm, eight electrodes arranged at the eight vertices of the parallelepiped, for example, make it possible to probe all directions of the space surrounding the parallelepiped without leaving any blind spots.

[0048] The electrodes are made of, for example, stainless steel 316, or even platinum, titanium or graphite, carbon fiber, are corrosion resistant, and are disposed on an electrically insulating support such as polyvinyl chloride.

[0049] In the "centralized electronics" embodiment according to FIG. 12, the electrodes Ei are electrically connected via flexible cable harnesses to an airtight box of approximately 10 centimeters dimensions.

[0050] In the embodiment described here, this box contains: - an instruction generation block including a microprocessor, a read-only memory containing a computer program executable by the microprocessor, a random access memory enabling the execution of this program, and means of communicating instructions to the switching box and of receiving information from the switching box. - a switching box (or, equivalently, a switching block) housing as many switching cells as there are electrodes, as well as the electronic and electrical components necessary to realize the electric circuit according to FIG.

[0051] Each switching cell is dedicated to one electrode and may contain one generator per electrode, means for measuring electrical values ​​and the electrical and electronic components necessary to realize an electronic circuit according to FIG. It is equally possible to share a generator between several electrodes, or even between all electrodes.

[0052] Thus, for an electrode Ei, switch S3i can place electrode i in a connected or unconnected state. When an electrode is connected, it can be placed in a transmitting or receiving state via switch S1i.

[0053] Thus, a given electrode Ei can be in three different states: transmitting (and therefore connected), receiving (and therefore connected) and disconnected.

[0054] In this case, switch S2i places the electrode in measurement mode I or measurement mode U, defined below.

[0055] The switches S1i, S2i, S3i are controlled by a command generation box, making it possible to freely configure the state of each electrode at each step of the method.

[0056] In this embodiment, no human intervention is required at the switching box level. Thus, electrode reconfiguration can be performed automatically and remotely as described below. In particular, when the detection system is immersed in a conductive medium, it is possible to automatically reconfigure the electrodes without changing the position of the detection system or the mobile system 100 on which it is equipped.

[0057] The airtight box of the detection system may be utilized in its natural state or integrated inside the mobile system 100 in which it is equipped, and may even be mounted on the exterior surface of such mobile system 100.

[0058] For example, this may be used in a frame for vibration monitoring of a fixed structure such as an oil exploration substructure.

[0059] The electrodes Ei placed in a transmitting state are connected to suitable voltage generators, making it possible to apply the amplitude, frequency and / or shape of the electrode potential within the range permitted by the voltage generator.

[0060] Selecting the amplitude of the potential of an electrode placed in a transmitting state is equivalent to selecting the power supplied by the generator connected to this electrode. For simplicity of formulation, one can equivalently refer to "selecting the output of the signal emitted by the transmitting electrode."

[0061] The amplitude, frequency and / or shape of the electrode potential may be applied for each electrode placed in a transmitting state independent of the other electrodes placed in a transmitting state.

[0062] For example, one generator can be provided for each electrode.

[0063] In another embodiment, the same generator can be connected to multiple electrodes placed in a transmitting state.

[0064] As a non-limiting example, the amplitude of this potential can be chosen in the range [0 V, 15 V] and its frequency in the range [0 Hz, 3 MHz]. The shape of the potential may be, by way of example, a sine wave, a square wave, or a triangular wave. The potential may be periodic or may include only one or more pulses.

[0065] If multiple generators are provided, all generators connected to electrodes placed in a transmitting state are activated simultaneously.

[0066] The transmitting electrodes each generate an electric field in the surrounding space. A portion of these electric field lines falls on the electrode that is in receiving state. This portion depends on the considered transmitting electrode-receiving electrode dipole, ie the relative positions of the electrodes of the considered transmitting electrode-receiving electrode pair.

[0067] The electric fields generated by all the electrodes superimpose to form a resultant electric field, the topography of which depends not only on the position and shape of the transmitting electrodes and the potential of these electrodes, but also on the position and shape of the receiving electrodes (whose potential is that of the charge), and on the position and shape of the disconnected electrodes.

