Measuring Device Pose Calculation Using Boundary Surface Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for calculating the pose of a measuring instrument in an external reference frame require positioning target objects at known control points, which is cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A method that calculates the pose of a measuring instrument in a geometric model's reference system without control points by creating a polyline from boundary surfaces, performing multiple measurements, and using an algorithm to determine the instrument's position and orientation based on measured values and polyline segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If target objects are positioned at known control points to calculate the pose of a measuring instrument, then the position and orientation can be determined accurately, but the setup process becomes cumbersome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepose determination accuracyVSAvoidsetup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the requirement for physical target objects at control points. Instead of using external control points with positioned targets, the method uses the boundary surfaces of the measuring environment itself as reference features. The polyline is created directly from the geometric model of boundary surfaces, removing the need for separate target positioning equipment and procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The measuring environment provides its own reference features through the boundary surfaces. The system uses the existing geometric structure of the environment (walls, floors, ceilings) as the reference framework, eliminating the need for external control points. The measuring instrument determines its pose by referencing these self-provided environmental features rather than requiring externally positioned targets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If multiple measurements are performed in different orientations to determine pose, then accuracy improves, but measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepose determination accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The geometric model of the measuring environment, including the polyline representing boundary surfaces, is created and stored beforehand. This preliminary preparation of reference data allows the measuring instrument to quickly determine its pose by comparing measurements against the pre-existing model, reducing the time required during actual measurement operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical surveying methods (using physical targets and manual measurements) with an automated optical/electronic system. The measuring instrument uses its onboard sensors and the geometric model to automatically calculate pose, eliminating time-consuming manual procedures and enabling faster data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 determination of the measuring instrument's pose without the need for control points, improving efficiency and reducing setup complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the measuring beam strikes at least two different boundary surfaces in the N different orientations and defines N measurement points

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

in each of the N orientations of the measuring device, a horizontal angle and a horizontal distance between the respective measurement point and the measuring device are determined as measured values

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAngle measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP4453508B1Method for calculating the pose of a measuring device in the reference system of a geometric model
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 HILTI AG
  • EP4453508B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4453508B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4453508B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for calculating the pose of a measuring device (11) which is installed in a measuring environment (12) with multiple boundary surfaces (F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4) and has a distance-measuring unit with a measuring beam and at least one angle-measuring unit, in the reference system of a geometrical model, which depicts at least the boundary surfaces (F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4) of the measuring environment, by means of a microcontroller, which is connected for communication with the measuring device (11) and has an algorithm for calculating the pose.