Excavator data acquisition and control system and process
First Claim
1. A control system for navigating an earth penetrating apparatus along a predetermined route, the system comprising:
- a memory for storing first geographic positioning data characteristic of the predetermined route;
a geographic positioning system that generates second geographic positioning data representative of an actual real-time position of the earth penetrating apparatus along the predetermined route;
a detector unit that generates data representative of an underground obstruction along the predetermined route; and
a navigation controller that utilizes the first and second geographic data and the detector unit data to navigate the earth penetrating apparatus along the predetermined route and to deviate from the predetermined route to avoid contact between the earth penetrating apparatus and a detected underground obstruction along the predetermined route.
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Abstract
An excavator data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing the acquired data to optimize the production performance of an excavator is disclosed. A geologic imaging system and a geographic positioning system are employed to initially survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic and position data for the excavation site and utilized by a main control unit to optimize excavator production performance. In one embodiment, the main control unit accesses a geologic filter database, which includes geologic profile data for numerous types of geology, when analyzing unknown subsurface geology. Removing geological filter data content corresponding to known geology from the acquired geologic imaging data provides for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface objects. The geologic imaging system preferably includes a ground penetrating radar system having a plurality of antennas oriented in an orthogonal relationship to provide three-dimensional imaging of subsurface geology.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A control system for navigating an earth penetrating apparatus along a predetermined route, the system comprising:
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a memory for storing first geographic positioning data characteristic of the predetermined route; a geographic positioning system that generates second geographic positioning data representative of an actual real-time position of the earth penetrating apparatus along the predetermined route; a detector unit that generates data representative of an underground obstruction along the predetermined route; and a navigation controller that utilizes the first and second geographic data and the detector unit data to navigate the earth penetrating apparatus along the predetermined route and to deviate from the predetermined route to avoid contact between the earth penetrating apparatus and a detected underground obstruction along the predetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for navigating an earth penetrating apparatus along a predetermined route, the method comprising:
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providing first geographic positioning data characteristic of the predetermined route; generating second geographic positioning data representative of an actual real-time position of the earth penetrating apparatus along the predetermined route; generating data representative of an underground obstruction along the predetermined route; and using the first and second geographic data and the underground obstruction data to control a direction of the earth penetrating apparatus along the predetermined route and to deviate from the predetermined route to avoid contact between the earth penetrating apparatus and a detected underground obstruction along the predetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A control system for mapping an actual route traversed by an earth penetrating apparatus, the system comprising:
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a geographic positioning system that generates real time geographic positioning data representative of an actual real-time position of the earth penetrating apparatus along the actual route; a detector unit that generates data representative of an underground obstruction along the actual route; and memory for storing the real- time geographic positioning data representative of the actual real-time position of the earth penetrating apparatus along the actual route and location data representative of a location of an underground obstruction detected along the actual route. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification