REMOTE SCANNING AND DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20160350907A1
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GSE Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: GSE Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: SIMULA, Glen Raymond, HOWARD, Gary Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 10,576,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8803 Visual inspection measuring projectors G01B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8851 Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges G01N21/8806 and G01N21/93 - G01N21/95692 take precedence; optical measurement of dimensions G01B11/00; optical scanning G02B26/10; image transformation G06T3/00; computerised image enhancement G06T5/00; image processing per se for flaw detection G06T7/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/72 Investigating presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/42 Road-making materials G01N33/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers

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.

Claims

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 of

a. 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.

2. The surface scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a vehicle that operates at nominal highway speeds and preferably at a general magnitude of travel velocity in the range of 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour), whereby roadway lane and bridge closures, the re-routing of traffic onto alternate routes, the slowing of normal vehicle traffic, or otherwise significant interruptions to the normal and safe flow of traffic and vehicles are at least partially or entirely eliminated.

3. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 1 wherein:

the visual scanning sensor comprises a platform-mounted high-definition visible band camera;

the infra-red scanning sensor comprises a platform-mounted high-definition infrared band camera; and

the structural boom assembly is attached to the platform whereby the high-definition visible band and infrared band cameras are remotely mounted at a desired elevation above the substrate to be scanned to achieve a desired field of view (FOV), the field of view (FOV) being preferably approximately at least one traffic lane in width.

4. The surface scanning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visual scanning sensor, the intra-red scanning sensor, or both, scan perpendicularly in relation to the surface to be scanned.

5. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 3, wherein the electronic laser range finder provides an accurate reference signal for calibration and correction factors related to the height and data signals received by the vehicle-mounted high-definition visible and infrared band cameras.

6. The surface scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position sensing unit includes a GPS antenna for real-time recording of vehicle position, speed, and direction with respect to actual latitude and longitude coordinates.

7. The surface scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a computer for processing measurements and video data signals collected by the vehicle-mounted high-definition visible and infrared band cameras.

8. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the computer further includes a high-speed processor and software for rapid integration of video data signals collected by the vehicle-mounted high-definition visible and infrared band cameras.

9. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 8, wherein the computer and high-speed processor further include a digital storage device whereby recorded data and signal outputs are stored.

10. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 9, wherein the computer and high-speed processor further include digital software programs whereby the recorded data and signal outputs are further processed and formatted for output and analysis.

11. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 10, further including at least one monitor for displaying the output so that the operator may visualize an internal structural condition of material below the surface scanned, thus allowing the operator to identify and locate structural defects and features apart from those cause by superficial, visible band, or nonstructural defects of the scanned surfaces.

12. The surface scanning apparatus system of claim 11, wherein the processor generates an output format consistent with quantitative data related to a calculated percentage of structural defects and their respectively defined physical locations with respect to GPS standards in accordance with customer-defined specifications, the transportation industry, and/or respective governing body standards.

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:

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.