Position locating apparatus for an underwater moving body

Abstract: A position locating apparatus for an underwater moving body (4) loaded with an inspecting device (3) is improved so as to make it possible to perform inspection of a structure (2) in water quickly, reliably and at a high precision. The improvements reside in that the apparatus comprises a light source (5b) and a corner cube (5a) in combination serving as a target loaded on an underwater moving body consisting of a detecting device (7) and various robots, follower means for automatically following the target which includes a visual sensor (8b) for catching light emitted from the light source (5b), an underwater argon laser length measuring instrument (8a) for measuring a distance between a length measuring head integrated with the visual sensor (8b) and the corner cube (5a), and locator means (9) for locating the position of the underwater moving body (4) on the basis of an azimuth angle (ϑ) of the target obtained by the follower means, a reference distance of one side of a triangle and the measured distance.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to a position detecting system for detecting a position of an underwater moving body, which is applicable to a supersonic crack detecting system for an atomic reactor vessel (UT machine), and to metering of coordinates of tube header holes of an atomic reactor vessel, metering of center positions of key-slots and metering of sizes for use in a process of building a bridge by omitting temporary assembly. Description of the Prior Art: An outline of a system of the above-mentioned type in the prior art is shown in Fig. 7. Upon inspecting a structure 2 sunk in water 1 as shown in this figure, in the case where the structure 2 is a steel product or the like, generally supersonic crack detecting inspection is effected. This inspection is carried out while a movable truck 40 loaded with a supersonic sensor 3 is being moved up and down by the rotation of a rod 41. The rod 41 is rotationally driven by a drive motor 43 disposed on a position detecting and moving mechanism 42. Inspection data of the structure 2 obtained from the supersonic sensor 3 as a result of movement of this movable truck 40 are sent to a control unit 45 jointly with position data of the movable truck 40 which are measured by a position detector section 44 loaded on the movable truck 40, and the former data are compared with the latter data and thereby evaluated. It is to be noted that proceeding of the inspection is made to progress by the control unit 45. While the illustrated example is the case where the number of the rod 41 is one, by employing a plurality of rods 41 it is possible to simultaneously practice various inspections. In addition, in place of the supersonic sensor 3, if another measuring sensor is employed as loaded on the movable truck 40, various measurements would become possible without being limited to supersonic crack detecting inspection. However, the inspection system in the prior art involved problems to be resolved as enumerated in the following: (1) The position detecting and moving mechanism 42 for moving and controlling the movable truck 40 loaded with the supersonic sensor 3 became large-sized, and a lot of time and labor were necessitated for preparation of the inspection. (2) A precision in position detection would become poor in proportion to the size of the detecting and moving mechanism 42 and the number of the rods 41, and a precision in reproduction also would not be satisfactorily obtained. (3) In addition to the fact that a freedom in the procedure of inspection is little, the supersonic sensor 3 would be deviated from the position where inspection was necessitated in accordance with movement of the rods 41, hence it is necessitated to change the positions of the movable truck 40 and the rods 41, and a working efficiency is poor. US-A-4 010 636 discloses a vessel examination system in which the position of a vehicle carrying inspection devices and being freely movable on the surface of a large-sized vessel such as a nuclear reactor vessel is detected and calculated with an ultrasonic signal system and a triangulation technique. US-A-3 798 795 discloses the combination of a visual system and a distance measuring device in a weapon aim evaluation system. In this known system, however, a three-dimensional position determination accuracy is low because a TV camera for the visual system and an electromagnetic wave range measurement device is employed. Further, an electromagnetic wave distance measuring system is not practicable under water. From "Transactions A.S.M.E, section B: Journal of engeneering for industry, vol. 92B, no.2, 1970" there is known the use of an argon laser for measuring underwater distances between corners of fixed objects. "Zeiss Informationen, vol.20, 1972" describes a geodetical instrument for measuring distances on the surface of the earth by means of normal light emitted by a luminescent diode. