Augmented reality technology as a controller for a total station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022011577-A1
Application number	US-202016924648-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2020
Priority date	Jul 9, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

An augmented-reality system is combined with a surveying system to make measurement and/or layout at a construction site more efficient. A reflector can be mounted to a wearable device having an augmented-reality system. A total station can be used to track a reflector, and truth can be transferred to the wearable device while an obstruction is between the total station and the reflector. Further, a target can be used to orient a local map of a wearable device to an environment based on a distance between the target and the wearable device.

First claim

1 . A system for identifying points of interest during construction layout, the system comprising:
a base station configured to measure angles and distances from the base station to a reflector to generate position data of the reflector in relation to an environment; a wearable device comprising:
a hardhat;
the reflector, wherein the reflector is fixedly coupled with the hardhat;
an optical display fixedly coupled with the hardhat;
a camera fixedly coupled with the hardhat; and
a graphics engine configured to provide a local map based on images acquired by the camera; and
one or more processors configured to:
receive the position data;
orient the local map of the wearable device to the base station using the position data; and
present to a user of the wearable device, using the optical display, a virtual object in relation to the environment, based on orienting the local map of the wearable device with the base station.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical display allows real-world light to pass through the optical display.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is a prism.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is a pattern of retroreflective stickers.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the base station comprises a theodolite to measure angles between the base station and the reflector.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the position data includes location data and orientation data.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the position data includes location data, and orientation data is obtained measurement of an edge obtained from the local map.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is a first reflector and the hardhat comprises a second reflector in a known orientation to the first reflector.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the base station comprises an electronic distance measurement (EDM) device for measuring a distance from the base station to the reflector.

10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a tracking camera, separate from the base station and the wearable device, wherein the tracking camera provides imagery data used to determine position of the wearable device with the environment.

11 . A method for using augmented reality in construction layout, the method comprising:
measuring a position of a reflector in relation to a base station to obtain position data, wherein:
the reflector is fixedly coupled with a hardhat; and
the base station is configured to measure angels and distances from the base station to the reflector in relation to an environment;
generating a local map based on images acquired by a camera that is fixedly coupled with the hardhat; orienting the local map to the base station using the position data; and presenting to a user, using an optical display fixedly coupled with the hardhat, a virtual object in relation to the environment, based on orienting the local map with the base station.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising orienting a model to the environment, and wherein the virtual object is from a feature of the model.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising orienting the base station to the environment.

14 . An apparatus comprising:
a wearable device comprising:
a frame;
a marker, wherein the marker is fixedly coupled with the frame;
an optical display fixedly coupled with the frame;
a camera fixedly coupled with the frame; and
a graphics engine configured to provide a local map based on images acquired by the camera; and
one or more processors configured to:
receive position data relative to an environment;
orient the local map of the wearable device to the environment using the position data; and
present, using the optical display, a virtual object in relation to the environment.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the marker is a retroreflector.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the marker is a two-dimensional design.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the marker includes a machine readable code.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the marker includes a machine readable code, and the machine readable code is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode.

19 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a camera on a back of the frame used to track a location and/or an orientation of a base station with respect to the frame.

20 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:
a base station comprises a camera; the camera is separate from the base station; and the camera is configured to acquire images of the marker used to determine relative position of the marker in relation to the base station.

21 .- 60 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Trimble Inc

Inventors

• Lawver Jordan
• Ostrowski Steven
• Burczyk David
• Williams Bryan
• Atkins Benedict Jg
• Holmgren Martin

Classifications

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G01C3/00

  Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders (tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48) · CPC title

• G06T7/73

  using feature-based methods · CPC title

• G06K7/1417

  2D bar codes · CPC title