Trimble Inc.

Trimble Navigation Limited

Scott Crozier

Kevin Ray Nau

John Boss

Jon McKendry

Mark Edward Nichols

Arthur Francis Lange

Gregory C Best

Gregory Craig Wallace

Eric Karl Wilson

Adam Clare

John Ahearn

Alex Harrington

Ding Li

Casey Cyrus

Jon Mckendry

A system for tracking a position of a working edge on an implement of a construction vehicle includes a GNSS with an antenna. The GNSS unit is configured to determine a position of the antenna and a tilt and a heading of the GNSS unit. A mount is configured to couple the GNSS unit to a rigid member of the construction vehicle. The mount is configured to couple the GNSS unit to the rigid member so that the antenna is arranged in a known spatial relationship with a pivot point between the rigid member and the implement. A mobile controller is configured for wireless communications with the GNSS unit and an angle sensor that is configured to determine rotation of the implement. The mobile controller is configured to receive the position of the antenna, the tilt, and the heading from the GNSS unit, to receive the rotation of the implement from the angle sensor, and to determine coordinates of the working edge of the implement in a real world coordinate frame.

Tracking a position of a working edge on an implement of a construction vehicle

Various embodiments provide novel tools and techniques for photogrammetric machine measure-up, including without limitation solutions that can be used for excavation and similar applications. A system includes a machine, a user device may further comprise an image sensor, an accelerometer, a processor, and a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the processor to photogrammetrically measure-up the machine. Photogrammetric measure-up includes capturing, via the image sensor, two or more target images of each of the two or more targets, the two or more target images including a first target image and a second target image, and determining a measurement between two of the two or more reference features of the machine based on a first target image and second target image.

Photogrammetric machine measure up

An integrated sensing device with a suite of sensors assists construction machine operators in finding the correct level to dig a ditch/trench. The sensing device includes a gravity sensor to determine angles, a laser distance meter (LDM), and a laser receiver for detecting a known jobsite elevation. The sensing device is mounted to the dipper stick of an excavator; the gravity sensor detects the angle of the stick, and the laser receiver detects a laser plane of light that represents a known jobsite elevation. The LDM is aimed at another member of the machine that moves in a predetermined path as the bucket is rotated, and the distance between the LDM and the target member is used to calculate the vertical elevation of the working tool edge. A display graphically shows the operator the proper dig depth and the present position of the working tool edge.

All-in-one integrated sensing device for machine control

Various embodiments provide novel tools and techniques for position and/or motion tracking, including without limitation solutions that can be used for excavation and similar applications. In a particular aspect of some embodiments, a communication device with a camera may be provided to track the position and motion of a stick of an excavator or reference features located on a stick of an excavator. A location of a bucket of an excavator may then be calculated relative to the stick or reference features on the stick of the excavator. Thus, an operator of the excavator can use the communication device to effectively and efficiently track the location of the excavator bucket without the need for a second person to provide instructions about the location of the bucket.

Excavator bucket positioning via mobile device

A method and system for non-contact location and orientation determination for an implement coupled with a mobile machine. One example detects an orientation of a recognized feature of an implement with a sensor mounted at a fixed location on the mobile machine. A range from the sensor to the recognized feature of the implement is also determined. In addition, a known operating envelope of the implement coupled with the mobile machine is accessed. The known operating envelope of the implement is then combined with the orientation and the range from the sensor to determine a position of the implement with respect to the mobile machine.

Non-contact location and orientation determination of an implement coupled with a mobile machine

A system and method that provides off-line and off-heading correction information in a convenient format that is easy for an operator to comprehend. A dual mode indication system provides two different types of navigation information in a single device presentation configuration that is efficient and effective. The dual mode indication system presents information in a manner that is intuitive with minimal sensory resource commitment. Providing the off line and off heading in simplified and effective formats assists a vehicle operator to keep a vehicle on a desired line and moving in a correct direction with minimal operator effort expended observing, interpreting and analyzing the navigation information.

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Westminster, CO, United States of America

Scott Crozier