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a position detecting system for detecting a position of an underwater moving body, which can quickly and adequately achieve inspection of a structure, and especially can inspect a structure at a high precision in position detection when the structure is to be inspected. According to the present invention, there is provided a position detecting system with the features of claim 1. Further embodiments are recited in the subclaims. According to the present invention, owing to the above-featured provision, the novel position detecting system can present the following effects and advantages. That is, position measurement by means of a large-sized position detecting and moving mechanism is not necessitated. Consequently, maneuverability is improved, shortening of a preparation time is achieved, a precision in measurement is improved, it becomes possible to greatly improve freedom of a movable truck, robots and the like, and reduction of cost as well as saving of human labor for inspection of structures or the like can be realized. The above-mentioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description of one preferred embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: In the accompanying drawings: Figs. 1 to 4 jointly illustrate one preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a general construction of a position detecting system according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a more detailed illustration of principal portions of the same system; Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure for calculating a position of a truck; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing an angle to be used in the calculation for the position of the truck; Figs. 5 and 6 are schematic representations of a corner cube and a light source on a movable truck and a position detecting section to be used in the aforementioned preferred embodiment; and Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing a position detecting system for detecting the position of an underwater moving body in the prior art. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: One preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. It is to be noted that component members equivalent to those of the heretofore known system shown in Fig. 7 are given the same reference numerals. A general construction of the position detecting system for detecting the position of an underwater moving body according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. A truck target 5 consisting of a corner cube 5a formed of a reflector and a spherical light source 5b, is loaded on a movable truck 4 having a large freedom such as a trackless type inspecting truck or an underwater robot, which moves along a wall of a structure 2 in water 1. A position detector section 7 for position detecting purpose is mounted so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis at the bottom of a tip end portion of a frame 6 that is firmly secured to the top of the structure 2. To this position detector section 7 is mounted a sensor head 8 in a state swingable along a vertical plane so as to be able to catch the movable truck 4. Reference numeral 9 designates a control unit for measuring the position of the movable truck 4 on the basis of the rotational angle ϑ of the position detector section 7 and the swing angle , i.e., the head swing angle of the sensor head 8. Fig. 2 shows principal portions of the position detecting system in Fig. 1 in greater detail. In the sensor head 8 are provided a length measuring head 8a for emitting a laser beam B1 towards the corner cube 5a on the movable truck 4, and a visual sensor 8b for receiving a spherical light beam B2 emitted from a spherical light source 5b on the movable truck 4. The laser beam B1 irradiated to the corner cube 5a formed of a reflector is reflected thereby. The above-mentioned laser beam B1 and the spherical light source beam B2 are emitted with their optical axes held in parallel to each other. The control unit 9 comprises an image processor 10 for measuring and processing (image-processing) a center point of the spherical light source after the spherical light source (pattern-recognized as a circle) has been detected by the visual sensor 8b, a follow control device 11 for measuring and processing a deviation amount and a direction of the spherical light source and transmitting a follow control signal to the position detector section 7 and a control section (not shown) of the sensor head 8 in order to make the visual sensor 8b follow the spherical light source 5b on the movable truck 4, and an angle measuring device 12 for detecting a head swing angle  of the position detector section 7 to which the sensor head 8 is mounted and a rotational angle ϑ of the frame to which the position detector section 7 is mounted upon catch and follow of the above-mentioned movable truck 4 by means of the position detector section 7 and for detecting an azimuth angle of the sensor head 8 on the basis of the detection signal, transmitting the azimuth angle to a three-dimensional position measuring device 15 as will be described later, and simultaneously transmitting it also to the above-described follow control device 11. Furthermore, the control unit 9 includes an argon laser modulation optical system 13 for feeding a laser beam to the length measuring head 8a (The argon laser has a wavelength of 4880Å (1Å = 0,1nm) and is subjected to intensity modulation at 80 MHz. It is to be noted that the wavelength of 4880Å is a wavelength of light selected from the view point of minimizing attenuation of light in water, the modulation at 80 MHz is a condition for distance measurement by light wave, and one modulation wavelength in water becomes about 2.824 m), a heterodyne type phase difference meter 14 for measuring