Software-Based Three-Dimensional Scan of a Drill Bit; Advances in Technology and Applications

The ability to create a digital avatar of real-world equipment opens the possibility to create various levels of digital and virtual twins. Pairing these with real-time data can be a powerful tool to understand the life cycle, track operations, and collect data to predict the health of equipment. We have been testing new software methods to enable the use of existing technology to generate avatars for equipment. While many companies are also doing this with complex hardware, we have been using new software methods so that hardware requirements could be as simple as a common cell phone. We have applied these techniques to drill bits. The result is an application that creates a three-dimensional reconstructed model of a bit. This creates an avatar of the drilling bit that can be used for many purposes including equipment tracking and data extraction. Results from the three-dimensional reconstruction and the automating of a simple linear pipeline that converts bit videos to three-dimensional models is demonstrated. The renderings were compared to photos at the same locations and the results were virtually indistinguishable. The models can then be used for virtual twin generation. Multiple scans over the lifespan of the drill bit will allow access to a new way of thinking about virtual twins. One example is the ability to update a model with a snapshot in time and use AI to infer the life of the bit. These models can also be used to run additional analysis since the model can be infused with some contextual information.