Apparatus for census surveying and related methods

• US 6,590,526 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grube, Carl Otto, Mocharnuk, John Buford, Matheson, William Leonard, Bell, David Monroe
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/057,167
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.06, 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 701/213, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.75
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning

Abstract

A census surveying system may include a residence position collection apparatus to be carried by a vehicle. The residence position collection apparatus may include a range finder for determining nearby residence positions as the vehicle advances along a path of vehicle travel over an area for the census. The census surveying system may also include a processor for downloading and processing the residence positions from the residence position collection apparatus.

Claims

1. A census surveying system comprising:

a residence position collection apparatus to be carried by a vehicle and comprising a range finder for determining nearby residence positions as the vehicle advances along a path of vehicle travel over an area for the census; and

a processor for downloading and processing the residence positions from said residence position collection apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a portable unit for use by a census taker;

and wherein said processor downloads residence positions into said portable unit.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said range finder is for determining respective distance and angle measurements from the vehicle to the residences at measurement positions along the path of vehicle travel;

and wherein said residence position collection apparatus further comprises;

a position signal receiver for determining a plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions along the path of vehicle travel based upon received signals;

a movement sensing device for determining vehicle movement along the path of vehicle travel; and

a controller cooperating with said position signal receiver, movement sensing device, and range finder for determining the residence positions.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said controller is for:

determining the measurement positions based upon the plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions and the vehicle movement;

determining respective vehicle directions at the measurement positions; and

determining the residence positions based upon the respective vehicle measurement positions, the vehicle directions, and the distance and angle measurements.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the residences have respective street addresses;

and wherein said controller associates the respective street addresses with the residence positions.

6. The system according to claim 3 wherein said position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

7. The system according to claim 3 wherein said range finder comprises a laser range finder.

8. The system according to claim 3 wherein said movement sensing device comprises an inertial reference movement sensing device.

9. The system according to claim 3 wherein said movement sensing device comprises a compass, vehicle speed sensor and clock.

10. The system according to claim 3 further comprising a camera cooperating with said controller for capturing residence images.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the residences have respective street address indicia associated therewith;

and wherein the captured residence images comprise the street address indicia.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a terrestrial vehicle;

and further comprising a mount for mounting said range finder to the vehicle.

13. A census surveying system comprising:

a residence position collection apparatus to be carried by a vehicle for determining nearby residence positions as the vehicle advances along a path of vehicle travel over an area for the census;

a portable unit for use by a census taker; and

a processor for downloading the residence positions from said residence position collection apparatus, and for downloading residence positions into said portable unit.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein said residence collection apparatus comprises:

a position signal receiver for determining a plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions along the path of vehicle travel based upon received signals;

a movement sensing device for determining vehicle movement along the path of vehicle travel;

a range finder for determining respective distance and angle measurements from the vehicle to the residences at measurement positions along the path of vehicle travel; and

a controller cooperating with said position signal receiver, movement sensing device, and range finder for determining the residence positions.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein said controller is for:

determining the measurement positions based upon the plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions and the vehicle movement;

determining respective vehicle directions at the measurement positions; and

determining the residence positions based upon the respective vehicle measurement positions, the vehicle directions, and the distance and angle measurements.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the residences have respective street addresses;

and wherein said controller associates the respective street addresses with the residence positions.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein said position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein said range finder comprises a laser range finder.

19. The system according to claim 14 wherein said movement sensing device comprises an inertial reference movement sensing device.

20. The system according to claim 14 wherein said movement sensing device comprises a compass, vehicle speed sensor and clock.

21. The system according to claim 13 further comprising a camera cooperating with said controller for capturing residence images.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the residences have respective street address indicia associated therewith;

and wherein the captured residence images comprise the street address indicia.

23. The system according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle comprises a terrestrial vehicle;

and further comprising a mount for mounting said range finder to the vehicle.

24. An apparatus to be carried by a vehicle for determining nearby structure positions comprising:

a position signal receiver for determining a plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions along a path of vehicle travel based upon received signals;

a movement sensing device for determining vehicle movement along the path of vehicle travel;

a range finder for determining respective distance and angle measurements from the vehicle to the structures at measurement positions along the path of vehicle travel; and

a controller connected to said position signal receiver, movement sensing device, and range finder, said controller for

determining the measurement positions based upon the plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions and the vehicle movement,

determining respective vehicle directions at the measurement positions, and

determining the structure positions based upon the respective vehicle measurement positions, the vehicle directions, and the distance and angle measurements.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the structures comprise residences having respective street addresses;

and wherein said controller associates the respective street addresses with the residence positions.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said position determining device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said range finder comprises a laser range finder.

28. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said movement sensing device comprises an inertial reference movement sensing device.

29. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said movement sensing device comprises a compass, vehicle speed sensor and clock.

30. The apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a camera cooperating with said controller for capturing structure images.

31. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the vehicle comprises a terrestrial vehicle;

and further comprising a mount for mounting said range finder to the vehicle.

32. An apparatus to be carried by a vehicle for determining nearby structure positions comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal receiver for determining a plurality of vehicle positions along a path of vehicle travel based upon received GPS signals;

a movement sensing device for determining vehicle movement along the path of vehicle travel;

a laser range finder for determining respective distance and angle measurements from the vehicle to the structures at measurement positions along the path of vehicle travel; and

a controller cooperating with said GPS signal receiver, movement sensing device, and laser range finder for determining the structure positions.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said controller is for:

determining the measurement positions based upon the plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions and the vehicle movement;

determining respective vehicle directions at the measurement positions; and

determining the structure positions based upon the respective vehicle measurement positions, the vehicle directions, and the distance and angle measurements.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the structures comprise residences having respective street addresses;

and wherein said controller associates the respective street addresses with the residence positions.

35. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said movement sensing device comprises an inertial reference movement sensing device.

36. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said movement sensing device comprises a compass, vehicle speed sensor and clock.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32 further comprising a camera cooperating with said controller for capturing structure images.

38. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the vehicle comprises a terrestrial vehicle;

and further comprising a mount for mounting said range finder to the vehicle.

39. A census surveying method comprising:

determining nearby residence positions as a vehicle advances along a path of vehicle travel over an area for the census by using a residence position collection apparatus carried by the vehicle, the residence position collection apparatus comprising a range finder.

40. The method according to claim 39 further comprising downloading and processing the residence positions from the residence position collection apparatus.

41. The method according to claim 39 further comprising downloading residence positions into a portable unit to be carried by a census taker.

42. The method according to claim 39 wherein the range finder is for determining respective distance and angle measurements from the vehicle to the residences at measurement positions along the path of vehicle travel;

and wherein determining the nearby residence positions further comprises;

determining a plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions along the path of vehicle travel based upon received signals;

determining vehicle movement along the path of vehicle travel;

determining the measurement positions based upon the plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions and the vehicle movement;

determining respective vehicle directions at the measurement positions; and

determining the residence positions based upon the respective vehicle measurement positions, the vehicle directions, and the distance and angle measurements.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein the residences have respective street addresses;

and further comprising associating the respective street addresses with the residence positions.

44. The method according to claim 42 wherein determining the vehicle positions comprises using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

45. The method according to claim 42 wherein determining the vehicle movement comprises using an inertial reference movement sensing device.

46. The method according to claim 42 wherein determining vehicle movement comprises using a compass, vehicle speed sensor and clock.

47. The method according to claim 39 further comprising capturing residence images.

48. The method according to claim 47 wherein the residences have respective street address indicia associated therewith;

and wherein the captured residence images comprise the street address indicia.

49. The method according to claim 39 wherein the vehicle comprises a terrestrial vehicle;

and further comprising mounting the range finder to the vehicle.

50. A method for determining nearby structure positions comprising:

determining a plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions along a path of vehicle travel based upon received signals;

determining vehicle movement along the path of vehicle travel;

determining respective distance and angle measurements from the vehicle to the structures at measurement positions along the path of vehicle travel;

determining the measurement positions based upon the plurality of spaced apart vehicle positions and the vehicle movement;

determining respective vehicle directions at the measurement positions; and

determining the structure positions based upon the respective vehicle measurement positions, the vehicle directions, and the distance and angle measurements.

51. The method according to claim 50 wherein the structures comprise residences having respective street addresses;

and further comprising associating the respective street addresses with the residence positions.

52. The method according to claim 50 wherein determining the vehicle positions comprises using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

53. The method according to claim 50 wherein determining the vehicle movement comprises using an inertial reference movement sensing device.

54. The method according to claim 50 wherein determining vehicle movement comprises using a compass, vehicle speed sensor and clock.

55. The method according to claim 50 further comprising capturing structure images.

56. The method according to claim 55 wherein the structures comprise residences having respective street address indicia associated therewith;

and wherein the captured residence images comprise the street address indicia.

57. The method according to claim 50 wherein the vehicle comprises a terrestrial vehicle;

and further comprising mounting the range finder to the vehicle.