Concrete placement sensing using aerial drones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12106237-B2
Application number	US-202217681836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2022
Priority date	Aug 1, 2019
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

Described are a method and system for coordinating the delivery and placement of concrete loads at a job site, and more particularly to adjusting a set time value or value range of the concrete loads, thereby to facilitate finishing or other concrete placement activities. In exemplary embodiments, the adjustments can be made based on an assessment of previously placed concrete loads. The set time values or value ranges of the concrete can be monitored and adjusted to achieve desired properties during installation and/or in its hardened state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring set time conditions of a plurality of concrete placements each having a surface, comprising:
moving over a plurality of concrete placement locations at a job site at least one aerial drone, said at least one aerial drone having at least one sensor for monitoring the surfaces of the plurality of concrete placements for hydration over time of the placed concrete by scanning the topography of the placed concrete to obtain data signals indicative of hydration;
comparing the obtained data signals with previously stored data signals to obtain set time values or value ranges correlated with the hydration over time data obtained from the at least one sensor; and
generating a pictorial diagram or map of the plurality of concrete placement locations along with set time values or value ranges, or suggested sequence priorities based on set time values or value ranges, thereby to provide indication of placements that are amenable to sequential treatment with respect to (a) initiation of finishing; (b) completion of finishing; (c) removing formwork or mold from the concrete; (d) allowing foot traffic or car traffic on the concrete; (e) releasing tensioned cables from jacks; (f) anchoring or grouting post-tensioned cables; or (g) casting further concrete on top of previously poured concrete, and when said indication indicates that placements are amenable to said sequential treatment, initiating said finishing of said placements that are amenable to said sequential treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, moving over a plurality of concrete placement locations at a job site at least one aerial drone having at least one sensor for monitoring the surfaces of the concrete placements for hydration over time of the placed concrete to obtain data signals indicative of hydration, the at least one sensor is chosen from optical, infrared, acoustic, radio wave, microwave, electrical resistivity, electrical capacitance, and ultrasonic sensors.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, in comparing the obtained data signals with previously stored data signals to obtain set time values or value ranges correlated with the hydration over time data obtained from the at least one sensor, a pictorial diagram or map of the plurality of concrete placement locations along with set time values or value ranges, or suggested sequence priorities based on set time values or value ranges, is generated on a personal computer, lap top, or hand-held smart phone or smart watch.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pictorial diagram or map is generated on a hand-held device or goggles worn by a site foreperson.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pictorial diagram is an image of concrete delivery trucks as viewed on a pour site map.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pictorial image further includes digital values or colors to be overlaid upon the truck images or concrete segment images to indicate visual information regarding pour status or setting values of poured concrete segments.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of moving over a plurality of concrete placement locations at a job site at least one aerial drone having at least one sensor for monitoring the surfaces of the concrete placements for hydration over time of the placed concrete to obtain data signals indicative of hydration, the method further comprises providing a processor that is programmed to compare the obtained sensor data with previously stored sensor data signals to obtain set time values or value ranges that are correlated with hydration of concrete over time data obtained from the at least one sensor being moved using at least one aerial drone; and further comprises providing at least five concrete delivery trucks each having a mixer drum containing a concrete load and a processor-controlled system for monitoring rheology and at least one set time value or value range of the concrete load in the mixer drum of a concrete delivery truck; and further wherein the processors are programmed to perform functions comprising: (i) accessing at least one stored set time value or value range assigned to concrete loaded in the mixer drum for delivery to a job site; (ii) calculating at least one current set time value or value range for the concrete load based on monitored hydration over time; and (iii) comparing the at least one stored set time values or value ranges with the calculated at least one current set time values or value ranges.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of moving over a plurality of concrete placement locations at a job site at least one aerial drone having at least one sensor for monitoring the surfaces of the concrete placements for hydration over time of the placed concrete to obtain data signals indicative of hydration, the aerial drone periodically scans concrete for surface moisture at least every 10 minutes, and more preferably every 5 minutes.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the set time value or value ranges are strength values as determined by a maturity method.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said maturity method is ASTM C1074.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the monitored rheology is slump, slump flow or yield stress.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one set time value or value range is initial set time, final set time, compressive strength, or a combination of these values.

Assignees

• Gcp Applied Tech Inc

Inventors

• Tregger Nathan A
• Roberts Mark F
• Straka Jason
• Berodier Elise
• Austin Greg
• Hoopes Robert

Classifications

• G06Q10/06313

  Resource planning in a project environment · CPC title

• G01N33/383

  Concrete or cement · CPC title

• B01F2101/28

  Mixing cement, mortar, clay, plaster or concrete ingredients · CPC title

• G06Q50/08

  Construction · CPC title

• G06Q10/06311 Primary

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title