COMMON INTERFACE ARCHITECTURE FOR HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING MACHINES AND WALK-OVER GUIDANCE SYSTEMS

摘要

A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine(20)with one of a number of different walk−over guidance systems(800)involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk−over guidance system(800)selected for use with the drilling machine(20).A protocol library(901)associated with the particular walk−over guidance system(800)is accessed in response to the ID signal.The protocol library(901)is used to effect communication between the particular walk−over guidance system(800)and a control system(903)of the drilling machine(20)during cooperative use of the particular walk−over guidance system(800)and drilling machine(20).Using the protocol library(901)involves converting,as prescribed by the protocol library(901),locator signals received from the particular walk−over guidance system(800)from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system(903)of the drilling machine(20).Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on−board display(206).