Enhanced position measurement systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A position measurement system, comprising:
- a rod having a base, the rod being configured to be disposed with the base substantially in contact with a ground surface and a longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position;
a position measurement device;
a tilt sensor;
a processor in communication with the position measurement device and the tilt sensor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the position measurement system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising;
instructions to receive tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the rod;
instructions to determine, based on the tilt data, that a tilt of the rod is within a specified tolerance from the vertical position;
instructions to determine, based on the tilt data, that noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time;
instructions to generate a notification responsive to a determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position, wherein the notification includes an audio or visual notification; and
instructions to capture position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to the determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position and noise in the tilt data is within the noise tolerance for the threshold time.
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Abstract
Novel solutions for position measurement, including without limitation tools and techniques that can be used for land surveying and in similar applications. One such tool is a greatly enhanced position measurement system that takes the form of a surveying rod with substantial independent functionality, which can be used with or without a total station or similar device.
140 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A position measurement system, comprising:
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a rod having a base, the rod being configured to be disposed with the base substantially in contact with a ground surface and a longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position; a position measurement device; a tilt sensor; a processor in communication with the position measurement device and the tilt sensor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the position measurement system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising; instructions to receive tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the rod; instructions to determine, based on the tilt data, that a tilt of the rod is within a specified tolerance from the vertical position; instructions to determine, based on the tilt data, that noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time; instructions to generate a notification responsive to a determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position, wherein the notification includes an audio or visual notification; and instructions to capture position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to the determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position and noise in the tilt data is within the noise tolerance for the threshold time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method, comprising:
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situating a position measurement system at a chosen location, the position measurement system comprising; a rod having a base, the rod being configured to be disposed with the base substantially in contact with a ground surface and a longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position; a position measurement device; a tilt sensor; and a control subsystem; receiving, with the control subsystem, tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the rod; determining, based on the tilt data, when a tilt of the rod is within a specified tolerance from the vertical position; determining, based on the tilt data, that noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time; generating a notification responsive to a determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position, wherein the notification includes an audio or visual notification; and capturing position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to the determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position and the noise in the tilt data is within the noise tolerance for the threshold time.
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29. An apparatus, comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computer system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising; instructions to establish communication between the computer system and a sensing subsystem of a position measurement system, the sensing subsystem comprising a tilt sensor and a position measurement device; instructions to receive tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the position measurement system; instructions to determine, based on the tilt data, when a tilt of the position measurement system is within a specified tolerance from a vertical position; instructions to determine, based on the tilt data, that noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time; instructions to generate a notification responsive to a determination that the rod is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position, wherein the notification includes an audio or visual notification; and instructions to capture position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to a determination that the position measurement system is within the specified tolerance from the vertical position and noise in the tilt data is within the noise tolerance for the threshold time.
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30. A position measurement system, comprising:
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a rod having a base, the rod being configured to be disposed with the base substantially in contact with a ground surface and a longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position; a position measurement device; an azimuth determination device; a tilt sensor; a processor in communication with the position measurement device and the tilt sensor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the position measurement system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising; instructions to receive tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the rod; instructions to receive azimuth data from the azimuth determination device, the azimuth data indicating an azimuth of the tilt of the rod; instructions to capture position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to a determination that the rod is within a specified tolerance from the vertical position and noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time; instructions to calculate, based on the captured position data, the tilt data, and the azimuth data, a position of the base of the rod in contact with the ground surface.
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31. A method, comprising:
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situating a position measurement system at a chosen location, the position measurement system comprising; a rod having a base, the rod being configured to be disposed with the base substantially in contact with a ground surface and a longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position; a position measurement device; an azimuth determination device; a tilt sensor; a control subsystem; receiving, at the control subsystem, tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the rod; receiving, at the control subsystem, azimuth data from the azimuth determination device, the azimuth data indicating an azimuth of the tilt of the rod; capturing position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to a determination that the rod is within a specified tolerance from the vertical position and noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time; calculating, based on the captured position data, the tilt data, and the azimuth data, a position of the base of the rod in contact with the ground surface.
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32. An apparatus, comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computer system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising; instructions to establish communication between the computer system and a sensing subsystem of a position measurement system, the sensing subsystem comprising a tilt sensor, an azimuth determination device, and a position measurement device; instructions to receive tilt data from the tilt sensor, the tilt data indicating a tilt angle of the rod; instructions to receive azimuth data from the azimuth determination device, the azimuth data indicating an azimuth of the tilt of the rod; instructions to capture position data, using the position measurement device, about a position of the position measurement system, responsive to a determination that the rod is within a specified tolerance from a vertical position and noise in the tilt data is within a noise tolerance for a threshold time; instructions to calculate, based on the captured position data, the tilt data, and the azimuth data, a position of the base of the rod in contact with the ground surface.
Specification