Trimble Navigation Limited

Trimble Inc.

Kurtis L Maynard

John F Cameron

Gregory C Best

James M Janky

Stephen J Schoonmaker

Eric Fidler

Kent W Kahle

Paul Y Montgomery

Curt A Conquest

Hongbo Teng

Robert Hanks

Eric Beaulieu

Kent Wayne Kahle

Systems and methods for determining orientation and three-dimensional position of construction equipment are presented. An orientation device is mounted to a machine. The orientation device has an image sensor. The orientation device measures an offset between a direction of the orientation device and a reference at a known location. The heading of the machine is calculated based on the offset and the known location of the reference.

Three-dimension position and heading solution

A computing system (CS) calculates a three-dimensional (3D) position of an origin of a 3D upperworks coordinate system for a crane based on local coordinates of the crane. The origin is located along an axis of rotation between an upperworks of the crane and a lowerworks of the crane that is rotatably coupled with the upperworks. The CS transforms the 3D position of the origin from the local coordinates to global 3D coordinates using absolute position sensing data from first and second positioning sensors attached to the crane and using global 3D coordinates specific to the jobsite where the crane is located. The CS computes positions of at least one movable component of the crane with respect to a tracked object on the jobsite. The CS utilizes the computed positions to provide assistance in maneuvering the crane with respect to the tracked object.

Crane maneuvering assistance

A survey device includes a dual-axis position encoder, a video camera coupled, a laser rangefinder, a wireless transceiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to autonomously orient the video camera via the dual-axis position encoder, autonomously identify other survey devices and a target that are within a line-of-sight field-of-view of the video camera, operate the laser rangefinder to determine range to the autonomously identified target and the autonomously identified other survey devices, and determining coordinates of the autonomously identified target and the autonomously identified other survey devices based on the dual-axis position encoder.

Surveying and target tracking by a network of survey devices

A method for performing point-to-point measurements includes (i) determining a distance to a first point and obtaining an image at a first pose, and (ii) determining a distance to a second point and obtaining an image at a second pose. The images have an overlapping portion. A change in pose between the first pose and the second pose is determined using observed changes between common features in the overlapping portion of the images and a scale associated with the images. A distance between the first point and the second point is determined based on the first distance, the second distance, and the change in pose between the first pose and the second pose.

Point-to-point measurements using a handheld device

A method of lifting device collision avoidance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a three dimensional position of a collision avoidance sensor unit coupled with a load line of a first lifting device, the determining performed by a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver coupled with a housing of the collision avoidance sensor unit, generating a geofence for the first lifting device based at least in part on the collision avoidance sensor unit position, monitoring for a collision related hazard indicated by encroachment between the first geofence and a second geofence associated with a second lifting device and initiating at least one collision hazard avoidance action in response to a monitored occurrence of the collision related hazard.

Lifting device efficient load delivery, load monitoring, collision avoidance, and load hazard avoidance

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator and sway indicator includes: a plurality of RFID tags at different locations on or around the crane; at least two RFID readers at different locations on the crane; a navigation satellite system (NSS) position receiver; and a load information interface. The RFID readers comprise a range determiner to provide range measurements between each of the RFID readers and each of the RFID tags. The sway determiner is coupled with a hook block of the crane. The NSS position receiver is coupled with the crane and comprises an antenna fixedly coupled with approximately the front of a jib of the crane. The load information interface combines information from range measurements, the sway determiner and the NSS position receiver to generate location and sway information of the load with respect to the crane and provide this information in a user accessible format.

RFID for location of the load on a tower crane

A lifting device sensor unit comprises a housing, a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and a wireless transceiver. The housing is configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. The first GNSS receiver is coupled with the housing and configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. The wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and configured for wirelessly providing information including the sensor unit position to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.

A lifting device sensor unit comprising a housing, a load monitor, and a wireless transceiver. The housing is configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. The load monitor is coupled with the housing and configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. The wireless is transceiver coupled with the housing and configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position and the load orientation to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.

