Drone having communication antenna, and monitoring system and method using same

Abstract

The invention provides a drone, a monitoring system using the drone, and a monitoring method. The drone is provided with a light-weight antenna which can maintain wireless communication with a passive IC tag arranged on a monitored object in a better state. An antenna (7) constituting a communication device (6) is a two-element patch antenna in which two antenna elements (8) are arranged in parallel on the lower surface of a reflecting plate (9), and the reflecting plate (9) and each antenna element (8) are formed from an aluminum alloy plate having a thickness of 3 mm or less. The reflecting plate (9) is provided on the drone (1) such that camera through-holes (9a) formed between the antenna elements (8) in the center of the reflecting plate (9) are located in the center of the drone (1) in plan view, and the reflecting plate (9) and the antenna elements (8) are displayed in a field of view when the drone (1) is viewed from right below. A camera device (5) disposed above the reflecting plate (9) acquires image data below the drone (1) through a camera through-hole (9a).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a drone provided with an antenna for communicating with a passive IC tag provided on a monitoring target object, and a monitoring system and a monitoring method using the drone. BACKGROUND

[0002] There is a monitoring system in which a communication device mounted on a drone acquires pressure data in a marine hose from a passive IC tag provided on the marine hose, and determines the presence or absence of fluid leakage based on the pressure data (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The wireless communication distance between the passive IC tag and the communication device is approximately 2 m or less. Therefore, when performing this wireless communication, it is necessary to position the drone at a position above the IC tag in the vicinity of the IC tag and hover with the antenna of the communication device in the vicinity of the IC tag, for example, within 2 m. Therefore, it is desirable for the antenna to be provided as low as possible with respect to the drone, and it is desirable for the antenna specifications to be able to increase the wireless communication distance with the IC tag.

[0003] The drone operator positions the drone at a position above the IC tag in the vicinity of the IC tag with reference to the image data obtained by the camera device mounted on the drone. Therefore, when the camera device acquires image data, it is necessary for the antenna mounted on the drone to be in a position that does not interfere. In addition, it is also necessary to ensure that the presence of the camera device does not adversely affect the wireless communication between the antenna and the IC tag. Furthermore, since the load burden of the drone increases as the weight of the antenna increases, even if the antenna specifications are able to increase the wireless communication distance with the IC tag, it results in a shorter flight time. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of making the antenna mounted on the drone lightweight, and maintaining the wireless communication between the antenna and the IC tag in a good state, thereby more reliably acquiring monitoring data from the IC tag. Note that such monitoring using the communication device mounted on the drone and based on data acquired from the passive IC tag is not limited to marine hoses, but can also be applied to other monitoring target objects.

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-46929 SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present application is to provide a drone provided with an antenna that is able to maintain the wireless communication with a passive IC tag provided on a monitoring target object in a better state, and is lightweight, and a monitoring system and a monitoring method using the drone.

[0009] Means for solving problems

[0010] To achieve the above object, the unmanned aerial vehicle of the present application is equipped with a communication device and a camera device, the communication device is provided with an antenna for wireless communication with a passive IC tag provided on a monitoring object, characterized in that the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured such that the antenna is a dual-element patch antenna having a reflecting plate and two plate-shaped antenna elements arranged side by side at a lower surface of the reflecting plate with a spacing, the reflecting plate and each of the antenna elements are formed of an aluminum alloy plate with a thickness of 3 mm or less, a camera through-hole is formed at a position corresponding to between each of the antenna elements at a central portion of the reflecting plate, the reflecting plate is arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle in such a manner that the camera through-hole is located at a central portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle when viewed from above, the reflecting plate and each of the antenna elements are displayed in a field of view of the unmanned aerial vehicle when viewed from directly below, the camera device is arranged above the reflecting plate, and the camera device acquires image data of an area below the unmanned aerial vehicle through the camera through-hole.