[0068] In the disconnected state, the electrode Ei is not electrically connected to any element of the detection system or the mobile system. In particular, two different electrodes Ei placed simultaneously in a disconnected state are not connected to each other. A disconnected electrode Ei is left alone, ie it takes on the potential of the medium with which it is in contact. The potential is not applied. The electrodes are free to polarize depending on their environment.

[0069] Moreover, the disconnected state precludes current flow within an electrode placed in this mode, since the electrode is not integrated into any closed electrical circuit. The presence of this mode therefore makes it possible to apply a receiving electrode through which actual current will pass.

[0070] Thus, the presence of the disconnected state allows the detection system more perspective than would be possible in the absence of this mode.

[0071] The variety of possible combinations of electrode types is one factor that allows optimization of the detection system for the desired purpose.

[0072] Reconfiguration of the electrodes, i.e. reconfiguration of the system's operating point between two successive series of measurements (the concept of a series of measurements is defined below), makes it possible to vary the topography of the electric field generated by the detection system in the surrounding scene from one series of measurements to the subsequent series, as will be described below.

[0073] For example, an anisotropic electric field will provide different information about a scene than would be obtained with an isotropic electric field. Two anisotropic electric fields with different topographies will provide different information even if the detection system does not change position and / or orientation.

[0074] The existence of the disconnected state makes it possible to probe specific directions of a conductive medium, particularly by generating an electric field of significant strength in a particular direction defined by the electrodes that are not in the "disconnected" state.

[0075] The existence of disconnected states makes it possible to define electric fields that allow detection with highly anisotropic topographies, even when electrodes are distributed over the entire surface of a mobile system as depicted in FIG. 1. For example, it is possible to disconnect all electrodes except for those on one surface. In this case, in some cases, current can only pass through the electrodes on this surface.

[0076] Electrodes configured in a receiving state can be configured in two different measurement modes: - In measurement mode "I", the potential of this electrode is applied and is equal to the potential of the charge in the system. The electrical value measured is the intensity of the current flowing in the receiving electrode, ie its phase and its amplitude are measured. To this end, N intensity measurements are made during P periods of the signal for each period of the signal. If the signal contains several sinusoidal components, a transmission band filtering step adapted to the different components to be considered is carried out, such as to measure the phase and amplitude of each component of the intensity of the current flowing in the receiving electrodes. In this case, the potential difference between the intervening transmitting and receiving electrodes is therefore applied, i.e. known, which ultimately makes it possible to deduce the impedance value for each frequency considered from the measurement. - In measurement mode "U", the potential of the receiving electrode is floating. The strength of the current flowing in the electrode at the level of the transmitting electrode as well as the potential at the level of the receiving electrode are measured. That is, the phase and amplitude of each of them is measured. For this purpose, N intensity (or voltage) measurements are performed during P periods of the signal for each period of the signal. If the signal contains several sinusoidal components, a filtering step using electronic filters in the transmission band adapted to the different components to be considered is carried out in such a way as to measure the phase and amplitude of each component of the current intensity flowing in the transmitting electrode (or the potential of the receiving electrode).

[0077] A filtering stage is placed at the entrance to the command generation box, thus performing filtering of different components on the digital signals coming from the measuring means after analog-to-digital conversion, before these data are processed to obtain information about the position, properties or shape of the detected objects.

[0078] FIG. 4 shows an example of an operating point where electrodes Ei and Ej are connected and in measurement mode I the first electrode is in a transmitting state and the second electrode is in a receiving state.

[0079] Each of the N measurements requires a characteristic "unit of time," which depends on the actual electronics chosen to implement the detection system.

[0080] The series of measurements ends as soon as each of the N*P measurements for each component of the signal has actually been realized. The series of measurements therefore includes the evaluation of at least one electrical value (among the current intensity and the potential magnitude) at the level of each electrode configured in a receiving or transmitting state.

[0081] The operating point of the system is defined before each series of measurements by the configuration of the electrodes, and more precisely by the configuration of three parameters: - The state of each electrode, selected from at least three states: transmit, receive, disconnect. - The frequency of one component of the electrical signal transmitted by at least one of the transmitting electrodes. - the amplitude of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in the emitting state.

