Trimble Navigation Limited

Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC

Michael Anthony Hansby

Gary Sedman Chisholm

Brent O'Meagher

Alan Monnox

Liam Hennessy

Benjamin Jamie Vickery

Jason Scott Daly

A material moving machine includes a chassis, a dual-sensor position sensor system including a master and a slave, and a controller. The master and the slave are each configured to generate independent position signals representing a machine position. The controller is programmed to determine whether the machine is tramming, determine whether the master and the slave are operational, determine a center of rotation (COR) of the chassis when the machine is not tramming, and determine heading(s) based on a pair selected from the COR, an operational master, and an operational slave. The controller is further programmed to determine a prioritized heading based on at least one of the operational master and the operational slave and based on an order of priority that ranks the heading(s), use the prioritized heading to generate the machine heading when the machine is not tramming, and operate the machine based on the machine heading.

Systems and methods for generating operational machine heading

A three dimensional structure is precisely positioned at a desired location. A viral model of the structure of interest is created and stored in a computer memory. Some time later, remote sensors are placed in selected positions on the structure of interest. The sensors are configured so as to provide real time location, attitude and orientation information regarding the structure and may consist of GPS remote units, tilt meters, gyro compasses, and pressure sensor. The position of each the remote sensors on the actual structure is also recorded in the computer memory so that the virtual model accurately reflects the configuration of the structure. As the structure is being positioned, the real-time location, attitude and orientation information produced by the remote sensors is monitored at a base station and used to update the virtual model. In this way, the virtual model accurately reflects the current location, attitude and orientation of the structure. The information so obtained can be displayed to a user as a graphical and textual representation of the current state of the structure. The desired location, attitude and orientation of the structure is also displayed, thereby allowing a user to adjust the current location, attitude and orientation of the structure so as to align the current position of the structure to desired position. As built reports are produced upon completion of the positioning operation.

Method and apparatus for precise positioning of large structures

A three dimensional structure is precisely positioned at a desired location. A virtual model of the structure of interest is created and stored in a computer memory. Some time later, remote sensors are placed in selected positions on the structure of interest. The sensors are configured so as to provide real time location, attitude and orientation information regarding the structure and may consist of GPS remote units, tilt meters, gyro compasses, and pressure sensors. The position of each the remote sensors on the actual structure is also recorded in the computer memory so that the virtual model accurately reflects the configuration of the structure. As the structure is being positioned, the real-time location, attitude and orientation information produced by the remote sensors is monitored at a base station and used to update the virtual model. In this way, the virtual model accurately reflects the current location, attitude and orientation of the structure. The information so obtained can be displayed to a user as a graphical and textual representation of the current state of the structure. The desired location, attitude and orientation of the structure is also displayed, thereby allowing a user to adjust the current location, attitude and orientation of the structure so as to align the current position of the structure to desired position. As built reports are produced upon completion of the positioning operation.

Determination of the verticality of various structures such as high rise buildings and towers is enabled through various methods involving use of a series of tiltmeter devices, a remote positioning system, or a combination of both. These methods are particularly useful in monitoring deviations from vertical during construction work and adjusting a jumpform. The tiltmeters are typically arranged in a line on the structure and polled to characterise varying tilt states in which displacement of each device increases with height up the structure. The remote positioning measurements are typically made in real time using a satellite based system such as GPS. Departures of a survey point on the jumpform from a vertical target line may be used to monitor verticality during the construction process. These methods may be combined, with tiltmeter measurements being used to monitor growth of a tower structure and calculate an expected position of the jumpform at each stage of construction, and GPS measurements being used to monitor the actual position.

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Christchurch, New Zealand

Michael Anthony Hansby