Buried Asset Locator Motion Sensing for Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and identifying buried assets lack efficient quality control measures, making it difficult for managers to assess the performance of field technicians during the locate procedure, resulting in incomplete data and unknown periods of performance evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a locator device that collects and logs various data points during the buried asset locate procedure, including motion, electromagnetic, and GPS data, to assess and quantify technician performance against industry standards, providing a comprehensive evaluation of quality control and quality assurance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual quality control methods are used for buried asset location, then implementation complexity is low, but measurement precision and completeness of technician performance data are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, GPS, barometer) into a single integrated quality control system within the locator device. This merging approach enables comprehensive technician performance measurement including motion analysis, orientation accuracy, location tracking, and depth estimation without requiring separate monitoring systems, thus improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that collects raw sensor data from multiple sources, processes this data through algorithms to derive performance metrics, and presents synthesized quality measurements to managers. This intermediary layer translates complex multi-sensor data into actionable performance indicators, enabling precise technician evaluation without directly exposing the complexity of the underlying sensor network.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive sensor data collection is implemented, then quality control completeness is improved, but use of energy and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of sensor data rather than continuous recording. The system collects motion, orientation, and location data at specific intervals during the locating operation, which reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring while still capturing sufficient information to evaluate technician performance across the entire workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and processes only the essential performance metrics from the full sensor dataset. By identifying and focusing on key indicators such as motion smoothness, orientation accuracy, and location precision, the system reduces the volume of data that requires processing and transmission, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive quality control coverage.
3Productivity
If automated performance measurement is implemented, then productivity evaluation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and initial time investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the quality control system automatically measures and evaluates technician performance without requiring external intervention. The device autonomously collects sensor data, processes it through embedded algorithms, and generates performance reports, eliminating the need for manual observation and documentation by supervisors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary calibration and baseline establishment during the training phase, so that when technicians begin actual work, the automated measurement system is already configured and ready to immediately evaluate performance. This preliminary setup reduces the time loss during actual operations by ensuring the system is prepared in advance.
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 offers a precise and automated way to measure field technician performance, reducing the unknown periods and providing a complete picture of the locate procedure's quality, enabling effective quality control and assurance.
Implementation Method 1
An accelerometer in the locator device logs motion of the locator device in three dimensions
Implementation Method 2
A gyroscope in the locator device logs rotation of the locator device
Implementation Method 3
the transmitter sends a signal of a specific frequency onto the buried conductor. Subsequently, the receiver device is 'tuned' to the specific frequency in order to locate the resulting electromagnetic signal radiating from the buried conductor
Data Source
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AI summary
A method on an electromagnetic locator device (ELD) for classifying a buried asset location procedure for quality control and quality assurance is provided. The method includes reading, in real time, the following raw data produced by the ELD: motion data, electromagnetic data, and an operating mode of the ELD. The method further includes calculating component values of a performance record based on the raw data produced by the ELD, accessing the lookup table, and reading a performance measurement that corresponds with each one of said plurality of component values of the performance record, so as to read a plurality of performance measurements, and executing a visual or audio signal on the ELD, if one or more of said plurality of performance measurements are below a given threshold, so as to notify the first field technician that performance of the buried asset location procedure is below said threshold.