Load tracking and stabilization
AssigneeAdvanced Optical Systems, Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Hartman, Michael K. Balch, Stephen H. Fox, Jonathan A. Berry, Stephen R. Granade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for stabilizing a load suspended with a rope, cable, net, sling or the like is disclosed. A beacon having a plurality of lights thereon may be attached to the load relative to the attachment point to the load, to an attachment point of the load or to the rope, cable sling or the like. A sensor on the lifting device senses the beacon and thus any swinging motion of the load, and a processor responsive to the sensor develops control signals that direct motion of the lifting device to dampen any swinging motion of the load.
Claims20
A method for controlling movement of a suspension member such as a rope, cable, sling, net or the like, said suspension member connected at one end to a load lifting and transporting apparatus and having an opposite end configured to connect to and carry a load, said method comprising:
- providing a suspension member beacon generally at said opposite end of said suspension member,
- providing a beacon location sensor on said load lifting and transporting apparatus,
- using said beacon location sensor to observe said suspension member beacon and detect location of said suspension member beacon in a field of view of said beacon location sensor,
- using an electronic processor, calculating a difference in location between an instant location of said suspension member beacon in said field of view of said beacon location sensor and a desired location of said suspension member beacon in said field of view of said beacon location sensor.
A method for controlling movement of a suspension member such as a rope, cable, sling, net or the like, said suspension member connected at one end to a moving lifting device and having an opposite end configured to connect to and carry a load, said method comprising:
- providing a suspension member beacon generally at said opposite end of said suspension member,
- providing an image capture device on said moving lifting device,
- using said image capture device to observe said suspension member beacon and detect a location of said suspension member beacon within a field of view of said image capture device,
- using an electronic processor, calculating deviation of said suspension member beacon from a desired location responsive to a detected location of said suspension member beacon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.