[0082] The impedance characteristic of the portion of the conductive medium between the transmitting and receiving electrodes of a given receiving electrode-transmitting electrode dipole is then deduced for each operating frequency from the potential difference between these two electrodes and the current flowing in one of these electrodes. These impedances can then be exploited by the detection system to derive parameters that characterize the object (or absence of an object) to be detected.

[0083] Thus, in the present invention, the concept of detection includes one and / or the other of the two aspects: object localization and characterization. Therefore, in the same sense, one can refer to perception.

[0084] If a series of measurements is performed, then as many electrical impedances as there are transmitting electrode-receiving electrode dipoles configured at the selected operating point can be evaluated for each operating frequency.

[0085] To protect the electrodes, the detection system can be amplitude controlled. That is, if in measurement mode I the current strength detected at one of the electrodes is greater than the command value, the ongoing series of measurements is stopped and the amplitude of the voltage at the terminals of the generator connected to the electrode in the transmitting state is reduced for the subsequent operating point.

[0086] The results on the position and / or shape and / or nature of the possibly detected object or the fact that no object is detected are finally used by a command generating box of the detection system to determine the operating point of the system for the subsequent series of measurements, for example according to the algorithms represented in Figures 9 to 11.

[0087] According to one embodiment, in the detection method, the operating point of the system may be selected such that it corresponds to a "range" mode. In this case, the set of electrodes placed in a transmitting or receiving state is determined according to the direction in which it is desired to obtain the maximum detection range, i.e. the direction in which, for nominal operation of the electrical components of the circuit, an object can be detected at the greatest distance.

[0088] In one particular embodiment of the coverage mode, represented in simplified form in FIG. 5, the distribution of the electrodes in each of the three states of transmit, receive and disconnect is “isotropic”, i.e. as isotropic as possible taking into account the positions of the electrodes Ei of the detection system. In this distribution, no spatial direction is preferred.

[0089] For example, if the detection system is equipped on the mobile system 100 in the manner depicted in FIG. 1, the measurement in range mode may be repeated 6n times. For each of six of the n series of measurements, only the internal electrodes can be placed in a transmitting state on the edges and / or corners of only one of the six faces of the parallelepiped at a time, and the six faces are scanned successively.

[0090] Thus, FIG. 5 represents, in a two-dimensional simplified case, the time allotted for the activation of electrodes on each of the four faces of a simplified rectangular mobile system equipped with a detection system.

[0091] In reach mode, the amplitude of the voltage at the transmitting electrode level may be included in the range [0V, 15V]. The shape and frequency of the voltage may be the same for all of these electrodes. Such an isotropic embodiment of the coverage mode makes it possible, for example, to explore the space in three directions of the coordinate system of the mobile system simultaneously with the same coverage.

[0092] Conversely, if the detection system detects an object in one particular direction, or if one direction is of particular interest for exploration, for example if the mobile system 100 in which the detection system is equipped is translating in this direction, the detection system can be placed in a reach mode with "anisotropic" management of the electrodes configured in a connected state.

[0093] In the simplified example shown in FIG. 6, for a detection system equipped on a two-dimensional mobile system, when the direction of interest is in the direction [Ox], more than 25% of the number of measurements in the series (here, as an example, 65%) will be performed internally by activating electrodes only on the edges and / or corners of the normal surface facing outward in the same orientation and direction as [Ox], and more than half of the remaining measurements (here, as an example, 15%) will be performed internally by remaining on the edges and / or corners of the opposite surface.

[0094] In a real three-dimensional case, a series of n measurements in reach mode would be performed, such that more than one-sixth of the series of n measurements would be performed internally by activating electrodes only on the edges and / or corners of the faces with an outward facing normal in the same orientation and direction as [Ox], and more than one-fifth of the remaining measurements would be performed by remaining by activating electrodes only on the edges and / or corners of the opposite faces.

[0095] If the detection system is equipped on a mobile system 100 in a rotating state, the distribution of the number of measurements performed in different spatial directions may correspond to the distribution illustrated in two-dimensional simplified form in FIG. 7. That is, in this case, the space around the detection system is subdivided into eight parts, four of these parts are each explored during one-fifth of the time allotted for measurement, and the other four parts (alternate with the first four) are each explored during one-twentieth of the time allotted for measurement.

