Abstract: Some embodiments described herein include a method for generating scaled terrain information with an unmanned autonomous gardening vehicle. In some embodiments the gardening vehicle includes a driving unit comprising a set of at least one drive wheel and a motor connected to the at least one drive wheel for providing movability of the gardening vehicle, a gardening-tool and a camera for capturing images of a terrain, the camera being positioned and aligned in known manner relative to the gardening vehicle. In context of the method the gardening vehicle is moved in the terrain while concurrently generating a set of image data by capturing an image series of terrain sections so that at least two (successive) images of the image series cover an amount of identical points in the terrain, wherein the terrain sections are defined by a viewing area of the camera at respective positions of the camera while moving.

Abstract: A laser scanner measures a surface of spaces and/or objects and produces a point cloud representing the surface. The laser scanner includes a laser source for producing laser light, a detector for receiving the laser light, and a platform that pivots relative to a stationary base of the laser scanner. The laser light is directed to a particular point on the surface through an outlet point. Laser light scattered at the particular point is received through an inlet point on the platform. A distance to the particular point is determined using laser light scattered and received by the detector. A direction to the particular point is detected using, for example, one or more sensors for determining a pivot position of the platform relative to the base. A parallel kinematic drive pivots the platform relative to the base to scan the laser beam over points of the surface.

Abstract: Machine control systems for controlling a land levelling or earthmoving process of a wheel loader relative to a working plane are disclosed. In some embodiments, the wheel loader may be equipped with a land levelling or earthmoving blade and may comprise tool positioning means for adjusting the position and orientation of the tool relative to the first body. In some embodiments, the machine control system comprises a machine control unit and an orientation detection system. In some embodiments, the orientation detection system may include orientation detection means which are designed to be attached to the blade and/or to the wheel loader for detecting a position and an orientation of the blade relative to a working plane. In some embodiments, the orientation detection means are adapted to generate orientation data according to the relative position and orientation of the blade and to transmit the orientation data to the machine control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated arm CMM, which is constructed in a modular way, and a modular assembling kit for constructing such an articulated arm CMM, comprising an articulated arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is configured to support a tool. The articulated arm comprises at least two arm sections, connected to one another by pivot joints with integrated angle encoders. The arm sections are configured as modules having a PCB unit, said PCB unit comprises an elongated PCB section element and at least one PCB encoder element. The PCB encoder elements are configured to build an angle encoder and the PCB section elements comprise electronic transmission means for transmitting the encoder signals from the PCB encoder elements toward a circuit deriving the relative position between the arm sections.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for determining at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point of an object (15) with a coordinate measuring machine (1), the method comprising capturing at least a first image of the object (15), the object being positioned in a measuring volume of the coordinate measuring machine (1), determining edges in the at least first image, defining, based on the determined edges, a measurement path for a probe head (13) of the coordinate measuring machine (1) for approaching the measurement point with the probe head (13), and driving the probe head (13) along the measurement path. The invention furthermore pertains to a coordinate measuring machine (1) for execution of said method.

Abstract: A Method for generating scaled terrain information while operating a bulldozer. The bulldozer may include a driving unit comprising a set of drive wheels, a motor connected to at least one of the drive wheels, a blade for altering the surface of the terrain, at least one camera for capturing images of the environment, the camera being positioned and aligned in a known manner relative to the bulldozer, and a controlling and processing unit. A method may include moving the bulldozer while concurrently generating a set of image data by capturing an image series of terrain sections with the at least one camera so that at least two images of the image series cover an amount of identical points in the terrain, and either applying a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm or a stereo photogrammetry algorithm to the set of image data and thereby deriving terrain data.

Abstract: A Method for generating scaled terrain information while operating a bulldozer. The bulldozer may include a driving unit comprising a set of drive wheels, a motor connected to at least one of the drive wheels, a blade for altering the surface of the terrain, at least one camera for capturing images of the environment, the camera being positioned and aligned in a known manner relative to the bulldozer, and a controlling and processing unit. A method may include moving the bulldozer while concurrently generating a set of image data by capturing an image series of terrain sections with the at least one camera so that at least two images of the image series cover an amount of identical points in the terrain, and either applying a simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) algorithm or a stereo photogrammetry algorithm to the set of image data and thereby deriving terrain data.

