Robotic Total Station Positioning Using 3D Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating construction points in a building interior during construction projects is inefficient due to obstructions blocking the line-of-sight access of robotic total stations, requiring repeated repositioning and increasing the time and cost of the layout process.
Innovation Solution
A method using a computer system to access a three-dimensional model of the construction site, determining optimal locations for position determining devices like robotic total stations to ensure unobstructed line-of-sight access to multiple construction points, potentially using multiple stations or additional locations as needed to cover all points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robotic total station is positioned at a fixed location to automate the layout process, then productivity is improved, but line-of-sight access to all construction points may be blocked by obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional horizontal positioning to three-dimensional positioning by utilizing vertical elevation changes. The total station is placed on elevated surfaces (ceilings, upper floors) to achieve line-of-sight access to construction points that are blocked when viewed from ground level, effectively using the vertical dimension to overcome obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary planning by accessing the three-dimensional model of the construction site before positioning the total station. This allows the operator to pre-determine optimal locations that ensure line-of-sight access to all required construction points, avoiding the need for repeated repositioning during the layout process.
2Ease of operation
If the robotic total station is repositioned repeatedly to avoid obstructions, then line-of-sight access is maintained, but time is lost and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the three-dimensional construction model to pre-determine optimal total station locations that provide line-of-sight access to all construction points. This advance planning eliminates the need for repeated repositioning during actual operation, significantly reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional building information model serves as an intermediary between the construction site geometry and the total station positioning decision. By querying this digital model, the system can predict and avoid obstructions before they become problems, allowing the total station to be positioned optimally on the first attempt.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual measurement and marking is used to locate construction points, then flexibility is maintained, but measurement errors and accumulated errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical measurement and marking operations with an automated robotic total station that uses optical/laser-based measurement. This substitution eliminates human measurement errors and accumulated errors while maintaining the flexibility to locate any construction point defined in the three-dimensional model through digital coordinates.
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 approach reduces the need for repeated repositioning of robotic total stations, enhances efficiency by ensuring all construction points are accessible, and minimizes errors and costs associated with the layout process.
Implementation Method 1
By measuring the time of travel of the beam from the total station to the surface or target and then back to the total station, the distance to the target is determined
Implementation Method 2
The beam may be directed to, and reflected from a target, such as a retroreflective target
Data Source
AI summary
A method for locating a position determining device in an interior construction site of a building to provide line-of-sight access to a plurality of construction points in the interior construction site, includes accessing a three-dimensional model of the site by a computer system, the model including coordinates of construction points in the site to be located with a position determining device. The method further includes determining a location for placing a position determining device by the computer system, in which no obstructions at the site preclude line-of-sight access by the position determining device to the plurality of construction points. The method may further include receiving spatial data by the computer system, and deriving the three dimensional model by the computer system based upon the spatial data. The position determining device may comprise a robotic total station or other such device. The method is implemented on a computer system. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has computer-readable instructions embodied thereon which, when executed, cause the computer system to implement the method.