the distance between the sensor head 8 and the movable truck 4, and a three-dimensional position measuring device 15 for calculating the position of the movable truck on the basis of the informations sent from the above-described angle measuring device 12 and phase difference meter 14. Reference numeral 16 designates an optical fiber for transmitting a light signal. In the following, the operation of the illustrated system will be explained with respect to a number of items: (Truck target) The movement of the movable truck 4 can be known in a non-contact manner by catching a spherical light source beam B2 emitted from the spherical light source 5b loaded on the movable truck 4 by means of the visual sensor 8b. In addition, on the basis of the information relating to the movement of the movable truck 4, a length measuring axis consisting of the laser beam B1 that is parallel to the spherical light source beam B2 can be produced. (Automatic follow) A center of gravity (dx, dy) of the spherical light source 5b is calculated, and thereby a deviation amount from the center of axis is detected. In addition, with regard to a control amount, a signal is transmitted to the follow control device 11 so that the deviation amount may be held constant through the following procedure: Thus, the deviation amount is always kept constant. In addition, position detection of the movable truck 4 is carried out by means of the rotational angle ϑ of the position detector section 7 and the head swing angle  of the sensor head 8 which are transmitted from the angle measuring device 12. Accordingly, the follow control device 11 would be controlled in such manner that the position detector section 7 may always follow the truck target 5. (Underwater length measurement by means of the laser length measuring means) In order to measure the distance between the truck target 5 and the follow sensor 8, length measuring information is given to a light beam in the argon laser modulation optical system 13 by employing, for instance, an argon laser which has minimum attenuation of light in water, thus a light signal (a laser beam B1) is transmitted from the length measuring head 8a via a single mode optical fiber 16, and thereby a length is measured between the length measuring head 8a and the corner cube 5a. The length to be measured is a distance DIS along the laser beam B1, and in order to measure this distance, the argon laser beam B1 emitted from the length measuring head 8a is reflected by the corner cube 5a, the length measuring head 8a receives this reflected laser beam, and after this received laser beam has been subjected to opto-electrical transformation, the output electric signal is transmitted to the phase difference meter 14. Then, in the phase difference meter 14, the phase difference between the laser beam B1 emitted towards the corner cube 5a and the laser beam reflected by the corner cube 5a, is measured. As will be apparent from Fig. 4, the distance DIS between the truck target 5 and the follow sensor 8 is calculated on the basis of the following equations. It is to be noted that the length measurement information was illustrated for one modulation cycle, by way of example, assuming a modulation frequency f of 80 MHz. DIS = N x [C/(2xfxη)] + [C x P/(2xfxηx360)] 3 where DIS represents a measured distance (m), C represents a light velocity (3 x 10⁸(m/s)), f represents a modulation frequency (Hz), η represents a refractory index of medium (1.333 in water), N represents repetition cycles (integer), P represents a measured phase (deg.), and one modulation wavelength is about 2.824 m. It is to be noted that while the head swing angle  is measured, as the depth in water increases a precision for the angle  would be degraded. This is because the spherical light source 5b is observed by the visual sensor 8b at a position somewhat deviated from its correct position due to refraction of light. Therefore, in practice, the distance DIS is calculated from the measured angle  and the distance R in the horizontal direction of the position detector section 7 from the structure 2, from this calculated distance value DIS it is determined how many cycles the modulation phase has varied, and thus the repetition cycles N is determined. Even though the precision for the angle  is somewhat poor, evaluation of the repetition cycles N can be well achieved. The correct distance DIS can be measured by adding the distance calculated from the repetition cycles N (integer) : to the distance calculated from the phase difference measured by the phase difference meter 14 : This is the above-described Equation-3 ○. (Position locating for the truck target) In the three-dimensional position measuring device 15, position locating for the movable truck 4 is carried out on the basis of the rotational angle ϑ of the position locating detector section 7 and the head swing angle  of the sensor head 8 transmitted from the angle measuring device 12 and the distance information DIS transmitted from the phase difference meter 14. In the following, description will be made on the process of locating the position of the movable truck by referring to Figs. 3 and 4 from time to time: [St. 1] At the time point when the position detector section 7 and the frame 6 have been set in position, the positioning distance R of the position detector section 7 and the frame 6 is measured. [St. 2] The rotational angle ϑ of the above-mentioned