Abstract: A method for a six degree of freedom position and orientation determination of a known shape in a scenery is disclosed. The method includes taking a range image with a range imaging camera and a visual picture with a digital camera. The range imaging camera includes a sensor array with a first number of pixels. Determining a 3D cluster of points from range information collected from the sensor array to a point of the scenery. the digital camera comprises an image sensor having a second number of pixels, resulting in a 2D picture. A stored 3D digital representation of the known shape may be fitted in a virtual space to match the reproduction of the known object in the 2D picture and the 3D cluster of points and determining the six degree of freedom position and orientation of the known shape according to the virtual match.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine comprising a stationary base, a probe head, at least one linear drive mechanism for moving in a first direction, the linear drive mechanism having a linear guide and a movable member being supported for movement along the guide by bearings. The linear drive mechanism further comprises at least a first pre-calibrated integral sensor-package having at least two displacement sensors each for measuring a distance from the movable member to the guide in a direction being non-parallel with respect to the first direction, wherein the sensed distances indicate a translational displacement of the movable member from an ordinary bearing position in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and a rotational displacement of the movable member.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a road condition determining system and a method for determining a condition of a road traversed by at least one vehicle. The road condition determining system comprises a vehicle position determination means for determining a position of the vehicle, a calibration parameter detection unit adapted to determine at least one calibration parameter of a part of the vehicle, a vertical acceleration sensor adapted to continuously sense a vertical acceleration of the vehicle, a calculation unit adapted to calculate a road condition value based on the vertical acceleration and on the calibration parameter, and to continuously monitor whether the road condition value exceeds a predefined schedule, and a data transmission unit adapted to provide maintenance data to at least one receiver, the maintenance data comprising at least an information about the vehicle position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for determining machine parameters of a mechanical device in which a first element and a second element are mutually movable in settable patterns of movement, the method comprising placing a measuring arm between the first and second elements, displacing the first and second elements mutually in a predetermined intended movement path, applying a predetermined force between the first element and the second element substantially in the longitudinal direction of the measuring arm, recording the resulting actual movement path by means of the measuring arm, thereby determining a difference between the intended movement path and the actual movement path, and deriving, based on the determined difference, machine parameters indicating a condition of the mechanical device, characterized in that the predetermined force comprises a dynamically varying portion. The invention furthermore pertains to a test assembly for performing said method.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for an automated construction data interchange in a work information modelling system with a server means and a mobile client device built for establishing a communication link to the server means. The server means stores a general construction database with structured datasets of object entities of physical construction components with a hierarchical structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a method for controlling a production process of an object in a production assembly and for compensating errors occurring in the production process. For example, the method comprising generating actual property data comprising obtained values of properties of at least one sample object produced in the production assembly according to a production model; performing a nominal-actual value comparison with the obtained values of properties of the actual property data and set values of corresponding properties of nominal property data of the object; and automatically creating an adapted production model based on the nominal property data and on the deviation data. The adapted production model may be usable in an adapted production process for producing an adapted object in the production assembly, and differs from the nominal property data.

Abstract: A method for compensating a measurement error related to a measurement of a desired measuring point at an object to be measured with a coordinate measuring machine is disclosed. Some embodiments include a touch probe. Some embodiments include a method that includes providing a three dimensional reference body of known shape and dimension at a known position in the measuring volume of the coordinate measuring machine, defining multiple reference points to be measured at the reference body, touching the reference body with the touch probe in defined touching directions according to the multiple reference points and thereby determining positions for the multiple reference points, and deriving a lobing error information for the touch probe based on the known shape and dimensions of the reference body and the determined positions of the reference points, the lobing error information providing error values related to respective touching directions for the touch probe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring machine and a method for automated measurement of an object and detection of differences between a feature of the object and CAD data of the object. The measuring machine comprises a probe head, a probe system comprising a probe and measurement functionality for determining three- dimensional coordinates of a feature of the object, a local computer terminal, an assigned memory unit, and an assigned set of measurement software programmes for controlling the measuring machine. The stored CAD data of the object comprise typical dimensions and tolerances of the features, and the assigned set of measurement software programmes comprises an optimization algorithm for the measurement of each feature which algorithm is designed to automatically select measuring parameters of the measuring machine and/or a measurement software programme from the set of measurement software programmes.

Abstract: A laser scanner measures a surface of spaces and/or objects and produces a point cloud representing the surface. The laser scanner includes a laser source for producing laser light, a detector for receiving the laser light, and a platform that pivots relative to a stationary base of the laser scanner. The laser light is directed to a particular point on the surface through an outlet point. Laser light scattered at the particular point is received through an inlet point on the platform. A distance to the particular point is determined using laser light scattered and received by the detector. A direction to the particular point is detected using, for example, one or more sensors for determining a pivot position of the platform relative to the base. A parallel kinematic drive pivots the platform relative to the base to scan the laser beam over points of the surface.

Abstract: Machine control systems for controlling a land levelling or earthmoving process of a wheel loader relative to a working plane are disclosed. In some embodiments, the wheel loader may be equipped with a land levelling or earthmoving blade and may comprise tool positioning means for adjusting the position and orientation of the tool relative to the first body. In some embodiments, the machine control system comprises a machine control unit and an orientation detection system. In some embodiments, the orientation detection system may include orientation detection means which are designed to be attached to the blade and/or to the wheel loader for detecting a position and an orientation of the blade relative to a working plane. In some embodiments, the orientation detection means are adapted to generate orientation data according to the relative position and orientation of the blade and to transmit the orientation data to the machine control unit.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an optical measuring device for determining 3D coordinates of an object. The optical measuring device may include a projector device for illuminating the object with at least one predefined pattern; at least one PSA camera for capturing a 2D image of the pattern as reflected from the object; computing means for measuring a sequence of brightness values of at least one 2D image point from the 2D images, and calculating a 3D coordinate of an object point which is correlated with the measured sequence of brightness values of the 2D image point. The optical measuring device may also include a TOF camera for capturing at least one range image of the object, the range image including distance information of the object for the dissolution of ambiguity in calculating the 3D coordinate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated arm coordinate measurement machine for a measurement of geometrical features of an object, comprising a stationed end of the articulated arm, opposed to a movable end of the articulated arm being manually movable by a human operator. A measurement probe head is attachable to the movable end. It also comprises a graphical display unit located at the movable end of the articulated arm, in particular in vicinity of the probe head, in such a way that information provided by the display unit is visible for the operator during measurement. The display unit is built to provide an artificial view, which is graphically representing at least part of the object, in particular with respect to a point of view from or nearby the movable end of the arm so that the artificial view is similar to the operator's natural view of the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for virtual assembly of a structure, the structure being supposed to be assembled from a multitude of components on a construction site, the method comprising measuring, at a multitude of locations remote from the construction site, the components of the structure subsequent to their production and prior to their transport to the construction site, wherein the measuring comprises measuring at least the shape and size of connecting elements of each of the components, creating virtual representations of the components, virtually assembling the representations of the components, determining, based on assembly tolerances, whether the structure can be assembled with the measured components, and deciding, by means of an optimization algorithm, whether one or more components are to be reproduced, one or more components are to be reworked, and/or the structure is to be redesigned.