Ground Tracking Apparatus Stereo Vision Utility Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current position tracking technologies, such as those used in navigation and utility location, suffer from inaccuracies that can lead to poor data and potentially serious issues like infrastructure damage or safety hazards due to imprecision in determining the location and movement of buried utilities.
Innovation Solution
A ground tracking system utilizing two or more offset cameras or imaging sensors to capture images and process them for relative positioning, allowing for the determination of height and positional information, combined with time data to calculate velocity and other movement parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GPS receivers and magnetic field sensing are used to locate buried utilities, then locating capability is enhanced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to poor satellite coverage and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical measurement system (camera-based imaging) between the GPS/magnetic field sensors and the ground surface. This intermediary captures visual information of ground features that can be correlated with utility positions, providing an additional measurement channel that is not subject to satellite coverage or magnetic interference limitations
Solution Approach 2:
The ground tracking apparatus serves multiple functions: it tracks the position of the locator device, measures height above ground, identifies ground features, and provides visual documentation. This multi-functional system replaces or supplements single-purpose GPS and magnetic field sensors, improving both adaptability and precision across different operating conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional sensors are added to enhance locating ability, then versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions (position tracking, height measurement, ground feature identification, and visual documentation) into a single integrated ground tracking apparatus. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate GPS receivers, magnetic field sensors, and cameras as independent devices
Solution Approach 2:
The ground tracking apparatus is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple locating and tracking functions simultaneously. By consolidating these functions into one device rather than using multiple specialized sensors, the system achieves enhanced versatility without proportionally increasing complexity
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
Enhances accuracy in tracking movement and positional data, reducing errors and improving safety by providing precise location and movement information of buried utilities.
Implementation Method 1
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. Relative positioning of the ground features within the images may then be used to determine height and positional information
Data Source
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.