The invention relates generally to the field of surveying. The fields of application of the systems, methods and computer programs of the invention include, but are not limited to, navigation, map-making, land surveying, civil engineering, agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, and scientific research.
Surveying techniques typically involve a reference antenna/receiver located at a known point and a single operator who moves about with a roving antenna/receiver, or “GNSS total station”. The operator stops on various unknown points to record position information in a data collector using signals transmitted by a minimum number of satellites which are above the horizon. The satellite positions are monitored closely from earth and act as reference points from which an antenna/receiver in the field is able to determine position information. By measuring the travel time of signals transmitted from a number of satellites, the receiver is able to determine corresponding distances from the satellites to the antenna phase centre, and then the position of the antenna by solving a set of simultaneous equations. The roving antenna is typically carried atop a range pole which is held by the operator to provide a clear view of the sky, although the roving antenna need not be within sight of the reference antenna. A vector or baseline is determined from a reference site to the rover. The need for a reference site is eliminated when a regional or global network of reference sites has been incorporated into the system, which allows the absolute position of the rover to be determined in a global reference frame such as the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRF).
Surveyors may have to measure dozens or possibly hundreds of points during a typical work period. For each point, the survey pole, also known as “range pole”, “rover pole”, or “roving pole”, must be oriented vertically over the ground point for a short time, and the survey point (or “stake-out” point when a physical mark is to be established) is registered by pressing a button on a handheld controller, which is typically connected to a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver to store the point, i.e. to store positioning information associated with the point. This is a tedious procedure. In particular, in accordance with best survey practice, the survey pole has to be set vertically using a physical or electronical bubble and the operator then has to press a button on the survey controller which usually is mounted on the survey pole. At the time when the “save” or “store” button is pressed on the handheld device, the survey pole may have moved from the vertical (historically known as “pole wobble”) due to, for example, carelessness or the effect of wind force. This is a potential source of positioning errors.
The receiver of type TRIUMPH-VS from JAVAD GNSS Inc., San Jose, Calif., USA, incorporates a so-called “Lift & Tilt” mode. In that mode, orienting the survey pole vertically or near vertically (better than 5 degrees) over the ground leads to the automatic registration of the current survey point. Thereafter, tilting the pole leads to closing the file, thus recording positioning information associated with the point in memory. The “Lift & Tilt” mode is described on the following web page (consulted on Sep. 30, 2016): https://www.javad.com/jgnss/javad/news/pr20110302.html.
There is a constant need for improving surveying devices and methods for operating those, so as notably to increase their usability, to increase the productivity of the survey and positioning systems, and to reduce unintentional errors introduced during field procedures.
The present invention aims at addressing, at least partially, the above-mentioned need. The invention includes systems, methods, computer programs, and computer readable mediums as defined in the independent claims. Particular embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
In one embodiment, a survey system comprises: an antenna configured to receive at least one positioning signal; a sensor configured to determining whether the antenna is in a static state, and/or producing information based on which a determination as to whether the antenna is in a static state can be made; and a control unit configured for, if the antenna is determined to be in a static state, obtaining a positioning measurement (also known as “ranging measurement”) based on the at least one positioning signal.
In contrast to prior art systems, the above-described survey system does not rely on the verticality of a survey pole (or similar device) to register a survey point, but rather relies on detecting whether the antenna (and the survey pole or similar device carrying the antenna) is static (or near static), which leads to a more flexible surveying process since it is sometimes difficult if not impossible to set up the survey pole (or similar device) vertically above a ground point as objects, obstacles, or the configuration of the terrain may prevent the operator from doing so.
The invention also relates to a method for operating a survey system comprising an antenna configured to receive at least one positioning signal. A sensor performs at least one of the following operations: determining whether the antenna is in a static state, and producing information based on which a determination as to whether the antenna is in a static state can be made. If the antenna is determined to be in a static state, the control unit obtains a positioning measurement based on the at least one positioning signal.