[0096] These examples are not limiting and the flexibility in the choice of operating points makes it possible to simply create other variations.

[0097] The switching box allows to automatically reconfigure the electrodes according to the commands transmitted by the command generation block, so that the detection system can arbitrarily map all or part of its environment in static mode. For example, no movement of the detection system or of the mobile system 100 equipped with this detection system is required to obtain the desired map, i.e. to probe the different directions of interest, since the direction or directions to be probed as well as the maximum distance over which these directions are probed can be selected simply by managing the electrode configuration taking into account previous measurement results.

[0098] In range mode, the maximum distance over which detection is possible in at least one given direction is optimized.

[0099] The amplitude and / or frequency of each sinusoidal component of the signal at the electrode level that is in transmission in coverage mode is determined according to the properties of the conductive medium.

[0100] A calibration step according to the algorithm of FIG. 8 may be undertaken before the measurement step in range mode. For this purpose, a frequency scan in the range [0 Hz, 3 MHz] can be performed for a series of n consecutive measurement repetitions with the aim of identifying the frequency or frequencies best suited to maximise coverage within the probed medium. In water, for example, an operating frequency f=10 kHz can be chosen.

[0101] This calibration step can also be utilized to identify prohibited operating frequencies, in particular the natural frequencies (and their harmonics) of the mobile system 100 in which the detection system is equipped. Here, the mobile system 100 includes the equipment of the system, for example, sonar.

[0102] In one particular embodiment, the frequency scan may be performed in the range [0 Hz, 25 kHz], with lower frequencies most often being most appropriate to optimize detection range.

[0103] These examples are, of course, not limiting. That is, for example, a frequency scan in the range [0 Hz, 3 MHz] can be performed to determine the operating frequency or frequencies that optimize the detection coverage in a given direction of the conductive medium when the composition of the conductive medium is not known in advance.

[0104] If the detection system is close to the water / sediment interface, the potential of the transmitting electrode may more advantageously be a composite of two sinusoidal potentials. For example, synthesize two sinusoidal potentials, one with a frequency equal to 10 kHz and the other with a frequency greater than 10 kHz, e.g., 67 kHz, and with an amplitude between 0 and 15 V. A higher frequency electrical signal makes it possible to obtain a better coverage especially within the deposits. The amplitude is determined in such a way as to have as strong a signal as possible at the transmitting electrode level without exceeding the intensity threshold at the electrode level of measurement mode I.

[0105] According to one embodiment, in the detection method, the operating point of the system may correspond to a "localization" mode, i.e. the distance between the detection system and a detected object in a given direction is measured with maximum accuracy for a particular distance value at which the object is present, while remaining in the nominal operating mode. In this case, the position of the electrodes placed in a transmitting or receiving state is determined, for example, depending on the direction in which the object is detected.

[0106] In one particular embodiment, the amplitude and / or frequency of the sinusoidal components of the electrode level signal in the transmitting state are determined to optimize the accuracy of the localization. The amplitude of the signal may depend, inter alia, on the position and the nature of the detected object. In particular, a maximum amplitude can be selected that does not exceed the maximum intensity permitted at the receiving electrode level for the location and nature of the detected object.

[0107] The frequency of the signal may be selected at the end of a frequency scan. Thus, when an object is present in the conductive medium, due to the skin effect, the measured signal will differ from the signal that would be measured in the absence of an object if the object is within the detection zone corresponding to the selected operating point. At low frequencies the coverage is greater than at high frequencies, but the location accuracy is lower. Thus, as frequency increases, there exists a threshold frequency above which the measured signal becomes identical to that of a conductive medium without an object. The operating frequency selected for localization is close to the limit frequency so that the accuracy of the localization is maximized.

[0108] This embodiment does not require movement of the detection system (or the mobile system 100 on which the detection system is equipped) relative to the detected object, although such movement is still possible. A (automated) reconfiguration of the electrodes, and in particular the frequency of the emitted signal, is sufficient to obtain the necessary information for optimization of the localization.

[0109] According to one embodiment, the detection method can define the operating point of the system to correspond to an "identification" mode. That is, the shape and / or properties of the detected objects are determined with maximum accuracy.

