System and method for identifying and tracking 3D location of precast components

{
  "publication_number": "US9632165B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System and method for identifying and tracking 3D location of precast components",
  "abstract": "A 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system for identifying and tracking 3D location, that includes ground elevation and geographical location, of a precast, is provided. The system comprises an RFID tag embedded within the precast, a precast lifting machinery having a hook for lifting the precast, wherein a 3D location of the lifting machinery is predetermined as a reference, and an RFID reader attached to the lifting machinery for identifying the precast by operationally reading the RFID tag of the lifted precast. The system further comprises a sensor assembly for detecting an instant 3D location of the hook with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery and a position translational controller for deriving an instant 3D location of the lifted precast based on the 3D location of the hook detected by the sensor assembly, with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system for identifying and tracking 3D location, that includes ground elevation and geographical location, of a precast, wherein the system comprises: a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag embedded within the precast; a precast lifting machinery having a hook for lifting the precast, wherein a 3D location of the lifting machinery is predetermined as a reference; a radio frequency identifier (RFID) reader attached to the lifting machinery for identifying the precast by operationally reading the RFID tag of the lifted precast; a sensor assembly for detecting an instant 3D location of the hook with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery; and a position translational controller for holding the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery, the position translational controller is operable to derive an instant 3D location of the lifted precast based on the 3D location of the hook detected by the sensor assembly, with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery.",
    "2. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further measures the load state of the hook.",
    "3. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting machinery is a tower crane.",
    "4. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 3, wherein the tower crane comprises a mast and a horizontal jib, wherein the hook of the lifting machineries is disposed along the length of the horizontal jib, wherein the instant 3D location of the hook is determined based on distance and ground elevation of the hook on the horizontal jib with reference to the mast.",
    "5. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal jib is slewable about the mast and the sensor assembly measures slewing angle of the horizontal jib with reference to the mast.",
    "6. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal jib is luffable about the mast and the sensor assembly measures luffing angle of the horizontal jib.",
    "7. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 4, wherein the hook is attached to the horizontal jib by a trolley, wherein the trolley is movably slideable along the horizontal jib, thereby shifting the hook laterally along the horizontal jib.",
    "8. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 4, wherein the mast of the tower crane is fixed on its base to the ground.",
    "9. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 4, wherein the tower crane is a traveling tower crane.",
    "10. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 9, wherein a boogie having wheels is provided on the base of the traveling tower crane, thereby allowing the tower crane to travel along a track.",
    "11. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 10, wherein rotation of the wheels of the boogie is used to determine the 3D location of the traveling tower crane.",
    "12. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 10, wherein a differential global positioning system is installed to the lifting machinery, the differential global positioning system used to determine the 3D location of the traveling tower crane.",
    "13. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 1, wherein the position translational controller is attached onto top of the lifting machinery.",
    "14. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 1, further comprises a communication link operable for transmitting the instant 3D location of the lifted precast to a server.",
    "15. The 3-dimensional (3D) precast locating system according to claim 13, wherein when the communication link is out of range of the server, the communication link is operable to transfer instant 3D location of the lifted precast to other communication links connected to the server.",
    "16. A method for identifying and tracking 3D location, that includes ground elevation and geographical location, of precast, wherein the method comprises: embedding a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag within the precast; lifting the precast using a precast lifting machinery having a hook, wherein a 3D location of the lifting machinery is pre-determined; reading the RFID tag embedded of the lifted precast for identifying the lifted precast; detecting an instant 3D location of the hook with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery; and deriving an instant 3D location of the lifted precast based on the 3D location of the hook with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery.",
    "17. The method of claim 16, further comprises transmitting the instant 3D location of the lifted precast to a server.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, further comprises transmitting the instant 3D location of the lifted precast to other communication links connected more closely to the server.",
    "19. The method according to claim 17, further comprises storing the instant 3D location and the identity of the lifted precast in a memory provided in the server.",
    "20. The method according to claim 17, further comprises displaying the instant 3D location and the identity of the lifted precast in a user interface connected to the server.",
    "21. The method according to claim 16, wherein deriving an instant 3D location of the lifted precast based on the 3D location of the hook with reference to the predetermined 3D location of the lifting machinery further comprises attaching a position translational controller performing the derivation to top part of the lifting machinery.",
    "22. The method according to claim 16, further comprises determining the 3D location of the lifting machinery."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to precast component management system in a construction project. In particular, the present invention relates to system and method for instantly tracking and identifying position of precast components.\n\nPrecast components are often used in the construction of civil engineering projects, such as modern high-rise building projects. The precast may be of various size and thickness. The precast components are typically formed at a manufacturing facility, and then transported to the location in which they are to be erected.\n\nThe delivery and erection of the precast at the right time and at the right place is very critical to obtain a successful construction project. Failure to locate a precast piece and incorrect erection does have significant impacts in terms of time and money. It is not only delaying the project schedule, but also increasing costs and waste of the project.\n\nTaking these situations into consideration, equipment that can be used to automatically monitor and track delivery and erection process of a precast is being of interest in civil engineering project. Currently, GPS is widely used to identify and track a precast location. The GPS is installed in precast to be erected. However, deploying GPS for precast tracking is not a preferred method due to some disadvantages it may cause. First, installing GPS on every precast is costly and impractical as the size of the GPS is bulky. The GPS also needs external battery to run, yet the battery may not last long enough.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01S 3/04",
    "B66C 13/46",
    "G01S 19/14",
    "G01S 19/49"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B66C 13/46",
    "G01S 19/14",
    "G01S 19/49",
    "G01S 3/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LC&T Builder (1971) Pte Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Lay Meng LIM",
    "Meng Fei Lim"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-06-11",
  "publication_date": "2017-04-25",
  "grant_date": "2017-04-25",
  "priority_date": "2012-06-15",
  "application_number": "US-201313915613-A",
  "family_id": "48782148",
  "cited_by_count": 8,
  "citations": [
    "JP2001080881A",
    "US7344037B1",
    "US20050242052A1",
    "US20080084333A1",
    "US20100039319A1",
    "US8317244B1",
    "WO2011021151A1",
    "US20110130862A1",
    "CN201620527U",
    "US20110187548A1",
    "US20110298232A1",
    "US20120066019A1",
    "EP2604569A2",
    "WO2013169941A1",
    "US8978343B1"
  ]
}