The invention also relates, in some embodiments, to computer programs, computer program products, computer readable mediums, and storage mediums for storing such computer programs, comprising computer-executable instructions for carrying out, when executed on a computer such as one embedded in a survey apparatus or connected thereto, the above-mentioned method.
Embodiments of the present invention shall now be described, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
The present invention shall now be described in conjunction with specific embodiments. The specific embodiments serve to provide the skilled person with a better understanding, but are not intended to in any way restrict the scope of the invention, which is defined by appended claims. In particular, the embodiments described independently throughout the description can be combined to form further embodiments to the extent that they are not mutually exclusive.
As used herein, the terms “survey” and “surveying” include, but are not limited to, topographic, geodetic, detail, stake-out, site checking, boundary and local control work. Embodiments of the present invention are potentially useful in all such aspects of surveying, and in any other work which involves an operator who takes measurements with a survey pole or similar device. Embodiments of the invention may be useful with any remote positioning system that is suitable for survey work, whether satellite-based (e.g., global positioning system (GPS), the global orbiting navigation system (GLONASS), Galileo, BeiDou (BDS), etc.) or land-based (e.g., a radio navigation system that simulates a configuration of satellites).
As used herein, the term “operator” includes, but is not limited to, a human, or a robot programmed to perform survey functions as described herein (e.g. carrying a survey device(s) and stopping periodically to perform the survey).
Antenna 10 is configured to receive one or more positioning signals, such as for example a GPS signal (such as the L1, L2 or L5 signal), a GLONASS signal, a Galileo signal, a BeiDou (BDS) signal, a QZSS signal, an IRNSS signal, or any combination thereof. In other words, antenna 10 is configured to receive signals at the frequencies broadcasted by satellites 200. If a given navigation satellite system (NSS) satellite 200 emits more than one NSS signal, antenna 10 may receive more than one NSS signal from said NSS satellite 200. Furthermore, antenna 10 may receive NSS signals from a single NSS or, alternatively, from a plurality of different NSS. Survey system 100 may as well include multiple antennas 10 on a single survey pole 20. In one embodiment, antenna 10 is a NSS antenna, i.e. a GNSS and/or a regional NSS (RNSS) antenna.
Sensor 30 is configured to determine whether the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 is in a static state and, if so, to output a signal, here referred to as “static state signal”, indicating that antenna 10 (and the survey apparatus carrying it) is in a static state. If survey system 100 comprises a survey pole 20 attached to antenna 10 (as illustrated), sensor 30 is therefore configured to determine whether the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 and survey pole 20 is in a static state. In one embodiment, sensor 30 is configured to determine whether the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 and survey pole 20 is in a static state no matter whether survey pole 20 nears a vertical position or not.
The expression “in a static state” means here either static or near static, wherein “near static” means static within a predetermined threshold tolerance level.
Sensor 30 may be, may be part of, or may comprise an inertial navigation system (INS), comprising for example one or more accelerometers (e.g., a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer), and/or one or more gyroscopes, for the purpose of determining that the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 is in a static state. Additionally, or alternatively, sensor 30 may comprise one or more cameras, one or more video cameras, or a combination of any of those, for the purpose of determining that the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 is in a static state. The degree of change in images recorded over time by a camera (or cameras) or video camera (or video cameras) may be usable to determine whether the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 is static or, instead, mobile. Such camera(s) or video camera(s) is typically directed towards the ground. In one embodiment, sensor 30 is an inertial sensor or inertial measurement unit (IMU). Sensor 30 may for example be rigidly attached to an outside of, or rigidly embedded inside, survey pole 20 or antenna 10.
