System and method for tracking a reference laser

An apparatus for positioning a laser sensor movable along a mast, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing computer program instructions;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer program instructions, which, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• determining a location at which a laser from a rotating laser transmitter is impinging on a laser sensor located outside the mast and magnetically coupled to a carriage located within the mast;
• determining a current position of the laser sensor along the mast with respect to the mast;
• determining a new position of the laser sensor along the mast with respect to the mast based on the location at which the laser is impinging on the laser sensor and the current position of the laser sensor;
• and
• transmitting a command to an actuator to move the carriage, and thereby the laser sensor, to the new position.

A computer readable storage device storing computer program instructions for positioning a laser sensor movable along a mast, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• determining a location at which a laser from a rotating laser transmitter is impinging on a laser sensor located outside the mast and magnetically coupled to a carriage located within the mast;
• determining a current position of the laser sensor along the mast with respect to the mast;
• determining a new position of the laser sensor along the mast with respect to the mast based on the location at which the laser is impinging on the laser sensor and the current position of the laser sensor;
• and
• transmitting a command to an actuator to move the carriage, and thereby the laser sensor, to the new position.

A laser detector assembly comprising:

• a mast;
• a laser sensor located outside the mast and magnetically coupled to a carriage located within the mast and moveable along the mast with respect to the mast and configured to detect a laser output from a rotating laser transmitter;
• an actuator to move the carriage, and thereby the laser sensor, along the mast;
• a laser sensor position sensor;
• and
• a controller in communication with the laser sensor, the laser sensor position sensor, and the actuator, the controller configured to actuate the actuator to move the carriage, and thereby the laser sensor, in order to maintain the laser output from the rotating laser transmitter within a working range of the laser detector assembly.