Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.

Arcsecond, Inc.

Yvan J Beliveau

Timothy Pratt

Eric J Lundberg

Andrew W Dornbusch

Michael H Sweeney

Thomas M Hedges

Michael J Sobel

Rick Slater

Sean M Beliveau

Edmund S Pendleton

Edward R Barrientos

An improved low cost theodolite position measurement system and process which is particularly useful in enabling a single operator to conveniently set up the system and calculate elevation (el) and azimuth (az) angle data. Only a single optical transmitter is positioned within a predetermined workspace thus significantly decreasing equipment costs and setup time. The single transmitter is positioned and leveled at a predetermined point in the workspace. In operation the single rotatably mounted transmitter head illuminates the workspace volume with a pair of spaced apart precalibrated fan beams which sweep the space and a periodically emitted reference strobe pulse. At least one optical receiver is selectively positionable within said workspace so that during each revolution of said single transmitter head said receiver receives a first position strike and a second position strike of said fan beams. To determine elevation angle data, tracker logic means responsive to said receiver determines a first tie interval separation between receiving said first position strike and said second position strike and calculation means for converting said first time separation interval into an elevation angle data. To determine an azimuth angle data said receiver receives a strobe pulse and a fan beam position strike, both of which are repeatedly transmitted with a known periodicity, determining a measure of time separation related to the strobe pulse and the position strike, and converting the measure of time separation into the azimuth angle data utilizing the known periodicity.

Low cost 2D position measurement system and method

Improved transmitter and receiver units for use in spatial measurement system that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing a high degree of reliability are disclosed. Specifically, the laser transmitter includes a laser emitter, a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft, a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams, and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams. The receiver unit preferably includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member, a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver, and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.

Transmitter and receiver units for spatial position measurement system

A spatial positioning system includes fixed referent stations which emit rotating, divergent laser beams and a portable reflector. Each fixed station also includes a detector and a processor. The portable reflector may include retroreflectors or transponders. When the rotation of the laser beam is such that it is in line with a portable reflector, the transmitted laser beam is reflected off the portable reflector and received at the fixed receiver. For any point which is crossed by the fanned laser beams of a fixed station, a horizontal angle can be determined. Once these horizontal angles are known for three fixed stations, the point of intersection of three planes, and thus the three-dimensional position of the point, is determined.

Spatial positioning system

A spatial measurement recovery system and method which determining the position, orientation, shape and/or operational characteristics of an environment. The system includes a data gathering apparatus and a model building apparatus. The data gathered may then be transformed into a CADD model of an as-built or as-is environment, or to otherwise map the environment in three dimensions.

Spatial measurement recovery system

A spatial positioning and measurement system provides three-dimensional position and/or measurement information of an object using one or more fixed referent station systems, and one or more portable position sensor systems. Each fixed station produces at least one primary laser beam which is rotated at a constant angular velocity about a vertical axis. The primary laser beam has a predetermined angle of divergence or angle of spread which is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical axis. Each fixed station also preferably includes at least one reflective surface for generating a secondary laser beam. The portable position sensor includes a light sensitive detector, computer, and a display. The light sensitive detector can be formed of at least one 'axicon' which directs incoming light to a photosensitive detector. The photosensitive detector generates an electrical pulse when struck by crossing laser beam and sends this pulse to the computer. The computer time labels each received pulse, which corresponds to the time of a laser beam crossing the axicon. For any point which is crossed by the two laser beams, a horizontal angle can be determined from the time difference between the time of crossing of the primary and reflected laser beam. Once these horizontal angles are known for three fixed referent stations, the point of intersection of three planes, and thus the three dimensional position of the point, is determined. Q A C

Spatial positioning and measurement system

A spatial positioning apparatus providing three-dimensional position information and methods to utilize the position information for improved surveying, construction layout, equipment operations, manufacturing control and autonomous vehicle control is disclosed. The spatial positioning apparatus includes at least three, preferably four, fixed referent stations. A minimum of two, preferably three, of the fixed stations sweeps a spread laser beam horizontally across the site of interest. The remaining fixed station sweeps a spread beam vertically across the site of interest. A strobe signal is emitted from each fixed station when the rotation mechanism actuates a rotation datum. The spatial positioning apparatus also includes one or more portable position sensors. The portable position sensor includes a light sensitive detector, a computer, and a display. The x, y, z coordinates of the portable position sensor are obtained through a triangulation technique based on time marks received from each spread laser beam from the fixed stations and the rotation datum received from the strobe of each fixed station. Multiple portable position sensors for use in attitude information for productivity improvement for equipment and for control of autonomous vehicles are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Blacksburg, VA, United States of America

Yvan J Beliveau