detector section 7 and the head swing angle  of the sensor head 8 and the distance DIS between the above-mentioned sensor 8 and the truck target 5 are measured. [St. 3] Position locating for the movable truck 4 is carried out on the basis of the distance information DIS, the rotational angle ϑ and the head swing angle . (When the rotational angle ϑ is zero) A distance L1 of the truck target 5 shown in Fig. 4(a) is calculated by the following formula, and position locating is effected: L1 = DIS x Sin [Cos⁻¹(R/DIS)] 4 (When the rotational angle ϑ is not zero) A distance L2 of the truck target 5 shown in Fig. 4(b) is calculated by the following formula, and position locating is effected: R' = R/Cosϑ L2 = DIS x Sin [Cos⁻¹(R'/DIS)] 5 In other words, even in the case where the truck target 5 to be located has moved three-dimensionally with reference to the reference position R, locating is possible. As described above, the head swing angle  of the sensor head 8 is used for determining the repetition cycles N appearing in the Equation - 3 ○ , and it is not directly used in the calculation for position locating. This is a counter-measure for preventing measurement errors caused by the fact that the optical paths of the laser beam B1 and the spherical light source beam B2 would bend due to variations of a refractory index caused by density variation of water under a temperature distribution in water, and hence a precision in measurement cannot be maintained. Another example of the corner cube and the light source on the movable truck 4 the position detector section 7 to be used in the above-described embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to Fig. 6. In the illustrated apparatus, a target is constructed integrally by disposing a corner cube and a light source on the same axis, and in the position detector section also, such structure that a laser length measuring device and a visual sensor can make measurement on the same optical axis by employing a half-mirror and a total reflection mirror, is employed. As shown in Fig. 5(a) a corner cube 21 has its back surface cut into a triangular pyramid shape, and as shown in Fig. 5(b) it is possible to make light entered through the cut surface 21a pass to a front surface. Reference numeral 22 designates a condenser lens consisting of, for instance, a ball lens, which focuses light from a light source 23 on the cut surface 21a of the corner cube 21 and makes it diffuse at the front surface of the corner cube. Thereby it becomes possible to emit light of a light source from the corner cube, hence a light source and a corner cube which were provided individually in the prior art, can be formed as an integral structure. A construction of the position detector section 7 is shown in Fig. 6. In this figure, reference numeral 28 designates a half mirror which distributes a light beam of a light source 23 and a returning laser beam of a laser length measuring instrument 30 both lying on the same axis to a visual sensor 29 and the laser length measuring instrument 30. Reference numeral 27 designates a total reflection mirror which leads the light beam distributed by the half mirror 28 to the visual sensor 29. Owing to these mirrors (the half mirror and the total reflection mirror), it has become possible to dispose the visual sensor 29 and the laser length measuring instrument 30 in juxtaposition and to utilize an incident light on the same axis. By joining two optical axes into one axis by employing the above-mentioned construction, it becomes possible to make the visual sensor 29 and the laser length measuring instrument 30 operate precisely. In Fig. 6, reference numeral 24 designates a -direction drive unit, numeral 25 designates a ϑ-direction drive unit, and numeral 32 designates a fixed table (frame). The values of the angles  and ϑ detected by the visual sensor 29 and the value of distance DIS detected by the laser length measuring instrument 30 are fed to the position measuring device 15, where the position of the movable truck 4 is calculated on the basis of the above-described formulae. As will be apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, position measurement by making use of a large-sized position detecting movable mechanism is not necessitated, but three-dimensional position measurement becomes possible in a non-contact manner. Therefore, a maneuverability of the apparatus is improved, shortening of a preparation time is achieved, a precision in measurement is enhanced, great improvement in a freedom of a movable truck, a robot and the like can be realized, and reduction of cost as well as saving of human labor in inspection of a structure can be achieved. Furthermore, if the device shown in Fig. 6 is used in practicing the present invention, since the system is constructed in such manner that measurement can be performed with the light source, the corner cube, the laser length measuring instrument and the visual sensor all placed on the same axis, even if the target moves, the laser beam emitted from the laser length measuring means would be hardly deviated from the corner cube, hence attitude control for the target section becomes easy, and a highly precise mechanism is not necessitated in the drive system for attitude control. In addition, in the target section also, since the light source and the corner cube is constructed in an integral structure, small-sizing of an apparatus becomes possible.