[0011] The monitoring system of the present application is a monitoring system for a monitoring object, which is provided with the above unmanned aerial vehicle, the IC tag provided on the monitoring object, and an arithmetic device into which monitoring data acquired from the IC tag by the communication device through wireless communication is input, characterized in that the IC tag stores detection data obtained by a sensor portion that detects a state of the monitoring object, the detection data acquired from the IC tag by the communication device through wireless communication is used as the monitoring data, and the arithmetic device judges the state of the monitoring object based on the monitoring data.

[0012] The monitoring method of the present application is a monitoring method for a monitoring object, which uses the above unmanned aerial vehicle, the IC tag provided on the monitoring object, and an arithmetic device into which monitoring data acquired from the IC tag by the communication device through wireless communication is input, characterized in that a state of the monitoring object is detected by a sensor portion provided on the monitoring object, and detection data acquired by the sensor portion is stored in the IC tag in advance, the communication device acquires the detection data from the IC tag through wireless communication, and uses the detection data as the monitoring data, and the arithmetic device judges the state of the monitoring object based on the monitoring data.

[0013] Effects of the invention

[0014] According to the unmanned aerial vehicle of the present application, since a dual-element patch antenna is adopted as the antenna constituting the communication device mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the reflector plate and each of the antenna elements are formed of an aluminum alloy plate with a thickness of 3 mm or less, the antenna is lightened, and the wireless communication distance with the IC tag is easily increased. Moreover, the reflector plate and each of the antenna elements are displayed in the field of view of the camera device when the unmanned aerial vehicle is viewed from directly below, so the antenna can perform wireless communication with the IC tag without being blocked by the camera device or other components of the communication device.

[0015] The camera through hole formed at the central portion of the reflector plate at a position corresponding to each of the antenna elements is located at the central portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle when viewed from above. In addition, the camera device arranged above the reflector plate acquires image data of the area below the unmanned aerial vehicle through the camera through hole, so it is advantageous for the operator of the unmanned aerial vehicle to refer to the image data to accurately position and hover the unmanned aerial vehicle at a position above the IC tag. As a result, the wireless communication between the IC tag and the antenna can be maintained in a better state, and it is advantageous to more reliably acquire data indicating the state of the monitored object from the IC tag.

[0016] According to the monitoring system and the monitoring method of the present application, since the wireless communication between the IC tag and the antenna can be maintained in a better state, the monitoring data stored on the IC tag can be more reliably acquired. Therefore, it is advantageous to accurately grasp the state of the monitored object. Furthermore, since the unmanned aerial vehicle is lightened, the flight time of the unmanned aerial vehicle is increased each time, and it is advantageous to quickly perform the monitoring operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of the unmanned aerial vehicle from a front perspective.

[0018] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the unmanned aerial vehicle of Figure 1 from a top perspective.

[0019] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the camera device and the antenna of Figure 1 from an A-A cross-sectional perspective.

[0020] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the antenna of Figure 3 from a bottom perspective.

[0021] Figure 5 is a B-B cross-sectional view of Figure 3 .

[0022] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the monitoring system.

[0023] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a partial enlargement of the marine hose of Figure 6 and illustrating a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

[0024] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a partial enlargement of the marine hose of Figure 7 and illustrating a C-C cross-sectional view.

[0025] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a partial enlargement of the IC tag of Figure 7 and illustrating a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

[0026] Figure 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the monitoring system in which the operation device and the terminal device are connected via the communication network.

