Method and apparatus for determining the location of underground objects during a digging operation
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a location of an underground object during a digging operation, including the steps of:
- delivering a signal toward the underground object;
receiving a reflected signal from the underground object;
determining an initial location of the underground object;
creating a region of uncertainty around the underground object as a function of a level of confidence of the determined initial location;
performing at least one process to improve the level of confidence; and
adjusting the region of uncertainty as a function of the improved level of confidence.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a location of an underground object during a digging operation. The method and apparatus includes delivering a signal toward the underground object, receiving a reflected signal from the underground object, determining an initial location of the underground object, creating a region of uncertainty around the underground object as a function of a level of confidence of the determined initial location, performing at least one process to improve the level of confidence, and adjusting the region of uncertainty as a function of the improved level of confidence.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a location of an underground object during a digging operation, including the steps of:
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delivering a signal toward the underground object;
receiving a reflected signal from the underground object;
determining an initial location of the underground object;
creating a region of uncertainty around the underground object as a function of a level of confidence of the determined initial location;
performing at least one process to improve the level of confidence; and
adjusting the region of uncertainty as a function of the improved level of confidence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a) estimating a first value of dielectric constant of the ground to be dug;
b) performing a first dig pass;
c) determining a first location of the underground object as a function of the estimated first value of dielectric constant and a known first quantity of removed ground;
d) performing a next dig pass;
e) determining a next location of the underground object as a function of the estimated value of dielectric constant and a next known quantity of removed ground;
f) determining an improved value of dielectric constant as a function of a comparison of the current determined location and a previous determined location; and
g) repeating steps d) through f) for each subsequent dig pass.
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3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein performing a dig pass includes the steps of:
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determining a position of a work implement during the digging operation, the work implement having known dimensions; and
determining a quantity of removed ground during the dig pass as a function of the determined position and the known dimensions of the work implement.
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4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, further including the step of controlling the position of the work implement as a function of the region of uncertainty.
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5. A method, as set forth in claim 3, further including the step of displaying at least one of the work implement, the underground object, and the region of uncertainty relative to the ground.
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6. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein performing at least one process includes the steps of:
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delivering a signal from a plurality of locations toward the underground object;
receiving a corresponding plurality of reflected signals from the underground object; and
superimposing the plurality of reflected signals to determine a three-dimensional determination of a location of the underground object, and to determine an estimate of a size and shape of the underground object.
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7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the delivered signal is delivered from a work implement as the work implement moves to perform a dig pass.
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8. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the delivered signal is delivered from a plurality of fixed locations.
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9. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein performing at least one process includes the steps of:
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delivering a plurality of signals from a plurality of locations toward the underground object;
receiving a corresponding plurality of reflected signals from the underground object; and
superimposing the plurality of reflected signals to determine a three-dimensional determination of a location of the underground object, and to determine an estimate of a size and shape of the underground object.
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10. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein delivering a signal includes the step of delivering a ground penetrating radar signal.
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11. An apparatus for determining a location of an underground object during a digging operation, comprising:
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means for delivering a signal toward the underground object and for receiving a corresponding reflected signal from the underground object; and
a controller for determining an initial location of the underground object, creating a region of uncertainty around the underground object as a function of a level of confidence of the determined initial location, performing at least one process to improve the level of confidence, and adjusting the region of uncertainty as a function of the improved level of confidence. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a) estimating a first value of dielectric constant of the ground to be dug;
b) performing a first dig pass;
c) determining a first location of the underground object as a function of the estimated first value of dielectric constant and a known first quantity of removed ground;
d) performing a next dig pass;
e) determining a next location of the underground object as a function of the estimated value of dielectric constant and a next known quantity of removed ground;
f) determining an improved value of dielectric constant as a function of a comparison of the current determined location and a previous determined location; and
g) repeating steps d) through f) for each subsequent dig pass.
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13. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, further including a position determining system for determining a position of a work implement during the digging operation, the work implement having known dimensions, and wherein the controller is further for determining a quantity of removed ground during the dig pass as a function of the determined position and the known dimensions of the work implement.
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14. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the controller is further for controlling the position of the work implement as a function of the region of uncertainty.
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15. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, further including a display for displaying at least one of the work implement, the underground object, and the region of uncertainty relative to the ground.
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16. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the controller is further for:
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delivering a signal from a plurality of locations toward the underground object;
receiving a corresponding plurality of reflected signals from the underground object; and
superimposing the plurality of reflected signals to determine a three-dimensional determination of a location of the underground object, and to determine an estimate of a size and shape of the underground object.
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17. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the means for delivering a signal and for receiving a corresponding reflected signal includes a ground penetrating radar (GPR) antenna.
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18. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the GPR antenna is mounted on the work implement.
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19. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the controller is further for:
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delivering a plurality of signals from a plurality of locations toward the underground object;
receiving a corresponding plurality of reflected signals from the underground object; and
superimposing the plurality of reflected signals to determine a three-dimensional determination of a location of the underground object, and to determine an estimate of a size and shape of the underground object.
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20. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the means for delivering a signal and for receiving a corresponding reflected signal includes a plurality of ground penetrating radar (GPR) antennas located at a plurality of predetermined locations to deliver a corresponding plurality of signals.
Specification