Automated Construction Scribing Devices and Methods of Use

Abstract

Construction design layout devices and systems are provided herein. An example device includes a chassis configured to translate along a floor, an optical prism mounted to the chassis that reflects signals from a base station, a marking assembly mounted to the chassis, the marking assembly having at least a marking device that physically marks the floor, and a controller configured to receive construction instructions comprising floor markings defined by floor coordinates, translate the chassis along the floor in alignment with the floor coordinates, and transfer the floor markings to the floor during translation using the marking assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a chassis configured to translate along a floor;   a base station;   a marking assembly mounted to the chassis, the marking assembly comprising:
 a print rail mounted to the chassis; 
 a print rail carriage mounted to the print rail, the print rail carriage configured to translate linearly along the print rail; and 
 a print head mounted to the print rail carriage, the print head configured to apply a floor marking to the floor; a controller configured to:
 receive construction instructions comprising floor coordinates that define where floor markings should be applied to the floor; 
 automatically translate the chassis along the floor in alignment with the floor coordinates, using current location information received from the base station; 
 automatically translate the print rail carriage along the print rail, independent of the translation of the chassis, in alignment with the floor coordinates, using the current location information received from the base station; and 
 automatically transfer the floor markings to the floor during translation of the chassis using the marking assembly in combination with movement of the chassis. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the chassis comprises omni-directional wheels for translating the device along the floor in an omni-directional manner. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wired or wireless module for receiving the construction instructions from a computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical prism mounted to the chassis that reflects signals from the base station, the optical prism reflecting signals from the base station; wherein the controller receives distance measurement signals from the base station that indicate a current location of the device. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a rail platform disposed on the chassis, the rail platform configured to translate the optical prism along a rail axis between a retracted position and an extended position, the optical prism mounted to the rail platform and translating with movement of the rail platform. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to translate the rail platform between the retracted position and the extended position when the device reaches a transition point on the construction instructions. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 obtain a first distance measurement signal from the base station when the rail platform is in the retracted position and a second distance measurement signal from the base station when the rail platform is in the extended position; and   calculate a current location of the device using the first distance measurement signal and the second distance measurement signal.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 compare the current location to the floor coordinates; and   adjust a direction of translation of the device if the comparison indicates a change in the direction of translation is required.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the print rail is mounted to the chassis on a print rail plane that is perpendicular to a chassis plane, the chassis plane being parallel with the floor. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the print rail carriage is configured to translate laterally along the print rail plane from a first end to a second end of the print rail. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein in response to the construction instructions comprising a curved marking, the controller is further configured to:
 translate the print rail carriage laterally along the print rail plane during linear translation of the chassis to transfer the curved marking to the floor.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motion sensor configured to determine movement of the chassis and provide determined movement of the chassis to the controller as motion input to fine tune a current location and/or direction of translation of the chassis along the floor.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the motion sensor is further configured determine movement of the print rail carriage and provide input to the controller, to control movement of the print rail carriage independent of movement of the chassis. 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a base station transmitting signals to a construction marking device; and   the construction marking device, comprising:
 a chassis configured to translate along a floor; 
 a marking assembly mounted to the chassis, the marking assembly comprising at least a marking device that marks the floor; and 
 a controller configured to:
 receive construction instructions comprising floor markings defined by floor coordinates; 
 translate the chassis along the floor in alignment with the floor coordinates using distance measurement signals received from the base station; and 
 transfer the floor markings to the floor during translation using the marking assembly. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively adjust a direction of translation of the construction marking device by:
 determining a current location of the construction marking device using the distance measurement signals; and   adjusting the direction of translation so that the current location of the construction marking device corresponds with the floor coordinates.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the construction instructions comprise any of: a computer automated design, builder remarks, framing instructions, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A device, comprising:
 a chassis configured to translate along a floor;   a marking assembly mounted to the chassis, the marking assembly comprising at least a marking device that marks the floor; and   a controller configured to:
 receive construction instructions comprising floor markings defined by floor coordinates; 
 translate the chassis along the floor in alignment with the floor coordinates using a current location of the device and the floor coordinates; and 
 transfer the floor markings to the floor during translation using the marking assembly. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a motion sensing assembly that senses movement or direction of movement of the device and generates motion input; and
 wherein the controller is further configured to selectively adjust a position of the marking device using the motion input to keep the marking device in alignment with the floor coordinates when the chassis is not in alignment with the floor coordinates.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the construction instructions comprise at least one CAD model and at least one transition point along a marking path. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the print head is aligned with a marking path prior to transferring the floor markings to the floor, independent of a centerline of the chassis; and wherein the print head produces etch marks on the floor.