[0027] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the monitoring system by enlarging a partial portion of the marine hose and illustrating a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

[0028] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating a partial portion of the marine hose of Figure 11 and illustrating a D-D cross-sectional view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Hereinafter, the unmanned aerial vehicle of the present application, the monitoring system using the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the monitoring method will be described based on the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 , Figure 2 The embodiment of the unmanned aerial vehicle 1 illustrated in the above is used to grasp the state of various monitoring objects. The arrows W, D, and H in the drawing respectively indicate the width direction, the depth direction, and the height direction of the unmanned aerial vehicle 1. The monitoring objects are, for example, the marine hose 18 of the floating type used in a state of floating on the water surface as illustrated in the above. The communication device 6 mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle 1 performs wireless communication with the passive IC tag 3 provided on the marine hose 18. Figure 6

[0031] The electric wave (R1, R2) used in the wireless communication is a right-handed circularly polarized wave. The frequency of the electric wave (R1, R2) is mainly the UHF band (varies depending on the country, but is in the range of 860 MHz or more and 930 MHz or less, and in Japan, is 915 MHz or more and 930 MHz), and sometimes the HF band (13.56 MHz) can be used.

[0032] As illustrated in the above, Figure 1 , Figure 2 ​As illustrated, the drone 1 has a plurality of propellers 1a, support bodies 2a, 2b, 2c arranged at intervals vertically, and four leg portions 3. Each of the support bodies 2a, 2b, 2c and the leg portions 3 constitutes a frame structure, and each of the support bodies 2a, 2b, 2c and the leg portions 3 is provided with one of the propellers 1a on each arm extending from the uppermost support body 2a. The drone 1 is not limited to the structure illustrated in this embodiment, and various known structures can be employed.

[0033] The drone 1 is equipped with a GNSS receiver 4, a camera device 5, and a communicator 6. The GNSS receiver 4 can employ various known specifications. The camera device 5 can employ various known digital cameras and the like capable of acquiring image data of still images or moving images. At present, very small and light camera devices 5 are on the market, and such a camera device 5 can be employed. The communicator 6 can employ various known specifications capable of wireless communication with a passive RFID tag. In addition to these, the drone 1 is equipped with an altimeter, a battery for operating the mounted devices, and the like.

[0034] The GNSS receiver 4 is provided on the uppermost support body 2a and arranged in the central portion of the drone 1 in plan view. The main body of the camera device 5 and the communicator 6 is provided on the middle support body 2b. The camera device 5 is arranged in the central portion of the drone 1 in plan view. The photographing lens of the camera device 5 faces downward. An antenna 7 constituting the communicator 6 is provided on the lowermost support body 2c. The antenna 7 is connected to the main body of the communicator 6 by a cable. In addition, the antenna 7 is fixed to the drone 1 via an insulator.

[0035] As Figures 3-5 As illustrated, the antenna 7 is a two-element patch antenna having a reflecting plate 9 and two plate-shaped antenna elements 8 arranged side by side at intervals on the lower surface of the reflecting plate 9. The reflecting plate 9 and each of the antenna elements 8 are of the same material and formed of an aluminum alloy plate having a thickness of 3 mm or less. Various known aluminum alloys such as Al-Mg and Al-Mg-Si aluminum alloy plates can be employed.

[0036] As in this embodiment, when the reflecting plate 9 is rectangular, the dimensions are, for example, a width dimension of 400 mm or more and 500 mm or less, a depth dimension of 300 mm or more and 480 mm or less, and a height dimension (thickness) of 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The reflecting plate 9 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and can be provided in a square shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like.

[0037] A camera-use through-hole 9a that penetrates the reflection plate 9 vertically is formed at a position corresponding to a position between the respective antenna elements 8 in a central portion of the reflection plate 9 when viewed from above. The diameter of the camera-use through-hole 9a is 50 mm or less, and is preferably 10 mm or more and 40 mm or less, for example. The diameter of a photographing lens of the camera device 5 is 10 mm or less. The photographing lens of the camera device 5 and the camera-use through-hole 9a are disposed on the same axis vertically. Therefore, the camera device 5 disposed above the reflection plate 9 can acquire image data of the underside of the drone 1 through the camera-use through-hole 9a.

