3D Mapping of a Process Control Environment

A method of mapping and navigating a real-world process control environment using mobile devices, the method comprising:

• registering a first mobile device at a reference location in the process control environment;
• tracking, using at least an inertial measurement unit of the first mobile device, (i) three-dimensional (3D) positions of the first mobile device relative to the reference location, and (ii) orientations of the first mobile device;
• detecting, at the first mobile device, a user input indicating that a new node is to be added to a 3D map of the process control environment;
• determining a 3D position of a real-world object relative to the reference location, or causing the 3D position of the real-world object to be determined, based at least on (i) a tracked 3D position of the first mobile device and (ii) a tracked orientation of the first mobile device;
• causing a node database to add the new node to the 3D map of the process control environment, at least by causing the 3D position of the real-world object to be stored in association with the new node;
• tracking, using at least an inertial measurement unit of a second mobile device, (i) 3D positions of the second mobile device, and (ii) orientations of the second mobile device;
• detecting a triggering condition, by one of both of (i) determining, based on a tracked orientation of the second mobile device, that the real-world object is within an area inside a field of view of a camera of the second mobile device, and (ii) determining, based on a tracked position of the second mobile device, that the real-world object is proximate to the second mobile device;
• and
• in response to detecting the triggering condition, causing digital information associated with the new node to be superimposed on a real-world view presented via a display of the second mobile device.

A system for mapping a real-world process control environment, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a mobile device comprising an inertial measurement unit, the mobile device being configured to
• register at a reference location in the process control environment,
• track, using at least the inertial measurement unit, (i) three-dimensional (3D) positions of the mobile device relative to the reference location, and (ii) orientations of the mobile device, and
• detect a user input indicating that a new node is to be added to a 3D map of the process control environment,
• wherein either the mobile device or the server is configured to determine a 3D position of a real-world object relative to the reference location based on (i) a tracked 3D position of the mobile device and (ii) a tracked orientation of the mobile device, and
• wherein the server is configured to add the new node to the 3D map of the process control environment to a node database that stores the 3D position of the real-world object in association with the new node.