Bundle Adjustment with Photo-observable Backsight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional position measurement tools, such as total stations, are inefficient and costly, requiring significant setup and calibration efforts, and are prone to damage in construction environments, limiting their widespread use and efficiency in surveying applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of a position measurement system, including a 'rover' device equipped with GNSS, sensors, and imaging capabilities, that can perform both photographic and non-photographic observations, allowing for enhanced mobility, ease of use, and reduced costs compared to traditional total stations, with features like tilt sensors and image capture subsystems to facilitate precise measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional total stations are used for position measurement, then measurement precision can be maintained, but device complexity and setup requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple measurement capabilities (GNSS positioning, tilt sensing, image capture) into a single integrated platform. The rover device can perform both traditional total station measurements and modern GNSS-based positioning, eliminating the need for separate equipment and reducing setup complexity while maintaining measurement precision through multiple operational modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical total station systems with an integrated electronic platform combining GNSS receivers, tilt sensors, and digital cameras. This substitution eliminates cumbersome mechanical setup and calibration procedures while maintaining or improving measurement accuracy through electronic sensing and computational processing.
2Productivity
If multiple total stations are deployed to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but cost and risk of damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single rover device can replace multiple total stations by providing both traditional optical measurement capabilities and modern GNSS positioning functions. This multi-functionality allows one device to perform tasks that previously required multiple specialized instruments, reducing the number of expensive devices needed while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces expensive, fragile total stations with more robust, modern positioning equipment that is less susceptible to damage in construction environments. While individual devices may have different lifecycles, the overall system reduces risk by not relying on multiple expensive optical instruments that are vulnerable to damage.
3Measurement precision
If traditional optical theodolite and steel tape methods are used, then measurement accuracy can be achieved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous measurement operations by combining GNSS positioning (which provides continuous location data) with tilt sensing and image capture. Unlike traditional methods requiring sequential measurements with theodolites and tapes, the integrated system can simultaneously gather position, orientation, and visual data, eliminating idle time between measurement steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual measurement processes (optical theodolite sightings and steel tape measurements) with automated electronic sensing. GNSS provides immediate position data, tilt sensors continuously monitor orientation, and cameras capture spatial relationships, all simultaneously replacing sequential mechanical measurement operations that consumed significant time.
4Measurement precision
If total stations are used for position measurement, then measurement capability is maintained, but ease of operation decreases due to setup and calibration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates self-calibration capabilities through the integration of tilt sensors and GNSS positioning. The device can automatically determine its own orientation and position without requiring manual setup procedures or calibration against known control points, significantly reducing the operational burden on surveyors while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional rover device can operate in multiple modes (GNSS positioning, total station mode, image capture) without requiring separate setup procedures for each function. A single integrated system replaces multiple specialized devices, each requiring its own calibration and setup protocol, thereby simplifying operations while maintaining all measurement capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of photogrammetric tools, such as bundle adjustment. One set of techniques can include a photo-observable backsight operation, in which a position of target point can be observed non-photographically, and this observed position can be used to constrain a pixel coordinate location of the same target point in a bundle adjustment operation. Using another technique, a photo-observable check shot operation, the observed position of another target point can be used to verify the validity of a bundle adjustment calculation. Such techniques can be used together or separately.