Patent ID: 8485038

Claim:
A three-dimensional (3D) tracking system comprising: at least one acoustic emission sensor disposed around an object, said at least one acoustic emission sensor configured to identify a location of a probe inserted into the object based upon time of arrival of an acoustic signature emitted from a location on or near the probe; a first sensor configured to detect an elevation of the probe; a second sensor configured to detect an azimuth of the probe; an image capturing device configured to capture an image of said object; and a microprocessor, configured to: receive the captured image, the identified location of the probe, the elevation and azimuth of the probe, utilize the captured image to generate a corresponding real-time graphics, and utilize the identified location, elevation and the azimuth of the probe to obtain a graphics of an object associated with said identified location, elevation and azimuth of the probe; and superimpose the obtained graphics onto the real time graphics of the object.