Construction machine with measuring system and construction site measuring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12018457-B2
Application number	US-202117177786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2021
Priority date	Feb 17, 2020
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A construction machine comprising a chassis, a steering, and a powertrain for driving the construction machine by the chassis, an earth-moving tool for working a terrain, and a measuring system having a first measuring unit configured for generating first measuring data in a first detection range and comprising at least a first camera and a first LiDAR scanner configured for rotating a first measuring beam around a first axis and around a second axis non-parallel to the first axis with a rotating speed of at least 0.5 Hz with respect to each axis, an interface connecting the first measuring unit to a computer configured for, based on the first measuring data, at least one of generating a three-dimensional model of the terrain within the first detection range, identifying an obstacle or a person within the first detection range, and controlling the steering, the powertrain, and/or the earth-moving tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A construction machine comprising:
a chassis, a steering, and a powertrain for driving the construction machine by the chassis,
an earth-moving tool for working a terrain; and
a measuring system, including:
a first measuring unit configured for generating first measuring data in a first detection range and comprising at least a first camera and a first Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanner,

wherein the first LiDAR scanner comprises:
a base,
a support mounted on the base and being rotatable relative to the base, and
a deflector for deflecting a first measuring beam sent from the first LiDAR scanner towards the terrain and returning parts of the first measuring beam to the first LiDAR scanner, the deflector being mounted on the support and being rotatable relative to the support,
wherein the first LiDAR scanner is configured for rotating the first measuring beam around a first axis by continuously rotating the support relative to the base around the first axis, and around a second axis non-parallel to the first axis by continuously rotating the deflector relative to the support around the second axis, with a rotating speed of at least 0.5 Hz with respect to each axis,
an interface connecting the first measuring unit to a computer, wherein the computer is configured for, based on the first measuring data, at least one of:
generating a three-dimensional model of the terrain within the first detection range,
identifying an obstacle or a person within the first detection range, and
controlling at least one of the steering, the powertrain, and the earth-moving tool.

2. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first LiDAR scanner is configured for
continuously rotating the support relative to the base around the first axis with a rotating speed of 1 Hz, and
continuously rotating the deflector relative to the support around the second axis with a rotating speed of 50 Hz.

3. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the LiDAR scanner comprises an angle encoder unit configured for determining angle data representing an orientation of the first measuring beam relative to the first and second axes.

4. The construction machine according to claim 1 , the LiDAR scanner comprises a cover encasing the support and the deflector such that during a scanning movement, the first measuring beam passes through the cover at different penetration points.

5. The construction machine according to claim 4 , wherein the LiDAR scanner or the computer comprises a data memory having stored angle-based correction parameters, wherein the computer is configured for correcting angle data for beam offsets caused by the cover based on the correction parameters.

6. The construction machine according to claim 4 , wherein the cover has a hemispherical head part that merges into a cylindrical shell connected to the base.

7. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured for, based on the first measuring data,
generating the three-dimensional model of the terrain within the first detection range,
identifying the obstacle or the person within the first detection range, and
controlling at least one of the steering, the powertrain, and the earth-moving tool, wherein said controlling is further based on at least one of:
the identified obstacle or person, and
the generated three-dimensional model of the terrain, the generated three-dimensional model of the terrain comprising at least one identified road, wherein the computer is configured for identifying a plurality of roads based on the first measuring data.

8. The construction machine according to claim 1 , comprising a target mounted on the earth-moving tool, wherein the computer is configured for tracking a pose of the target based on the first measuring data.

9. The construction machine according to claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna configured for generating position data,
an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) configured for generating IMU data, and
a wireless network unit configured for transmitting data to a remote station.

10. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the computer is built into the first measuring unit.

11. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein a remote server comprises the computer and wherein the interface comprises a wireless network unit.

12. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first measuring unit is arranged at a first location of the construction machine, and wherein the measuring system further comprises:
a second measuring unit arranged at a second location of the construction machine, wherein the second measuring unit is configured for generating second measuring data in a second detection range and comprising at least a second camera and a second LiDAR scanner, the second LiDAR scanner configured for rotating a second measuring beam around a third axis and around a fourth axis non-parallel to the third axis, with a rotating speed of at least 0.5 Hz with respect to each axis,
wherein a current relative position between the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit is predetermined or determinable, and
wherein the computer is configured for generating combined measuring data based on the first measuring data, the second measuring data, and the current relative position between the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit.

13. The construction machine according to claim 12 , wherein the measuring system further comprises an adapter for attaching the measuring system onto the construction machine, the first and second measuring units being arranged on respective opposing sides of the adapter, such that a distance between the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit is adjustable by at least one dimension adjustment mechanism of the adapter.

14. A construction site measuring system comprising a sub-system and a computer, wherein the sub-system comprises:
an adapter for attaching the sub-system onto a construction machine;
a first measuring unit arranged at a first side of the adapter, the first measuring unit configured for generating first measuring data in a first detection range, and comprising at least a first camera and a first LiDAR scanner, the first measuring data comprising LiDAR data from the first LiDAR scanner and image data from the first camera; and
a second measuring unit arranged at a second side of the adapter, the second measuring unit configured for generating second measuring data in a second detection range, and comprising at least a second camera and a second LiDAR scanner, the second measuring data comprising LiDAR data from the second LiDAR scanner and image data from the second camera,
wherein the computer is configured to generate combined measuring data based on the first measuring data and the second measuring data,
wherein each LiDAR scanner comprises a base, a support mounted on the base and being rotatable relative to the base, and a deflector for deflecting a respective measuring beam sent from the respective LiDAR scanner towards a terrain and returning parts of the respective measuring beam to the respective LiDAR scanner, the deflector being mounted on the support and being rotatable relative the support,
wherein each LiDAR scanner is configured to rotate the respective measuring beam around a respective first axis with a first rotating speed of at least 0.5 Hz by continuously rotating the support relative to the base around the respective first axis, and around a respective second axis non-par

Assignees

• Leica Geosystems Tech A/S
• Leica Geosystems Ag
• Hexagon Geosystems Services Ag

Inventors

• Thibblin Magnus
• Kauppinen Tommi Juhani
• Böckem Burkhard
• Wieser Matthias
• Steffen Roman
• Gohl Pascal

Classifications

• G01S17/89 Primary

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01S7/4817

  relating to scanning · CPC title

• G01B21/22

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• E02F9/265

  with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool) · CPC title

• E02F9/262

  with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller · CPC title