Survey System Scanner Posture Detection via Gyroscope and Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current three-dimensional survey systems face challenges in accurately acquiring the posture of a scanner between photographing times, and the high cost of IMUs makes them impractical for applications like air vehicles, where breakage is a concern.
Innovation Solution
A survey system equipped with a mobile body, a scanner, a position measuring device, and a posture detecting device that includes an imaging unit, a 3-axis angular velocity sensor, and an arithmetic control unit to calculate posture information by combining image analysis and angular velocity data, allowing for detailed posture acquisition without the need for expensive IMUs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an IMU with 3-axis gyroscope, acceleration sensor, and magnetic sensor is used to precisely detect scanner posture, then measurement precision is improved, but device cost increases and reliability decreases due to breakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential 3-axis gyroscope function from the IMU, discarding the acceleration sensor and magnetic sensor components. This selective extraction maintains the core capability of detecting scanner posture through angular velocity measurement while eliminating the complexity and failure points of additional sensors, thereby improving reliability while preserving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive, fragile IMU with a simpler, more robust 3-axis gyroscope that is less susceptible to damage. Although the gyroscope has limited functionality compared to a full IMU, it provides sufficient performance for posture detection in surveying applications while being more reliable and cost-effective, especially for mobile platforms like air vehicles.
2Device complexity
If photographing intervals are used to acquire scanner posture through image analysis, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates because posture data is unavailable between photographing times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both image analysis and gyroscope measurement by combining them in a unified posture detection system. The 3-axis gyroscope continuously provides angular velocity data at high frequency, while image analysis at photographing intervals provides absolute posture reference. This combination maintains continuous posture measurement capability (improving precision) while using simple image analysis methods (controlling complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image analysis at photographing intervals to establish preliminary absolute posture references before continuous gyroscope-based tracking begins. These periodic image-based posture measurements serve as reset points or calibration references that prevent drift accumulation in the gyroscope integration, ensuring long-term measurement precision without requiring continuous complex processing.
3Productivity
If scanning intervals are shorter than photographing intervals, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because scanner posture cannot be acquired during non-photographing intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous posture measurement by using the 3-axis gyroscope to continuously track scanner orientation at the same high frequency as scanning operations. This continuous angular velocity measurement allows for real-time posture acquisition that matches the scanning rate, eliminating gaps in posture data that would occur with periodic photographing alone, thereby maintaining both high productivity and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static, periodic posture measurement (image analysis at fixed intervals) to dynamic, continuous posture measurement using the 3-axis gyroscope. The gyroscope dynamically tracks scanner motion in real-time, adapting to any scanning speed or pattern changes, thus enabling continuous posture data acquisition that matches the dynamic scanning process and maintains precision across varying operational conditions.
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
This system enables accurate acquisition of scanner postures at both photographing and non-photographing intervals, improving the accuracy of three-dimensional coordinate point group data while reducing costs by using an inexpensive 3-axis angular velocity sensor, thus enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of three-dimensional surveys.
Implementation Method 1
a 3-axis angular velocity sensor configured to detect 3-axis posture angles of the scanner
Implementation Method 2
an imaging unit configured to acquire image data by periodic photography
Implementation Method 3
a scanner configured to scan a survey target by a distance measuring light
Data Source
AI summary
The survey system includes a mobile body equipped with a scanner configured to perform scanning by a distance measuring light, a position measuring device configured to measure a position of the scanner, and a posture detecting device configured to detect a posture of the scanner, the posture detecting device includes an imaging unit configured to periodically acquire image data, a 3-axis angular velocity sensor configured to detect 3-axis posture angles of the scanner, and an arithmetic control unit, and the arithmetic control unit is configured to calculate posture information of the scanner by summing photographing-time 3-axis posture angles (SP0, SP1, SPn) of the scanner acquired in each photographing by image analysis of the image data, and 3-axis posture relative displacement angles of the scanner calculated from detection values of the 3-axis angular velocity sensor.