SONDE-BASED GROUND-TRACKING APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20170115424A1
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Levin, Ryan B., Aldridge, Sequoyah
• Application Number:
  US15/225,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20170115424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/10 using induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A ground tracking system includes a ground follower assembly including a sonde for use with a locator or other device for determining position, motion, and/or orientation information.

Claims

1. A ground following tracking apparatus for use with an electronic device, comprising:

a ground follower element including a sonde for generating a magnetic dipole field; and

an attachment mechanism for coupling the ground following tracking apparatus to the electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a magnetic-sensing buried utility locator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ground follower element includes a wheel.

4. A system for locating buried utilities, comprising:

a utility locator including a plurality of magnetic field antennas and a circuit for processing output signals from the plurality of antennas to determine information about a hidden or buried utility; and

an omni-inducer wheel apparatus coupled to the locator for generating magnetic field signals for induction to the hidden or buried utilities.

5. A method of tracking ground movement using a buried utility locator, comprising:

generating, from a rolling element including a sonde a magnetic dipole field;

sensing, in the buried utility locator, the magnetic dipole field; and

determining, based at least in part on the magnetic dipole field, motion, position, or orientation information of the buried utility locator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the rolling element includes one or more wheels.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sonde is disposed in one of the one or more wheels.

8. The method of claim 6, further including determining one or more characteristics of a surface over which the buried utility locator is moved based on the motion, position, or orientation information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the motion, position, or orientation information comprises three-dimensional motion information or three-dimensional position information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the motion, position, or orientation information comprises information associated with a translation movement of the locator relative to a surface over which the locator is moved.