Tracking Groove Positioning Unit for Automated Coordinate Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of measurements from multiple positions into a single global coordinate system in three-dimensional measurement applications is time-consuming and often requires manual alignment, leading to production downtime, especially in industries like aircraft manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A measurement system that includes a tracking measurement device, a tracked measurement device, and a positioning unit with a non-repeating tracking groove and positioning target, allowing for automated alignment by determining the spatial position of the tracked measurement device relative to a global coordinate system, facilitating efficient integration of measurement data from different positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual alignment techniques (point-pair and best fitting) are used to integrate measurements from different measurement positions into a global coordinate system, then measurement integration is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and leads to production downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a coordinate transformation relationship between the local coordinate system of the measurement device and the global coordinate system through a positioning unit with tracking groove. This allows the measurement device to automatically determine its position and orientation relative to the global coordinate system before measurements are taken, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-measurement alignment operations. The transformation relationship is established in advance through the mechanical positioning structure rather than through computational alignment after data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual/mechanical alignment process with an automated optical/electronic tracking system. Instead of manually performing point-pair and best-fitting alignment operations on measurement data, the system uses a tracking measurement device with a positioning unit that automatically determines the spatial position and orientation of the tracked measurement device through optical tracking of the tracking groove pattern. This substitution of mechanical alignment operations with automated optical tracking eliminates the time-consuming manual alignment process while maintaining measurement integration accuracy.
2Reliability
If post-measurement alignment operations are performed to ensure sufficient data coverage and overlap, then complete measurement integration is achieved, but production downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning unit with tracking groove provides preliminary positioning information that ensures complete measurement coverage before the measurement process begins. The tracking groove's specific pattern and orientation are predetermined to guarantee that the measurement device will capture sufficient data points for complete object mapping, eliminating the need for post-measurement verification of data coverage and overlap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual post-measurement alignment operations with automated real-time position tracking. The tracking measurement device continuously monitors the position and orientation of the tracked measurement device through the positioning unit, automatically ensuring complete data coverage without requiring manual intervention or post-processing alignment operations that would cause production downtime.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple measurement devices are repositioned at different measurement positions to measure entire objects, then complete object coverage is achieved, but the complexity of integrating measurements into a single global coordinate system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning unit with tracking groove serves as a universal interface that works with any tracked measurement device regardless of its specific function or position. The tracking groove provides a standardized method for establishing coordinate transformation relationships, allowing multiple different measurement devices to be integrated into the same global coordinate system using the same principle, thereby reducing the overall complexity of multi-device integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex computational alignment operations with a unified optical tracking system. Instead of performing separate alignment operations for each measurement device to integrate them into the global coordinate system, the tracking measurement device automatically tracks the position and orientation of each device through its positioning unit, providing real-time coordinate transformation information that simplifies the integration process.
Data Source
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AI summary
A measurement system including a tracking measurement device, a tracked measurement device, and a positioning unit disposed at least partly on the tracked measurement device. The positioning unit includes a tracking groove formed in a surface of the positioning unit, the tracking groove having a non-repeating pattern, and a positioning target configured to interface with the tracking groove so as to be movable within and along at least a portion of the tracking groove, where the positioning target is configured to interface with the tracking measurement device to effect a position determination of the tracked measurement device in a global coordinate system of the tracking measurement device.