Claims: A position detecting system for detecting a position of an underwater movable body (4) which is adapted to move along a structure (2) and is provided with an inspection device (3), comprising: a target device (5) to be mounted on the movable body (4) and including a corner cube (5a,21) having means for reflecting a laser beam (B1), and a light source means (5b, 23) for emitting a light beam (B2); follower means (7), angularly rotatable about a vertical axis and including a sensor head (8) angularly swingable relative to said vertical axis, for automatically following said target device (5), said sensor head (8) including a length measuring means (30), having a length measuring head (8a) separated from said target device (5) by a horizontal reference distance (R), for emitting an argon laser beam (B1) to said corner cube (5a, 21), receiving said argon laser beam (B1) when reflected by said corner cube (5a,21)and producing a length signal based thereon, and a visual sensor means (8b) for detecting said light beam (B2) emitted by said light source means (5b, 23) and for producing a visual sensor signal; and control means (9) for receiving said length signal and said visual sensor signal, for measuring a rotational angle (ϑ) of said follower means (7) and a swing angle () of said sensor head (8), and for determining the position of the movable body (4) on the basis of said swing angle (), said rotational angle (ϑ), said length signal and said horizontal reference distance (R); said light source means (5b, 23), said corner cube (5a, 21), said visual sensor means (8b) and said length measuring head (8a) are mounted, respectively, in a manner such that a line between said length measuring head (8a) and said corner cube (5a, 21) is parallel to a line between said light source means (5b, 23) and said visual sensor means (8b). A position detecting system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means (9) comprises an argon laser modulation optical system (13) and a phase difference meter (14). A position detecting system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a frame (6, 32) adapted to be mounted to the structure (2) along which the underwater movable body (4) is adapted to move, said follower means (7) being mounted to said frame (6, 32). A position detecting system as recited in claim 1, wherein said corner cube (21) has a back portion shaped as a truncated triangular pyramid with a narrow truncated rear end (21a) and a wide front end, said light source means (23) is mounted rearwardly of said corner cube (21), and a lens means (22) is mounted between said light source means (23) and said corner cube (21) for causing said light emitted from said light source means (23) to pass through said truncated rear end (21a). A position detecting system as recited in claim 4, wherein said corner cube (21) includes means for reflecting said laser beam back to said length measuring means; and said length measuring means (30) is further operable to receive said argon laser beam (B1) after it is reflected by said reflecting means of said corner cube (21). A position detecting system as recited in claim 1, wherein said follower means (7) further comprises means for making said light beam (B2) emitted from said light source means (5b, 23) colinear with said laser beam (B1). A position detecting system as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for making said light beam (B2) colinear with said laser beam (B1) comprises a partial reflection mirror (28) and a full reflection mirror (27), said visual sensor means (8b, 29) is operable to produce an image signal; and said control means (9) comprises an image processor means (10) for processing said image signal, and a follow control means (11) for producing a control signal to cause said follower means (7) to follow said light source means (5b, 23) of said target device (5). A position detecting system as recited in claim 2, wherein said argon laser modulation optical system (13) is connected to said length measuring means (30) by an optical fiber (16). A position detecting system as recited in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said length measuring means (30) further comprises means for producing the argon laser beam modulated at 80 MHz.

Inventors: AOYAMA TOMIO KOBE SHIPYARD ENG, FUJIWARA MASAHIRO TAKASAGO TEC, MURAKAWA SHINICHI TAKASAGO TEC, TACHIBANA KIYOSHI KOBE SHIPYAR, YOSHIOKA KYOICHI KOBE SHIPYARD, AOYAMA, TOMIO KOBE SHIPYARD & ENGINE WORKS OF, FUJIWARA, MASAHIRO TAKASAGO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OF, MURAKAWA, SHINICHI TAKASAGO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OF, TACHIBANA, KIYOSHI KOBE SHIPYARD & ENGINE WORKS OF, YOSHIOKA, KYOICHI KOBE SHIPYARD & ENGINE WORKS OF, Aoyama, Tomio Kobe Shipyard &amp; Engine Works of, Tachibana, Kiyoshi Kobe Shipyard &amp; Engine Works of, Yoshioka, Kyoichi Kobe Shipyard &amp; Engine Works of
Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD, MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G01C3
IPC codes: G21C17, G01C3