A guidance system for remotely guiding a work machine along a virtual path. The system uses a vision system to capture image data representative of areas surrounding the work machine. The image data is used to produce a spatial map. Analysis of image data allows the work machine's then-current position to be represented on the spatial map. A virtual path extending from the work machine's position is next added to the spatial map. The virtual path may be generated in response to external input provided at the display showing an image of the spatial map. Using continuously-updated image data, the work machine is driven toward the virtual path. During operation, the actual path of the work machine is compared to the virtual path. If any deviation between the paths is detected, the trajectory of the work machine is automatically adjusted.

This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collect one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to perform an excavation routine by excavating earth from a hole using an excavation tool positioned at a single location within the site. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, navigating the excavation vehicle over a distance while continuously excavating earth from a below surface depth, and preparing a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.

A seabed trenching plow has a chassis, a sled and a towing assembly. The towing assembly has a pair of wings extending laterally from each side of the chassis. The wings are aligned on an axis transverse to the chassis and adapted for connection to a towing line. The transverse axis is forward of the center of gravity of the plow and rearward of the sled, affording an over the stern releasable and retrievable trenching plow of sufficient weight and strength to excavate a three meter trench in a single pass. To assess the protective capabilities of the trench, a threshold signal indicative of a desired composition of seabed-trench soil is compared with a real-time data signal indicative of the actual to produce an alarm signal when the real-time data signal is not protective-capability compliant with the threshold signal.

A system for uncovering a trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine and a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched with a saw blade contained therein. The blade is supported on a hub which is slidably movable relative to the frame by operation of a linear actuator, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or the like. The vertical location of the blade within the frame is continuously adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench. A monitoring system is provided to monitor the vertical location from an operator station.

A mobile device for the underground laying of a flexible line, a cable, a cable-pulling empty pipe or fluid transport tube. A front vehicle has a rear support frame, a lateral ejection unit, a milling unit with a milling wheel and a drag formwork or cable laying unit following the wheel. The milling unit is connected to the front vehicle for lateral pivoting up to 25, in particular up to 20, is laterally offset towards the outside with respect to the front vehicle, and can be positioned to laterally protrude over the contour of the front vehicle, by a primary articulation or a swivel joint on the lateral ejection unit having a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The drag formwork, cable laying and cable introducing unit follows the milling unit and the cable introducing unit are also laterally pivotable about a second swivel joint.

A method for excavating a ditch and installing an underground pipeline. The method includes excavating a ditch utilizing a predetermined GPS model having grading and alignment requirements for the ditch and the underground pipeline and inserting pipes into the ditch. A laser beam is projected from a laser beam apparatus in association with a first pipe section that utilizes the grading and alignment requirements of the predetermined GPS model to guide excavation and installation of one or more sections of pipes. A remote-controlled vehicle is inserted into the first pipe and is configured to focus the projected laser beam to guide excavation and installation of successive pipe sections. The remote-controlled vehicle is navigated through the pipeline during installation to guide grading of subsequent ditch sections and alignment of additional pipe sections.

This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collect one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to perform an excavation routine by excavating earth from a hole using an excavation tool positioned at a single location within the site. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, navigating the excavation vehicle over a distance while continuously excavating earth from a below surface depth, and preparing a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.

The invention relates to a method for ground working with an underground construction device which comprises at least one rotary drive unit for rotationally driving a ground working tool and at least one feed unit, by means of which the ground working tool is introduced into the ground for creating a hole, wherein a control and evaluation unit is provided, by means of which setting parameters are acquired and stored during ground working, at least one state value resulting from ground working is acquired and stored and the setting parameters are changed and set by the control and evaluation unit depending on the at least one acquired state value. According to the invention, it is provided that an automatic calibration is carried out by the control and evaluation unit at least at the beginning of ground working, wherein ground working is performed in a first calibration section with a first set of setting parameters predetermined by a calibration program and at least in a further second calibration section with a second set of setting parameters predetermined by the calibration program, wherein the predetermined sets of setting parameters differ from one another, and that subsequently the control and evaluation unit sets the setting parameters for further ground working depending on the state variables acquired in the calibration sections.

The invention is embodied in a construction quality control tool that allows owners and contractors to meet design plans and specifications. It saves time and costs to both parties' budgets by easily measuring pipe grading while eliminating need for surveyors on site and quickly transmitting print data in real time for third-party inspectors to prepare as-built plans. Most importantly, it ensures pipes are installed safely and accurately to prevent construction issues in the future. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two devices: (1) a pipe setter and (2) a remote processing and recording unit. The pipe setter is mounted inside the new pipe to be installed. The pipe setter helps the pipe installer reliably and accurately install pipe that matches the line and grade (fixed x, y z) per design plan. The remote processing and recording unit enables the construction superintendent and the third-party inspector monitoring the pipe installation in real time.

A construction machine that includes a machine frame and an articulated boom. The articulated boom is pivotably mounted to the machine frame. The construction machine is configured to be operated in a loader mode in which a first tool is mounted to the articulated boom, and in an excavator mode in which a second tool is mounted to the articulated boom. The construction machine further includes a tool storage for storing the first tool and/or the second tool. The construction machine is configured to replace one of the first tool and second tool when mounted to the articulated boom with the other one of the first tool and second tool when stored in the tool storage.