REMOTE SCANNING AND DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A surface scanning apparatus attached to a movable highway vehicle, mobile equipment or a drone (collectively, “
- platform”
) that passes over a substrate, at least some of the features of which are to be sensed and characterized, the apparatus including a variously adaptable, complete, and ready to operate packaged kit including configured sensor suites with components selected from the group consisting ofa. a visual scanning sensor;
b. an infra-red scanning sensor;
c. a ground-penetrating radar unit;
d. a laser range finder for sensing elevation of the apparatus above the substrate;
e. a distance sensor for measuring displacement of the apparatus from a point of origin;
f. a position sensing unit for determining a position of the apparatus;
g. a simultaneous trigger mechanism;
h. a structural boom assembly attached to the platform for securing one or more of components (a, b, c and d); and
i. a processor for digitally processing measurements and signals collected by one or more of the group of components.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surface scanning apparatus attached to a movable highway vehicle, mobile equipment or a drone (collectively, “platform”) that passes over a substrate, at least some of the features of which are to be sensed and characterized. The apparatus includes a variously adaptable, complete, and ready to operate packaged kit including configured sensor suites with components selected from the group consisting of a visual scanning sensor; an infra-red scanning sensor; a ground-penetrating radar unit; a laser range finder for sensing elevation of the apparatus above the substrate; a distance sensor for measuring displacement of the apparatus from a point of origin; a position sensing unit for determining a position of the apparatus; a simultaneous trigger mechanism; a structural boom assembly attached to the platform; and a processor for digitally processing measurements and signals collected by one or more of the group of components.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A surface scanning apparatus attached to a movable highway vehicle, mobile equipment or a drone (collectively, “
- platform”
) that passes over a substrate, at least some of the features of which are to be sensed and characterized, the apparatus including a variously adaptable, complete, and ready to operate packaged kit including configured sensor suites with components selected from the group consisting ofa. a visual scanning sensor; b. an infra-red scanning sensor; c. a ground-penetrating radar unit; d. a laser range finder for sensing elevation of the apparatus above the substrate; e. a distance sensor for measuring displacement of the apparatus from a point of origin; f. a position sensing unit for determining a position of the apparatus; g. a simultaneous trigger mechanism; h. a structural boom assembly attached to the platform for securing one or more of components (a, b, c and d); and i. a processor for digitally processing measurements and signals collected by one or more of the group of components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- platform”
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13. A method for evaluating surface and sub-surface conditions of underlying infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of providing, not necessarily in the order listed:
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a vehicle-mounted high-definition visible band camera; a vehicle-mounted high-definition infrared band camera; a ground penetrating radar unit; a structural boom assembly attached to the vehicle whereby the high-definition visible and infrared cameras and the ground penetrating radar unit are remotely mounted on a platform at a desired height vertically above the surface to be scanned so as to encompass the desired field of view (FOV), the FOV being preferably approximately at least one traffic lane in width or more as a portion of the roadway or bridge deck surface; an electronic laser range finder for measuring the height of a distal end region of the structural boom assembly the surface to be scanned; at least one GPS antenna for real-time recording of vehicle position, speed, and direction with respect to actual latitude and longitude coordinates; a distance measuring device; and a computer for digitally processing measurements and video data signals collected by some or all of the vehicle-mounted high-definition visible band camera, the infrared band camera, the ground penetrating radar unit, the electronic laser range finder the at least one GPS antenna and the distance measuring device.
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Specification