Formwork Position Tracking Using Inverted Signal Transmitters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position of formwork on construction sites face challenges due to the requirement of a line of sight between transmitters and receivers, which is often interrupted by the plate-shaped geometry of formwork, leading to signal interference and high equipment and setup costs for arranging multiple receivers.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a transmitter on the docked formwork to send locating signals, with receivers determining distances and docking positions based on known formwork geometries, allowing for position determination even without a direct line of sight, using a combination of distance determination units, position databases, and comparison units to store and refine docking positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple receivers are arranged around the construction site to ensure line of sight to all formwork, then position determination accuracy is improved, but equipment costs and setup effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing multiple receivers around the construction site to track formwork position, the patent inverts the approach by placing a single receiver at the formwork (transmitter on formwork, receiver at fixed point). This reversal reduces the number of receivers needed from multiple to one, significantly lowering equipment costs and setup effort while maintaining position determination capability through distance measurement and geometric comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copies of formwork geometry data stored in a database to compare against actual position measurements. By working with geometric models and digital representations rather than physical measurement of every formwork element, the system achieves accurate position determination with minimal physical equipment.
2Productivity
If receivers are arranged outside the construction site for centralized monitoring, then logistics and waste management are improved, but signal transmission is interrupted by formwork geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures distance in the third dimension (vertical height) in addition to horizontal position. By incorporating vertical distance measurement from the receiver at the formwork to the transmitter at the reference point, the system achieves reliable position determination even when horizontal line of sight is blocked by the plate-shaped formwork geometry, as the measurement occurs in a different spatial dimension.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and efficient tracking of formwork positions with reduced equipment costs and setup effort, improving logistics and waste management by allowing for precise determination of formwork placement and reuse, even in areas with obstructed signal paths.
Implementation Method 1
The position determination is based on determining the distances between the transmitter and several receivers; In detail, the propagation time between the transmitter and at least three receivers is determined and the position of the transmitter is determined on the basis of this information provided by the receivers together with the known positions of the receivers by means of trilateration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a system (1) for determining the position of a fitted formwork (25), comprising: emitting a locating signal from the fitted formwork (25); receiving the emitted locating signal using a receiver (5) at at least one reference point (3); determining a distance (26) between the fitted formwork (25) and the at least one reference point (3) on the basis of the locating signal received; determining a fitting position (28), compatible with the distance (26) determined, of the fitted formwork (25) on at least one existing formwork (20); and storing the fitting position (28) determined as the position of the fitted formwork (25).