[0110] To reveal the shape of the object of interest, the electrodes placed in a transmitting or receiving state are determined depending on the direction in which the object is detected, and a series of n measurements are performed such that internally only the electrodes on the edges and / or corners of the surface with an outward facing normal corresponding to the direction of interest are in a connected state, and different electrode combinations are considered over the series of n measurements, and the shape of the object is deduced from the measurements. To ascertain the shape of an obstacle, for example, the electrodes are asymmetrically switched from one series of measurements in a given direction to a subsequent series of measurements. In this way, it can be determined that an object below the lower surface of the detection system has a certain extension along the direction (X'X) by connecting the electrodes of the lower surface in successive groups along that direction, i.e. first the electrodes closest to the rear surface, then the electrodes adjacent to them in the direction (X'X), up to the electrodes closest to the front surface, where the other electrodes on this surface are disconnected. The difference or similarity between the results of a series of n measurements then makes it possible to conclude about the shape of the object in the direction (X'X).

[0111] To ascertain the nature of the obstacle, the frequency of the voltage applied to the transmitting electrode can be modified, for example, to perform a scan in the range [0 Hz, 3 MHz] over a series of n measurements in "discrimination" mode.

[0112] It is then possible to obtain information about the nature of the detected object. For example, the presence of an electrically insulating object will manifest itself in a current intensity that is lower than the current intensity measured in the absence of the object, whereas if the object is conductive, the intensity will be higher than in the absence of the object.

[0113] Homogeneous objects of mineral nature, for example, will not induce a phase difference between the emitted and measured signals, whereas the presence of objects of biological nature, insofar as the cells which compose them behave as capacitors, will be manifested in the form of a phase difference between the emitted and measured signals.

[0114] It is also possible to obtain information about the detected object (e.g., the object's shape, size, conductive or insulating properties, etc.) by comparing the measurements with known criteria, i.e. a database of objects and the effect of their immersion in a conductive medium on the electrical signal measured by the detection system, for example based on an electrical and mechanical transition model of the scene, or by comparison of the measurements with known signatures, or by information taught in advance as part of the mission. The methods are not mutually exclusive.

[0115] Thus, in this mode of operation, a database of signatures, called "electrical sensing" signatures, of objects of interest (mines, cables, pipelines, etc.) can be constructed. When a detection system is deployed in situ, a comparison can be made against a database from which one or more pieces of information about the detected object can be deduced.

[0116] Use of the location mode does not require (but does not preclude) movement of the detection system (or the mobile system on which it is mounted) relative to the detected object. The (automated) reconstruction of the electrodes, and in particular the frequency of the emitted signals, is sufficient to obtain the information necessary for discrimination.

[0117] According to one embodiment, the detection method can be implemented using an information processing program executed on a processor embedded in the detection system. The main steps of this computer program will now be described with reference to Figures 8-11.

[0118] In one particular embodiment, the detection system can be placed in a "range" mode at the start of detection. A detailed example algorithm for the “Range” mode is shown in FIG. If the medium is not known a priori, an optional first frequency scanning step, corresponding to a calibration phase, may be performed with the aim of determining the optimum operating frequency in this mode.

[0119] In the absence of an object within the medium or an interface with another conductive medium, the electrical impedance of the medium takes a reference value that may be provided beforehand or measured during a calibration stage. The presence of an object or interface modifies this electrical impedance, allowing the distance of the object or interface to be assessed.

[0120] As long as no object or interface is detected within a distance less than the threshold distance d1, the system remains in range mode. If an interface with another medium is detected at a distance less than a threshold distance d1, the frequency scan is repeated.

[0121] Otherwise, if an object is detected at a threshold distance less than distance d2, the system is placed into "location" mode, an example algorithm of which is shown in Figure 10, for subsequent measurements and remains there as long as the distance between the object and the system is greater than threshold distance d3.

[0122] If the distance between the object and the system again becomes greater than distance d2, the system transitions back into "Range" mode.

[0123] Conversely, if the distance between the object and the system becomes smaller than the threshold distance d3, and if the mission requires it, the system is placed in "identification" mode for subsequent measurements. The system then performs a series of measurements that enable the system to conclude about the shape and properties of the object with the greatest possible accuracy.

