Underground Asset Tracking via Adjustable Sensor Boom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking and locating underground assets lack precision and safety, as they often require direct access to excavated areas, which can be hazardous and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A survey instrument system that determines the geographic location and depth of underground assets by using a combination of GPS signals, correction signals from a base station, and adjustable sensors to measure distance and pitch angle, allowing for accurate tracking from safe distances and storing data for later identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct access to excavated areas is used for tracking underground assets, then measurement precision is improved, but safety and operational efficiency deteriorate due to hazardous conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a survey instrument as an intermediary device that can be positioned in safe, accessible locations while still measuring underground asset parameters. The instrument uses extendable booms with sensors that can reach toward excavated areas without requiring personnel to enter hazardous zones, thus maintaining measurement precision while improving operational safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs three-dimensional spatial measurements using pitch angles, headings, and distance measurements to calculate underground asset locations. By adding angular dimensions (pitch and heading) to traditional distance measurements, the system achieves precise location tracking from remote positions, resolving the contradiction between safety and precision
2Reliability
If survey instruments are positioned at safe distances from excavated areas, then operational safety is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to increased distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent features an extendable boom with adjustable sensor groups that can dynamically change their position and orientation. The boom can be extended closer to the excavation when precision is needed, while the operator remains at a safe distance, dynamically adjusting the measurement configuration to balance safety and precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical access to hazardous areas with optical and electromagnetic measurement systems (laser range finders, GPS, encoders). These non-contact sensing systems can operate from safe distances while maintaining high measurement precision through advanced calculation algorithms
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and calculation parameters are used to determine underground asset location, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single survey instrument platform: GPS reception, laser ranging, angular measurement (encoders), and data processing. This multi-functional design consolidates what could be separate complex systems into one unified instrument, achieving high measurement precision while managing overall system complexity through integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple measurement systems (GPS, laser range finder, encoders for pitch and heading) into a coordinated measurement platform. By merging these systems and sharing common components (processor, memory, power supply), the patent achieves enhanced measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity
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 precise and safe tracking of underground assets from proximate locations, improving operational efficiency and reducing hazards during installation, repair, and identification processes.
Implementation Method 1
determining, by a survey instrument, a current geographic location of the survey instrument positioned at a survey location
Implementation Method 2
receiving, by the survey instrument, a communication transmitted from a base station... the communication transmitted from the base station may include a correction signal
Implementation Method 3
measuring, by the survey instrument, a distance between the adjustable sensor group and the target measurement point on the underground asset
Implementation Method 4
determining, by the survey instrument, a pitch angle at which the adjustable sensor group is aimed at the target measurement point on the underground asset
Implementation Method 5
determining, by the survey instrument, a geographic location of the target measurement point on the underground asset based at least in part on the current geographic location of the survey instrument, the determined heading, the measured distance between the adjustable sensor group and the target measurement point, and the determined pitch angle
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for tracking and locating underground assets include a survey instrument having an asset tracking device. The asset tracking device determines a current geographic location of the survey instrument and a heading of a sensor group of the survey instrument when aimed at a target measurement point of an underground asset. The asset tracking device measures the distance between the sensor group and the target measurement point of the underground asset. The asset tracking device also determines the pitch of the sensor group when aimed at the target measurement point of the underground asset. The effective height of the sensor group relative to the elevation at the survey location is also determined. The asset tracking device determines the geographic location and a corresponding depth of the target measurement point on the underground asset based on the determined and measured information.