Ground-tracking devices for use with a mapping locator
First Claim
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1. A ground tracking device, comprising:
- a ground follower assembly comprising;
a ground follower element;
a swing-arm element coupled to the ground follower element;
a yoke element coupled between the swing-arm element and the mounting assembly; and
a plurality of sensors configured to sense movement of the ground follower assembly relative to a ground surface or other surface in two or more axes of motion and generate the one or more output signals based at least in part on the movement; and
a mounting assembly configured to floatably attach the ground follower assembly to a measurement device;
wherein the ground follower assembly is configured to generate one or more output signals representative of a motion of the measurement device over a ground surface in two or more axes of motion.
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Abstract
A ground tracking apparatus for connection to a locator or other measurement device and configured to determine position, motion, and/or orientation information is disclosed. The ground tracking apparatus may include a ground follower assembly including one or more wheels, which may be detachably coupled to a buried object locator system to capture three-dimensional positional and orientation information during a locate process, as well as provide output data or information to be integrated with maps, photographs, drawings, or other data or information.
18 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A ground tracking device, comprising:
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a ground follower assembly comprising; a ground follower element; a swing-arm element coupled to the ground follower element; a yoke element coupled between the swing-arm element and the mounting assembly; and a plurality of sensors configured to sense movement of the ground follower assembly relative to a ground surface or other surface in two or more axes of motion and generate the one or more output signals based at least in part on the movement; and a mounting assembly configured to floatably attach the ground follower assembly to a measurement device; wherein the ground follower assembly is configured to generate one or more output signals representative of a motion of the measurement device over a ground surface in two or more axes of motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A ground tracking device, comprising:
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aground follower assembly; and a mounting assembly configured to floatably attach the ground follower assembly to a measurement device; wherein the ground follower assembly is configured to generate one or more output signals representative of a motion of the measurement device over a ground surface in two or more axes of motion; wherein the motion of the measurement device includes; a rotational motion about a substantially fixed ground reference point and the one or more output signals include one or more signals corresponding to the rotational motion about the substantially fixed ground point; an up or down motion of the ground tracking device about the ground surface and the one or more signals include one or more signals corresponding to the up or down motion; and a side-to-side motion and the one or more signals include one or more signals corresponding to the side-to-side motion. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification