Method And System For Position Determination Using RFID Devices

• US 20130060520A1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Amor, Miguel, Holmgren, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/154
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/047 Track or rail movements
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/008 combined with inclination sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station

Abstract

A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location includes providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor and positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location. The method also includes interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track and determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags. The method further includes determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.

Claims

1. A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location, the method comprising:

providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor;

positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location;

interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track;

determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags;

determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags; and

determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more RFID tags are attached to a surveyed structure associated with the rail track.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location in the memory;

positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at a second location;

determining, using the processor, the second location of the rail trolley;

determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the second location; and

storing the gauge and cant of the rail track at the second location in the memory.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein determining the second location of the rail trolley comprises measuring a distance from the location to the second location.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags comprises determining a GPS coordinate location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags comprises using an EDM system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags comprises using a photogrammetry system.

8. A rail trolley comprising:

a mechanical platform;

a processor mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform;

a memory coupled to the processor;

an RFID positioning system mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform;

a distance measurement system mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform;

a gauge sensor mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform; and

a tilt sensor mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform.

9. The rail trolley of claim 8 wherein the distance measurement system comprises an optical system and the RFID positioning system is operable to determine a position of one or more optical targets associated with an RFID tag.

10. The rail trolley of claim 8 wherein the rail trolley is operable to move along a railroad track, the rail trolley further comprising an odometer mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform and the railroad track.

11. The rail trolley of claim 8 further comprising a communications module coupled to the processor.

12. The rail trolley of claim 8 wherein the distance measurement system comprises an EDM system.

13. The rail trolley of claim 12 wherein the EDM system includes a laser operable to measure a distance to an optical target associated with an RFID tag.

14. The rail trolley of claim 8 wherein the distance measurement system comprises a photogrammetry system.

15. The rail trolley of claim 8 further comprising a camera system mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform and operable to obtain images of an area surrounding the rail trolley.

16. A method of determining a position of an RFID device, the method comprising:

providing a processor;

providing a communications module coupled to the processor;

transmitting, an information request from the communications module to the RFID device;

receiving, at the communications module, reference data from the RFID device; and

determining, using the processor, a position of the RFID device using the reference data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the RFID device is mounted on a fixed structure.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the fixed structure comprises a structure associated with a railroad catenary.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the reference data comprises a GPS coordinate of the RFID device.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the reference data comprises a location coordinate referenced to a railroad station.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the information request comprises an RF interrogation signal.

22. A system for position analysis, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a communications module coupled to the processor and operable to communicate with an RFID device;

a position determination module coupled to the memory and operable to determine, using reference data stored in the RFID device, a position of the RFID device.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the position determination module is provided as a component of the processor.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the reference data comprises a GPS coordinate of a fixed structure associated with RFID device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the fixed structure comprises a structure associated with a railroad catenary.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the reference data comprises a location coordinate referenced to a railroad station.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the reference data comprises a GPS location coordinate.

28. A method of determining a position of an object, the method comprising:

providing a processor;

providing a communications module coupled to the processor;

transmitting an RF interrogation signal from the communications module to an RFID tag;

receiving, at the communications module, an RF response signal from the RFID tag;

determining a position associated with the RFID tag using the RF response signal;

detecting a presence of the RFID tag in a vicinity of the object; and

computing a position of the object using the position associated with the RFID tag.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

measuring a distance from the object to the position associated with the RFID tag; and

computing, using the processor, a position of the object using the position associated with the RFID tag and the distance from the object to the position associated with the RFID tag.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein measuring the distance from the object to the position associated with the RFID tag comprises use of an EDM system.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein measuring the distance from the object to the position associate with the RFID tag comprises use of a photogrammetry system.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising computing, using the processor, a position of the object at a second time, wherein the position of the object at the second time is referenced to the position of the object.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the RFID tag is mounted on a structure associated with a rail line.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein the RF response signal comprises data associated with a GPS location associated with the RFID tag.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein computing the position of the object comprises blending GPS location data for the object with the GPS location associated with the RFID tag.

36. A position determination system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

an RFID reader coupled to the processor and operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from an RFID tag; and

a system operable to detect a presence of the RFID tag in a vicinity of the position determination system.

37. The position determination system of claim 36 further comprising a distance measurement system coupled to the processor.

38. The position determination system of claim 37 wherein the distance measurement system comprises an EDM system.

39. The position determination system of claim 37 wherein the distance measurement system comprises a photogrammetry system.

40. The position determination system of claim 37 wherein the distance measurement system comprises a Simultaneous Location And Mapping (SLAM) system.

41. The position determination system of claim 37 wherein the processor is operable to blend distance measurement data for an object measured using the distance measurement system with a GPS location associated with the RFID tag to determine a GPS location of the object.

42. The position determination system of claim 36 wherein the RFID tag is operable to store a GPS location associated with the RFID tag.

43. The position determination system of claim 36 further comprising a GPS location sensor coupled to the processor.