Surveying Instrument Relocation Using Stationary Target Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surveying instruments require a manual and tedious process to correlate different setup locations, necessitating the relocation of surveying instruments to ensure all measured points are in the same coordinate system, which is skill-intensive and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A surveying instrument with a base unit, rotatable support unit, and targeting unit, equipped with actuators, angle encoders, and a tracking unit that uses a control unit to determine the relative pose between setup locations by maintaining a stationary target point within the detection range, utilizing inertial measuring units and camera sensors for automatic tracking and SLAM processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual relocation process is used to correlate different setup locations, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but the surveying process becomes time-consuming and skill-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical relocation process with an automated optical tracking system. The tracking unit continuously monitors the position of a reference target, and the control unit automatically calculates relative pose between setup locations based on tracking data, eliminating the need for manual measurement and calculation while maintaining high accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The surveying instrument performs self-correlation of different setup locations by automatically tracking the reference target and computing relative positions. The system serves itself by using its own tracking data to determine the relative pose without requiring external manual intervention or correlation procedures
2Measurement precision
If manual relocation process is used to correlate different setup locations, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but the operation becomes complex and skill-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual operations with automated electronic tracking and computation. The control unit automatically processes tracking unit data to determine relative pose, replacing the need for manual coordinate calculations and graphical interface operations that require specialized skills
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking unit serves as an intermediary that automatically bridges different setup locations. By continuously tracking the reference target and providing position data to the control unit, it simplifies the relocation process into a single automatic computation rather than multiple manual steps
3Productivity
If automatic tracking is implemented to reduce manual intervention, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single surveying instrument platform. The tracking unit, distance meter, and angle encoders work together as a unified system that performs both traditional surveying measurements and automatic relocation tracking, reducing the need for separate equipment while improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the tracking functionality with the existing surveying instrument components. The control unit integrates data from the tracking unit, distance meter, and angle encoders to simultaneously perform target tracking and relative pose determination, consolidating multiple functions into one coordinated system
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a surveying instrument, wherein a control unit of the surveying instrument is configured for executing a relocation functionality, in context of which the surveying instrument is configured for determining first coordinates of a stationary target point, receiving a start signal, wherein the first coordinates of the stationary target point are associated with the start signal, in response to the start signal, controlling a first actuator and a second actuator of the surveying instrument in such a way that the stationary target point remains within a detection area of a tracking unit of the surveying instrument, determining second coordinates of the stationary target point, receiving an end signal, wherein the second coordinates of the stationary target point are associated with the end signal, and based at least in part on the first and second coordinates of the stationary target point, determining a relative pose of the surveying instrument with respect to a first setup location and a second setup location, wherein the first setup location is associated with the first coordinates and the second setup location is associated with the second coordinates.