A system for tracking a below-ground transmitter from an aerial receiver. The receiver has an antenna assembly, a processor, and a propulsion system. The antenna assembly detects the magnetic field from an underground transmitter and generates an antenna signal. The processor is programmed to receive the antenna signal and generate a command signal, which moves the receiver to a position above the transmitter. Once in the desired position, which may be a reference plane at a fixed elevation, the antenna assembly measures the magnetic field to determine the location of the drill bit along borepath.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a transporter configured to transport the apparatus based on received instructions, a detector configured to detect a predetermined condition, and a receiver configured to receive data from GPS receivers, which include one or more differential GPS receivers. A memory is configured to store, for each of different times, detection data from the detector indicative of whether the predetermined condition was detected, and location data from the receiver related to the data received from the GPS receivers.

A multi-sensor electromagnetic (EM) system and method for measuring gradients of EM signals. The multi-sensor EM system includes a frame; a transmitter device attached to the frame and configured to generate a primary EM field; a receiver device attached to the frame and configured to record a secondary EM field generated by the earth after being excited by the primary EM field; and a gradient sensor device attached to the frame and configured to record a gradient of the secondary EM field.

A multi-sensor electromagnetic (EM) system and method for measuring gradients of EM signals. The multi-sensor EM system includes a frame; a transmitter device attached to the frame and configured to generate a primary EM field; a receiver device attached to the frame and configured to record a secondary EM field generated by the earth after being excited by the primary EM field; and a gradient sensor device attached to the frame and configured to record a gradient of the secondary EM field.

The invention relates to a dual detector with a detection head (10), comprising:a platform (11) andan induction sensor fastened to the platform (11) and comprising a transmitter coil (12) and a receiver coil (13), the transmitter coil (12) and the receiver coil (13) each forming a loop, the loop of the transmitter coil (12) overlapping the loop of the receiver coil (13) at least partially so as to form a coupling zone (14), the coupling zone (14) being elongated in a first longitudinal direction defining a first axis (X.sub.1), the handle (20) extending in a plan (P.sub.1) normal to the platform (11) and the first axis (X.sub.1) of the coupling zone (14) being transverse to this plane (X.sub.1).

The invention relates to a dual detector comprising a detection head (10) having: a platform (11), and an inductive sensor which is mounted on the platform (11) and includes a transmitter coil (12) and a separate receiver coil (13), the transmitter coil (12) and the receiver coil (13) each forming a loop, the loop of the transmitter coil (12) at least partially overlapping the loop of the receiver coil (13) so as to form a coupling region (14) which is elongate in a first longitudinal direction defining a first axis (X.sub.1), the arm (20) extending on a plane (P.sub.1) that runs perpendicularly to the platform (11), and the first axis (X.sub.1) of the coupling region (14) running transversely to said plane (P.sub.1).

Mobile base stations for use with one or more portable utility locators to aid in determining the location of a particular locator during operation and to receive information associated with the utility for storage and/or retransmission to other devices or systems are disclosed.

Mobile base stations for use with one or more portable utility locators to aid in determining the location of a particular locator during operation and to receive information associated with the utility for storage and/or retransmission to other devices or systems are disclosed.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of selecting locations in a field for treatment sampling is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by a processor, input data including a number T of treatments applied to a field, a number L of treatment locations for each treatment, a list of treatment polygons within the field, and a map for the field indicating one or more values of a set of design parameters corresponding to environment factors for each of a plurality of locations in the field. The method also comprises computing, by the processor, an environment class index for each of a group of locations in the list of treatment polygons based on the map; distributing the list of treatment polygons to the T treatments based on the computed indices; and selecting, for each of the T of treatments, L treatment locations from the group of locations in the treatment polygons distributed to the treatment. In addition, the method comprises causing display of information regarding the selected treatment locations.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of selecting locations in a field for treatment sampling is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by a processor, input data including a number T of treatments applied to a field, a number L of treatment locations for each treatment, a list of treatment polygons within the field, and a map for the field indicating one or more values of a set of design parameters corresponding to environment factors for each of a plurality of locations in the field. The method also comprises computing, by the processor, an environment class index for each of a group of locations in the list of treatment polygons based on the map; distributing the list of treatment polygons to the T treatments based on the computed indices; and selecting, for each of the T of treatments, L treatment locations from the group of locations in the treatment polygons distributed to the treatment. In addition, the method comprises causing display of information regarding the selected treatment locations.