US 12,461,261 B2
Tunneling and navigation system including distributed communication and sensing system
Kirk D. Wallace, Glenville, NY (US); Emad A. Andarawis, Ballston Lake, NY (US); Deepak Trivedi, Halfmoon, NY (US); and Brian J. Scherer, Schenectady, NY (US)
Assigned to GE VERNOVA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by GE VERNOVA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/981,981.
Prior Publication US 2024/0151864 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. G01V 1/16 (2006.01); G01N 29/06 (2006.01); G01V 1/18 (2006.01); G01V 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 1/162 (2013.01) [G01N 29/0654 (2013.01); G01V 1/18 (2013.01); G01V 3/12 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a tunneling device comprising a body assembly comprising a plurality of separate sections and configured to move through an interior cavity of a tunnel;
a distributed communication and sensing system comprising:
at least a first beacon and a second beacon coupled to the separate sections of the body assembly at spaced apart locations;
at least a third beacon and a fourth beacon positioned outside of the tunnel at distinct locations, and wherein the first beacon, second beacon, third beacon and fourth beacon are communicatively coupled to each other; and
a controller operatively coupled to the tunneling device and to the beacons of the distributed communication and sensing system, the controller configured to:
compare a first signal transmitted by at least one of the first beacon and the second beacon to a second signal transmitted by at least one of the third beacon and the fourth beacon;
determine an environmental characteristic of the tunnel based on the first signal and the second signal; and
determine an operating parameter for said tunneling device based on the environmental characteristic.