Control unit 40 is configured to obtain (i.e., acquire or receive) the above-referred static state signal from sensor 30 and, upon obtaining said static state signal, to obtain a positioning measurement based on the positioning signal(s). Positioning measurements may for example be derived from pseudo-random number (PRN) code measurements and/or carrier phase measurements using methods well known in the art. Control unit 40 may be configured exclusively to obtain the static state signal from sensor 30 and, upon obtaining said static state signal, to obtain a positioning measurement based on the positioning signal(s), or, alternatively, control unit 40 may be configured to perform other operations as well, no matter the nature of these operations, whether those are typically associated for example with a survey controller, a GNSS receiver, or an INS. Control unit 40 may for example be attached to an outside of, or embedded inside, survey pole 20 or antenna 10 (as schematically illustrated by
As already briefly discussed above, in contrast to prior art systems, survey system 100 does not rely on the verticality of survey pole 20 to register survey points, but rather relies on detecting the static state of survey pole 20. For operators, this increases the flexibility of the surveying process, since it is sometimes difficult or even impossible to orient a survey pole vertically above a ground point because objects, obstacles, or the configuration of the terrain may prevent the operator from doing so.
The survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 and survey pole 20 may also comprise various other elements, such as any one of, or any combination of: a) one or more housings for containing, covering and/or protecting antenna 10, sensor 30 and optionally control unit 40; b) supporting elements integrally formed within the housing(s), or attached thereto, to maintain antenna 10, sensor 30 and optionally control unit 40 in place relative to the housing(s); c) one or more central processing units (CPU) or processors (e.g., for processing raw data from sensor 30); d) one or more accurate clocks (such as crystal oscillators or atomic disciplined crystal oscillators); e) one or more data storage units (RAM, ROM, flash memory, or the like); f) one or more removable data storage unit (e.g., SD Card and/or USB slots); g) wired or wireless communication means (e.g., Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth); h) one or more input and/or output user interfaces for providing information to and receiving information from an operator (e.g., keyboard(s), keypad(s), display screen(s), touch screen(s), push-button(s), control knob(s), LED indicator light(s), speaker(s), microphone(s), etc.); i) one or more batteries or photovoltaic (solar) cells for powering various electronic parts of the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10, sensor 30, and optionally control unit 40; j) one or more cables, wired or wireless (for example Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) connections for connecting the survey apparatus to other pieces of equipment or peripherals; k) one or more handles or shoulder straps; etc. The survey apparatus comprising antenna 10, sensor 30, and optionally control unit 40, may be connected or connectable, wirelessly or not, to other pieces of equipment, such as for example a hand-held controller, a GNSS receiver (hosting e.g. a real-time kinematic (RTK) engine), or any other portable device.
Sensor 30 determines s1 whether antenna 10 (and the apparatus carrying it, hereinafter referred to in combination with the antenna as the “antenna-carrying apparatus”) is in a static state. If so, sensor 30 outputs s2 a static state signal indicating that the antenna-carrying apparatus is in a static state. For example, the determination that the antenna-carrying apparatus is in a static state may be based on a standard deviation computation of accelerometer data over a period of time (e.g., 250 ms). The accelerometer data may for example be provided at a frequency of 50, 100, 150, or 200 Hz. For example, 100 Hz data may be provided using the inertial sensor technology available in the Trimble BD935-INS receiver module, which is commercially available from Trimble Navigation Limited, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., USA, and described on the following web page: http://www.intech.trimble.com/oem_gnss/receiver boards/trimble_bd935-ins (consulted on Oct. 6, 2016). The datasheet of the Trimble BD935-INS product is available from: http://www.intech.trimble.com/library/DS_BD935-INS_US.pdf (consulted on Oct. 6, 2016).
Control unit 40 obtains s3 the static state signal from sensor 30, and, upon obtaining said static state signal, control unit 40 obtains s4 a positioning measurement based on the positioning signal(s) received by antenna 10.
In one embodiment, the data from sensor 30, such as for example gyroscope data, is also used to retrieve the current attitude of survey pole 20. This enables the measurement of a point even when survey pole 20 is not vertically oriented. In other words, if survey pole 20 is not set up vertically above the ground point, a tilted measurement may be made of the antenna-carrying apparatus position, which can then be corrected (or translated) to the point of the survey pole 20 thanks to the knowledge of the attitude (roll, pitch and yaw) and the length of survey pole 20.
