Location tracking on a surface

A method for location tracking using a location tracking apparatus, the method comprising:

• moving a tip of the location tracking apparatus along a surface while maintaining contact between the tip and the surface as the tip changes position relative to the surface by permitting displacement of the tip within a limited range as the tip is pushed toward the surface and away from the surface, the limited range including a zero-point, a lower limit, and a higher limit, the zero-point being located at a fixed distance from a tracking instrument of the location tracking apparatus;
• generating location data for the tip by application of the tracking instrument, the location data including information of a location of the tip when the tip is placed at the zero-point;
• generating displacement data for the tip by application of a frictionless sensor associated with the tip, the displacement data including information regarding the displacement of the tip with respect to the zero-point;
• generating an alarm by application of an electronic circuit associated with the frictionless sensor, the alarm being triggered by a value of the displacement data being below a lower displacement threshold or above a higher displacement threshold, the lower displacement threshold corresponding to the lower limit, and the higher displacement threshold corresponding to the higher limit;
• transmitting the location data and the displacement data to a processing unit when the value of the displacement data is between the lower displacement threshold and the higher displacement threshold;
• and
• generating position data for the tip based on at least the location data and the displacement data, the position data including information regarding a position of the tip.