Novatel Inc.

Hexagon Technology Center Gmbh

Other

Leica Geosystems Ag

Kristian Morin

Michael Bobye

Sandy Kennedy

Bernd Walser

Sandra Kennedy

Gert Ferrano

Ryan Dixon

A system and method for automatically controlling working edges on a heavy equipment vehicle is provided. A GNSS/INS system determines a location of the vehicle. A vision system calculates a location of the working edge in a vision system coordinate system by obtaining images of a target connected to the working edge using a camera with a fixed field view that obtains distance information for each pixel in the fixed field of view. The location is then transformed to the navigation system coordinate system. The transformed location information is used by a working edge control system to control the placement of the working edge.

System and method for heavy equipment navigation and working edge positioning using an image acquisition device that provides distance information

The inventive technique calculates lever arm values associated with a GNSS/INS system photogrammetrically. A calibrated camera on a device captures a plurality of images of the GNSS/INS system with the inclusion of a target, having known attributes and a plurality of control points. Thereafter, an application, executing on the device determines the lever arm values from the images of the GNSS/INS system utilizing the known attributes and the control points of the target. The INS may utilize the calculated lever arm values to combine information received from a GNSS receiver, of the GNSS/INS system, with information provided by sensors of the INS to compute updated positions, velocities, and/or orientations.

System and method for calculating lever arm values photogrammetrically

A system and method for augmenting a GNSS/INS system by using a vision system is provided. The GNSS system generates GNSS location information and the INS system generates inertial location information. The vision system further generates vision system location information including horizon, plumb lines and distance traveled. The GNSS information, INS information and vision system are combined in a Kalman filter to produce improved location information.

System and method for augmenting a GNSS/INS navigation system in a cargo port environment

A system determines an otherwise unknown position and orientation of a camera in a working environment, relative to an associated coordinate system, based on visually identifiable unique objects in images taken by the camera. The system utilizes a database that includes or may be updated to include position coordinates for unique objects of interest. The system identifies a plurality of objects within images taken by the camera at a given location, and enters the database either to determine position coordinates for the respective identified objects or to add position coordinates to the data base for the respective identified objects, or both. The system may also update the database to include newly identified unique objects and objects that are altered between images, to determine position and orientation of the camera in a changing environment. Sensors may be included to add additional information relative to the position and orientation of the camera.

Visual positioning system that utilizes images of a working environment to determine position

A system and method for augmenting a GNSS/INS system by using a vision system is provided. The GNSS system generates GNSS location information and the INS system generates inertial location information. The vision system further generates vision system location information that is used as an input to an error correction module. The error correction module outputs inertial location adjustment information that is used to update the inertial system's location information.

Method for using partially occluded images for navigation and positioning

A camera image processing subsystem processes image data corresponding to observations taken through a lens of focal point f using a spherical pin-hole model that maps the image data through a perspective center of a pin-hole prospective plane located within the lens onto a model sphere that is a focal length f in diameter and has its center at the perspective center of the pin-hole prospective plane. The subsystem models systematic distortion as rotation about coordinate axis of the pin-hole prospective plane, and maps all of the data, over the entire field of view of the lens, to corresponding spherical coordinates.

Spherical pin-hole model for use with camera lens image data

A navigation system for use with moving vehicles includes target points proximate to a rendezvous site located on a first moving vehicle. One or more transmitters broadcast target point positioning information. A navigation unit on a second moving vehicle utilizes a camera to capture images that include the target points or a detector system that emits one or more beams to the target points. The navigation unit determines the relative position and orientation of the rendezvous site at the second vehicle. The navigation unit utilizes the relative position and orientation and an absolute position and orientation of the rendezvous site calculated from the target position information and calculates an absolute position and orientation corresponding to the second vehicle. The navigation unit then initializes its component inertial subsystem using a local position and orientation that are based on the calculated absolute position and orientation of the second vehicle.

Navigation system with rapid GNSS and inertial initialization

The invention relates to a method for correcting a distortion in an aerial photograph caused by a flight movement in the forward direction. The aerial photograph is captured by a surface sensor, the sensor lines of which sensor are exposed at different, successive exposure times, so that each individual sensor line senses a strip of terrain of the terrain flow over at the different exposure times. A relative flight altitude above the strips of terrain captured by the respective sensor line is assigned to the individual sensor lines. Furthermore, a compensation factor is separately determined for each of the individual sensor lines, wherein the factor depends on an air speed of the flying object, a focal length of the aerial camera and the relative flight altitude assigned to the respective sensor line, and corrects the distortion in the aerial photograph for the lines based on the respective compensation factor.

Aerial camera system and method for correcting distortions in an aerial photograph

A navigation system for use with moving vehicles includes target points proximate to a rendezvous site located on a first moving vehicle. One or more transmitters associated with the target points broadcast time-tagged target point positioning information. A navigation unit on a second moving vehicle utilizes a camera with known properties to capture images that include the target points. The navigation unit processes the image that corresponds in time to the positioning information, to determine the relative position and orientation of the rendezvous site at the second vehicle. The navigation unit utilizes the relative position and orientation and an absolute position and orientation of the rendezvous site calculated from the target position information and calculates an absolute position and orientation corresponding to the second vehicle. The navigation unit then initializes its component inertial subsystem using a local position and orientation that are based on the calculated absolute position and orientation of the second vehicle.

A system and method for automatically controlling working edges on a heavy equipment vehicle is provided. A GNSS/INS system determines a location of the vehicle. A vision system calculates a location of the working edge in a vision system coordinate system by obtaining images of a target connected to the working edge using a camera with a fixed field view that incorporates the relative movement of the target and determining the relative position of the target in the images. The location is then transformed to the navigation system coordinate system. The transformed location information is used by a working edge control system to control the placement of the working edge.

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Calgary, Canada

Kristian Morin