Ground Tracking Using Offset Camera Parallax
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ground tracking technologies for buried utilities face inaccuracies due to limitations in position determination, particularly with GPS systems experiencing poor coverage or interference, leading to potential infrastructure damage, safety risks, and costly errors.
Innovation Solution
A ground tracking system utilizing two or more offset cameras to capture images and process correlations, determining height and positional information of a ground tracker, combined with time data to calculate velocity and other movement parameters, enhancing accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GPS receivers are used to approximate the location of utilities, then the locating capability is enhanced, but the accuracy deteriorates due to poor satellite coverage or interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical measurement system (cameras and ground features) to bridge the gap between GPS and utility location. Instead of relying solely on GPS signals which fail in certain conditions, the system uses visual tracking of ground features to determine position, effectively mediating the location determination process through an alternative physical mechanism that is not subject to satellite coverage limitations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic-based GPS system with an optical-mechanical tracking system. By substituting the radio wave-dependent GPS receivers with a camera-based visual tracking system that observes ground features and calculates position through image correlation and parallax, the system eliminates vulnerability to electromagnetic interference and satellite coverage issues
2Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic field sensing is used to locate utilities, then the locating ability is enhanced, but the accuracy deteriorates due to inherent imprecision of known systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges magnetic field sensing with optical tracking systems into a unified location determination apparatus. By combining the utility-detection capability of magnetic sensors with the high-precision positioning capability of visual ground tracking, the system achieves both enhanced locating ability and improved accuracy, as the two subsystems complement each other's strengths while mitigating their individual weaknesses
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional sensors are used to enhance locating ability, then the locating capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional ground tracking system where the camera system serves multiple purposes: tracking ground features for position determination, providing visual documentation of utility locations, and enabling both 2D and 3D tracking modes. This universality allows the system to enhance locating capability while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from adding separate dedicated sensors for each function
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
The system provides improved accuracy in tracking buried utilities by correlating image data from offset cameras to determine precise positional and velocity information, reducing errors and ensuring safer and more efficient infrastructure management.
Implementation Method 1
track ground movement of a buried utility locator or other device using two or more offset cameras or other imaging sensors to capture images and locate ground features within the images using correlations or other image processing
Implementation Method 2
a picture processing part obtaining the parallax of the pictures photographed in the cameras by the picture acquirement part, and navigation control means for calculating the position of the object on a three-dimensional space based on the parallax obtained by the image processing part
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed for tracking movement over the ground or other surfaces using two or more spaced apart cameras and an associated processing element to detect ground features in images from the cameras and determine tracking parameters based on the position of the detected ground features in the images.