System and Method for Augmented Reality Display of Electrical System Information

• US 20150356786A1
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huntington Ingalls, Inc. (Huntington Ingalls Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Huntington Ingalls, Inc. (Huntington Ingalls Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bare, Brian, Martin, Jonathan, Ryan, Patrick, Sells, Paul, Lawrence, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,147,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3274 Details related to measuring, e.g. sensing, displaying or computing; Measuring of variables related to the contact pieces, e.g. wear, position or resistance measuring contact resistance G01R27/205
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3275 Fault detection or status indication
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

A method for providing electrical system status information to a mobile device user is presented. The method comprises receiving a request for target area electrical system status information from a mobile device, determining the pose of the mobile interface device relative to the target area, obtaining target area electrical system status information for a target electrical system at least partially disposed within the target area, and assembling AR electrical system status information for transmission to and display on the mobile interface device. The AR electrical system status information is assembled using the target area electrical system status information and is configured for viewing in conjunction with a real-time view of the target area captured by the mobile interface device. The AR electrical system status information is then transmitted to the mobile interface device.

Claims

1. A method for providing electrical system status information to a mobile interface device user in a dynamic structural environment, the method comprising:

receiving on a central data processor from the mobile interface device over a communication network a request for target area electrical system status information, the request including information usable by the central data processor to determine the pose of the mobile interface device relative to a target area in the dynamic structural environment;

determining the pose of the mobile interface device relative to the target area;

obtaining target area electrical system status information for a target electrical system at least partially disposed within the target area;

assembling augmented reality (AR) electrical system status information for transmission to and display on the mobile interface device, the AR electrical system status information being assembled using the target area electrical system status information and being configured for viewing in conjunction with a real-time view of the target area captured by the mobile interface device; and

transmitting the AR electrical system status information to the mobile interface device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile interface device is one of the set consisting of a tablet computer, a smartphone, and a wearable heads-up display.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the request for target environment information includes a digital image of the target area captured by the mobile interface device.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the action of determining includes:

receiving mobile interface device location information from a local positioning system; and

using the location information and the digital image to determine the pose of the mobile interface device.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the target electrical system includes at least one system component disposed in the target area and viewable in the digital image and wherein the action of obtaining target environment data includes:

receiving electrical parameter information for each of the at least one system component from one or more monitoring devices associated with the target electrical system.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the AR electrical system status information includes the electrical parameter information and is configured so that when viewed in conjunction with the real-time view of the target area captured by the mobile interface device, the electrical parameter information for each of the at least one system component is displayed adjacent said system component in the captured real-time view.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the electrical parameter information includes at least one of the set consisting of energization status, a voltage value, and a current value.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein the at least one system component is or includes a circuit breaker buss.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the actions of determining, obtaining, assembling and transmitting are periodically repeated.

10. An automated system for providing electrical system status information to a mobile interface device in a dynamic structural environment, the system comprising:

at least one mobile interface device configured for variable disposition within the dynamic structural environment, capturing information about a target environment within the structural environment, and transmitting the target area information over a network;

a local positioning system in communication with the at least one mobile interface device via the network and configured to provide information usable to determine a mobile interface device pose, said mobile interface device pose comprising a position and orientation of the mobile interface device relative to the dynamic structural environment; and

a central processor comprising at least one data processing machine in communication with the at least one mobile interface device and the local positioning system via the network, the central processor being configured for

receiving from a requesting one of the at least one mobile interface device a request for target area electrical system information, the request including information usable to determine the pose of the requesting mobile interface device relative to the target area;

determining the pose of the requesting mobile interface device relative to the target area;

obtaining target area electrical status information for one or more components of an electrical system at least partially disposed within the target area;

assembling augmented reality (AR) electrical system status information for transmission to and display on the requesting mobile interface device, the AR electrical system status information being assembled using the target area electrical status information and being configured for viewing in conjunction with a real-time view of the target area captured by the requesting mobile interface device; and

transmitting the AR electrical system status information to the requesting mobile interface device.

11. A system according to claim 10 further comprising:

at least one electrical status network comprising one or more monitoring devices associated with the electrical system at least partially disposed within the target area, the monitoring devices being configured for determining an electrical parameter status for one or more electrical system components.

12. A system according to claim 12 wherein the one or more monitoring devices include at least one protective relay.