Self-contained mapping and positioning system utilizing point cloud data
US6608913B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C21/188
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A self-contained mapping and positioning system for underground mining is provided that is capable of mapping the topography of a region, such as a mine tunnel, and further being able to use the mapped data to determine the position of an object, such as a mining vehicle, within the mine tunnel. The system includes an inertial navigation system, a central processing unit, a three-dimensional database, a three-dimensional camera system, an operator console and a survey system having a three-dimensional laser scanner. The survey system using the three-dimensional laser scanner produces point cloud data, i.e., a set of data points representing the topography of the region. The point cloud data is stored within a storage device until the entire region is mapped and then transmitted to the operator console to be post processed. After post processing, the data is exported to the three-dimensional database and the indexed for ease of use by the central processing unit. To determine the position of the object within the region, the system of the instant invention initializes the object in its current position. The object is then either remotely or directly guided to another position from t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.