[0124] A mission may be defined in terms of pre-given directives.

[0125] If the discrimination is sufficient, the mission continues in a mode adapted to the subsequent task.

[0126] If the detection system is installed on a mobile system, the "range" mode may be preferred over other modes to avoid accidental collisions. More precisely, the detection system includes a watchdog that forces the detection system to revert to coverage mode every time a watchdog period elapses.

[0127] According to one embodiment, the detection method may be implemented on a mobile system 100 that is in a conductive medium and includes a detection system. In this case, the results of the detection method can be used to guide the movement of the mobile system 100, for example to avoid obstacles, or to position the mobile system at a certain distance and in an orientation of interest in relation to partitions, interfaces or objects present in the medium.

[0128] Thus, a mission may incorporate commands related to the movement of the mobile system 100 .

[0129] In one embodiment, the operating point configuration box is based on measurement history to determine subsequent operating points.

[0130] In another embodiment, the operating point may be determined by a preselected algorithm independent of the measurements taken, within the limits of the system's control thresholds.

[0131] In one particular embodiment, termed "distributed electronics", the detection system comprises one generator per electrode and the assembly {generator-electrodes-analog measuring means-analog / digital conversion stage} is connected via a flexible cable harness to an airtight box housing the command generation block and the switching box according to FIG. 13. This embodiment allows only digital signals to be passed through the flexible cable, which makes it possible to obtain better immunity to noise.

[0132] It is also possible to have only one generator powering all electrodes placed in connected mode, in which case the generator is in an airtight box housing the command generation block.

[0133] Finally, in one particular embodiment, the detection system includes a communications interface with a remote control station, which enables an operator to visualize data resulting from the detection process and configure the detection system, and in particular, to specify for the system one or more missions to be performed.

[0134] Thus, once the detection system is immersed, a remote operator can remotely modify the mission or control the command generation block to impose a particular configuration on the detection system.

[0135] Thus, the many possible electrode configurations of the detection system combined with the automatic nature of electrode reconfiguration, possibly with the intervention of a remote operator, allows the detection system to provide mapping data of the surrounding space without any prior knowledge of this space. The mapping data can correspond to a zone of space surrounding the detection system, which may be statically selected, but may also change dynamically due to movement of the detection system, for example by being mounted on a mobile system 100, or due to previous detection results.

[0136] Mapping data refers to information having at least one spatial property about a conductive medium. In particular, but without being limited to, this may be the location, and possibly the shape, of incidental interfaces with other media (liquid, gas or solid). It can also be the position (spatial coordinates) of a solid object within this medium, and / or its shape and / or the properties of this object, for example its insulating or conductive nature.

[0137] Moving from coverage mode to localization mode is equivalent to, for example, reducing the zone of space covered by the configured mapping in order to focus on the zone within which the object was detected, and possibly rescaling the mapping to obtain more meaningful detail within this particular zone. [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 100 Mobile system with detection system Ei (i is an integer from l to n) is the i-th electrode of the detection system. S1i (i is an integer from l to n) A switch that can select the state of electrode i between a transmission state and a reception state when electrode i is connected. S2i (i is an integer from l to n) A switch that selects the measurement mode for electrode i between modes U and I. S3i (i is an integer from l to n) is a switch that can select the connection state of electrode i from the connected state and the disconnected state.

Claims

1. 1. A method of sensing in a conductive medium using a sensing system, the method comprising: a number of electrodes (Ei) in direct electrical contact with said medium and having a state that can be chosen from the list: {emit, receive, disconnect}; a measuring device for at least one electrical value for each of said electrodes configured in transmitting or receiving state, selected from the list {current intensity across the electrode, electrode potential}; a switching device making it possible to place each of said electrodes in a state selected from the list {transmit, receive, disconnect}; at least one processor for exchanging information with the measuring device and with the switching device; A method comprising: a. a processor, - Pre-given instructions, and / or previous configurations of the detection system, and / or the results of previous measurements at the level of at least one of said electrodes transmitted by a measuring device, determining an operating point of the detection system in response to Determining the operating point of the detection system includes: - the state of each electrode, chosen among three states: transmit, receive, disconnect; the frequency of at least one sinusoidal component of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state, the amplitude of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state; b. a switching device receiving information about an operating point of the system determined by the processor and configuring the detection system at the determined operating point; c) a series of measurements is performed by the measuring device, the series of measurements consisting of the evaluation of at least one electrical value at the level of each of the electrodes configured in a receiving or transmitting state, the measuring device transmitting the measurement data to a processor; The method includes:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a complementary step, referred to as step d, in which the processor calculates at least one mapping data of the conductive medium from the measurement data.