It has been mentioned above that, in one embodiment, sensor 30 is configured to determine whether the survey apparatus comprising antenna 10 and survey pole 20 is in a static state no matter whether survey pole 20 nears a vertical position or not. That is, a determination as to whether antenna 10 is in a static state may be independent from whether survey pole 20 (or the like) nears a vertical position. In one embodiment, survey system 100 is nonetheless limited to operate only if survey pole 20 (or the like) is not tilted more than a threshold angle. In one embodiment, the threshold angle is a value comprised between 15 and 90 degrees, preferably between 25 and 90 degrees, such as for example 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 75, or 90 degrees from the vertical position of survey pole 20 (or the like). This limitation in the operation of survey system 100 may for example be implemented by any one of, or by a combination of, the following means:
In one embodiment, once the positioning measurement has been stored s9 in a storage unit, a feedback, such as for example a visual or audio feedback, is issued, to inform the operator that the point has been registered and that the survey can be carried on with the next point, if any.
In particular, in the method illustrated by
Sensor 30 then outputs s11 a cancel command signal, which indicates that the antenna-carrying apparatus has been subject to the motion pattern. Control unit 40 obtains s12 said cancel command signal from sensor 30 and, then, control unit 40 performs s13 one of the following operations: deleting the stored positioning measurement from the storage unit, and marking (i.e., flagging) the stored positioning measurement such that it may be later identified and considered for deletion. This embodiment contributes to an automated management of data in the context of registration of survey points, especially in the event that the operator has realized that the previously registered point was incorrect, for example, taken at the wrong location or in the wrong sequence, or the setup was faulty, for example, due to carelessness in the placement of the tip of the survey pole 20.
The method illustrated by
In embodiments of any one of the methods described with reference to
In relation to the embodiments described above with reference to
Any of the above-described methods and their embodiments may be implemented, at least partially, by means of a computer program or a set of computer programs. The computer program(s) may be loaded on a survey apparatus with an embedded or remotely attached control unit 40, wherein the survey apparatus may for example be a NSS receiver (running on a rover station), with or without a hand-held controller. Therefore, the invention also relates to computer programs, which, when carried out on a survey apparatus, such as for example a NSS receiver (running on a rover station), with or without a hand-held controller, carries out any one of the above-described methods and their embodiments.
The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium or a computer-program product including the above-mentioned computer program. The computer-readable medium or computer-program product may for instance be a magnetic tape, an optical memory disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a CD, a flash memory unit or the like, wherein the computer program is permanently or temporarily stored. The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium (or to a computer-program product) having computer-executable instructions for carrying out any one of the methods of the invention.
The invention also relates to a software or firmware update adapted to be installed on receivers already in the field, i.e. a computer program which is delivered to the field as a computer program product. This applies to each of the above-described methods, systems and apparatuses.
Where the term “control unit” or the like is used herein as units of an apparatus (such as a NSS receiver, or hand-held controller), no restriction is made regarding how distributed the constituent parts of a unit may be. That is, the constituent parts of a unit may be distributed in different software or hardware components or devices for bringing about the intended function. Furthermore, the units may be gathered together for performing their functions by means of a combined, single unit.
The above-mentioned units—such as for example control unit 40—and sub-units may be implemented using hardware, software, a combination of hardware and software, pre-programmed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuit), etc. A unit may include a central processing unit (CPU), a storage unit, input/output (I/O) units, network connection devices, etc.
Although the present invention has been described on the basis of detailed examples, the detailed examples only serve to provide the skilled person with a better understanding, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is much rather defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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16193020 | Oct 2016 | EP | regional |
The present application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/728,312, filed Oct. 9, 2017, which claims priority to European Application No. EP 16 193 020.1, filed Oct. 10, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210223403 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15728312 | Oct 2017 | US |
Child | 17204661 | US |