Systems and methods for warning of proximity in a worksite are disclosed. A second transceiver is detected at a first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is a mobile wearable device, and wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are located at a worksite. An ad-hoc network is established, at the first transceiver, between the first transceiver and the second transceiver. A distance is calculated, at the first transceiver, in three dimensions between the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on the detecting the second transceiver. A first safety envelope is defined, at the first transceiver, about the first transceiver and a second safety envelope about the second transceiver. An alarm is issued, at the first transceiver, when the first safety envelope comes in contact with the second safety envelope.

Worksite proximity warning

A method of lifting device load hazard avoidance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a three dimensional position of a load hazard avoidance sensor unit coupled with a load line of a lifting device, the determining performed by a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver coupled with a housing of the load hazard avoidance sensor unit, monitoring for a load related hazard in a vicinity of a load coupled with the load line, the monitoring performed by a load monitor coupled with the housing and initiating at least one load related hazard avoidance action in response to a monitored occurrence of the load related hazard.

Lifting device with load hazard avoidance using a sensor coupled with the load line

A system for tracking movable crane components to assist maneuvering the crane within a jobsite includes a computing device having a processor which calculates a 3D geospatial location and orientation of a 3D coordinate system for an upperworks that has an origin chosen along an axis of rotation between the upperworks and a lowerworks. The processor calculates a 3D position of the origin of the upperworks based on local coordinates and transforms the 3D position of the origin of the upperworks from the local coordinates to global 3D coordinates using absolute position sensing data from first and second positioning sensors attached to the crane (for instance on the upperworks and the hook, respectively) and using global 3D coordinates specific to the jobsite where the crane is located. The upperworks 3D coordinate system is useable to determine line segments in the upperworks 3D coordinate system for various movable components.

A mobile construction device sensor unit comprises a point-to-point radio ranging system and a position determining component. The point-to-point radio ranging system is configured to couple with a mobile construction device. The position determining component is coupled with the point-to-point radio ranging system and is configured for determining a position of the sensor unit in at least two dimensions based on communications between the point-to-point radio ranging system and a plurality of tags respectively located at a plurality of knowable locations within an operating environment of the mobile construction device.

Sensor unit system

A hook block sensor assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the hook block sensor comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a lifting hook of a lifting device, a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver coupled with the housing and configured for determining a hook block sensor assembly position in three dimensions, a load monitor coupled with the housing and configured for monitoring a load coupled with the lifting hook, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load and a wireless transceiver coupled with the housing and configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the hook block sensor assembly position, to a display unit located apart from the hook block sensor assembly.

A mobile construction device sensor unit system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a point-to-point radio ranging system coupled with a mobile construction device. A position determining component coupled with the point-to-point radio ranging system is configured for determining a position of the sensor unit in at least two dimensions based on communications between the point-to-point radio ranging system and a plurality of tags respectively located at a plurality of knowable locations within an operating environment of the mobile construction device. A communications link controller communicatively coupled with the position determining component is configured for wirelessly providing information, including the sensor unit position, to a receiving unit located apart from the sensor unit.

A method and a system for navigating a vehicle around a real site. The method comprises the following steps: (A) creating a database of Positional Reality Images (PRI) that substantially accurately represents the real site, and (B) accessing the database of Positional Reality Images (PRI) that substantially accurately represents the real site in order to navigate a vehicle around said real site. The integrated Positional Reality System (PRS) comprising a positioning system integrated with a plurality of optical systems is used to create the database of Positional Reality Images (PRI) that substantially accurately represents the real site. The PRS utilizes a laser-diode-based optical scanning system if a range between the PRS and a selected real site object comprises a short range distance and a pulse-type-microlaser-based optical system if a range between the PRS and a selected real site object comprises a short-to-medium range distance.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, GA, United States of America

Kurtis L Maynard