3. 2. The detection method according to claim 1, characterized in that the steps of the method are repeated at least once in the same order and that instructions are transmitted to the processor to control the repetition of the steps before a first step a of the detection method with a distal or non-distal operator or during the detection method with a distal operator.

4. 2. The method of detection in a conductive medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating point of the system determined in step a can be selected from the list: {'Range' mode, 'Location' mode, 'Identification' mode}, where the 'Range' mode allows to obtain the maximum detection range in a given direction or directions of the medium, the 'Location' mode allows to obtain the maximum accuracy for the location of a previously detected object, and the 'Identification' mode allows to obtain the highest resolution for the shape and / or composition of a previously detected object.

5. The operating point of the detection system automatically transitions from one step a to the next step, i.e. if an object is detected and this object is located at a distance less than the threshold distance d2, if the system was in the "Range" mode, it will transition from this mode to the "Location" mode, if an object is detected and located at a distance less than the threshold distance d3 with a shape and / or properties corresponding to the command, if the system was in the "location" mode, it will go from this mode to the "identification" mode, If an object is detected and the distance at which the detected object is located is greater than a threshold distance d2, then if the system was in "location" mode, it will transition from this mode to "coverage" mode; Method for detection in a conductive medium according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that

6. 2. A method for detection in a conductive medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape and / or frequency and / or amplitude of the signal emitted by the electrodes configured in an emitting state for the operating point determined in step a) is selected at the end of the frequency scan.

7. 2. A method for detection in a conductive medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state for the operating point determined in step a) is a combination of at least two sinusoidal signals of different frequencies.

8. 3. A method for detection in a conductive medium as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that if an object is detected in step d, the amplitude and / or shape and / or frequency of the sinusoidal components of the electrical signal emitted by each of the electrodes configured in an emission state for the operating point determined in the subsequent step a) are determined as a function of the distance of the detected object.

9. 3. A method for detection in a conductive medium as claimed in claim 2, wherein if an object is detected in step d, the position on the system of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state for the operating point determined in the subsequent step a) is determined depending on the shape and / or position of the detected object.

10. 3. A method for detection in a conductive medium according to claim 2, characterized in that a known reference is used for determining at least one mapping data in step d.

11. A computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to claim 1 when the program is run on a computer.

12. In a detection system in a conductive medium, a number of electrodes (Ei) in direct electrical contact with said medium and having a state that can be chosen from the list: {emit, receive, disconnect}; a measuring device for at least one electrical value for each of said electrodes placed in transmitting or receiving state, selected from the list {current intensity across the electrode, electrode potential}; a switching device making it possible to place each of said electrodes in a state selected from the list {transmit, receive, disconnect}; - exchanging information with measuring and switching devices, and - Pre-given instructions, and / or the previous configuration of the system, and / or the result of a previous measurement at the level of at least one of said electrodes transmitted by a measuring device, at least one processor configured to determine an operating point of the detection system in response to A system comprising: Determining the operating point of the system includes: - the state of each electrode selected from at least three states: transmit, receive, disconnect; the frequency of at least one sinusoidal component of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the transmitting electrodes, the amplitude of the electrical signal emitted by at least one of the electrodes configured in a transmitting state, the processor transmitting information about the determined operating point to the switching device; system.

13. A mobile system (100) in a conductive medium equipped with a detection system as described in claim 12, further comprising a control module adapted to control movement of the mobile system based on the detection system measurements obtained according to the method of claim 1.

14. 14. A mobile system in a conductive medium according to claim 13, characterized in that the electrodes of the detection system are distributed over at least a portion of the surface of the mobile system in contact with the medium.

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