[0038] Each of the antenna elements 8 is in the shape of a substantially quadrangular shape, but has a notch 8a at two opposite corners of the substantially quadrangular shape. The dimensions of each of the antenna elements 8 in the substantially quadrangular shape are, for example, a width dimension of about 30% of the width dimension of the reflection plate 9, a depth dimension of about 50% of the width dimension of the reflection plate 9, and a height dimension (thickness) of 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less.

[0039] The dimensions of the notch 8a are, for example, a C chamfer of 20 mm or more and 25 mm or less (C-20 to C-25). As illustrated, Figure 4 Each of the antenna elements 8 has a notch 8a at the upper right and lower left corners, but as an alternative, each of the antenna elements 8 can have a notch 8a at the upper left and lower right corners.

[0040] Each of the antenna elements 8 is disposed at intervals in the width direction W. The intervals of the width direction W of the antenna elements 8 from each other (the intervals of the opposite sides from each other) are, for example, 80 mm or more and 120 mm or less. The interval distances of the central positions of the respective antenna elements 8 from each other are, for example, 240 mm or more and 260 mm or less.

[0041] Each of the antenna elements 8 is fixed to the reflection plate 9 by an insulating fixing portion 10. In detail, as illustrated, Figure 5 Each of the antenna elements 8 is disposed apart from the reflection plate 9 by a gap using the insulating fixing portion 10 so as not to be electrically connected to each other. That is, the insulating fixing portion 10 has an insulating spacer interposed between the antenna element 8 and the reflection plate 9. The gap in the height direction H of each of the antenna elements 8 and the reflection plate 9 is, for example, about 10 mm.

[0042] Each of the antenna elements 8 is connected to a distributor 11 fixed to the upper surface of the reflection plate 9 by a conductive wire (communication cable) that penetrates the inside of one of the insulating fixing portions 10. The distributor 11 has a communication cable connected thereto that is connected to the main body of the communication device 6. Therefore, each of the antenna elements 8 is electrically connected to the main body of the communication device 6 via the distributor 11.

[0043] The reflection plate 9 is disposed on the drone 1 in such a manner that the camera-use through-hole 9a is located in the central portion of the drone 1 when viewed from above. Also, in a field of view in which the drone 1 is viewed from directly below, as illustrated inFigure 4 As exemplified, the entire range of the reflector 9 and each antenna element 8 is shown. That is, in the drone 1, substantially no components are arranged at positions directly below the reflector 9 and each antenna element 8.

[0044] In order to reduce the load burden of the drone 1, the total mass of the reflector 9 and each antenna element 8 is preferably 1.2 kg or less, more preferably 1.0 kg or less. Further preferably, it is 0.8 kg or less. In this way, in order to make the antenna 7 lightweight, the thickness of the reflector 9 and each antenna element 8 is more preferably 2 mm or less, further preferably 1.5 mm or less. However, if the reflector 9 is excessively thinned to be lightweight, the rigidity is reduced and deformation such as warping occurs, so it is necessary to set the thickness to be able to ensure the minimum required rigidity. Each antenna element 8 is also set to a thickness to be able to ensure the minimum required rigidity. Therefore, the thickness of the reflector 9 and each antenna element 8 is 0.5 mm or more, more preferably 1 mm or more.

[0045] The reflector 9 is shaped with the peripheral portion 9b bent downward. By being shaped with the peripheral portion 9b bent downward, it is possible to compensate for the insufficient bending stiffness accompanying the thinning of the reflector 9. In particular, in the case where the thickness of the reflector 9 is 1 mm or less, it is preferable to be shaped with the peripheral portion 9b bent downward.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the reflector 9 is shaped with the entire range (entire circumference) of the peripheral portion 9b bent downward, but it can also be shaped with only the peripheral portion 9b of the opposite two sides, or only a part of the peripheral portion 9b of the reflector 9 bent downward. The bending dimension (dimension in the height direction H) of the peripheral portion 9b bent downward is, for example, 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

[0047] The specifications of the antenna 7 (each antenna element 8 and the reflector plate 9) are set within the above appropriate range in consideration of the improvement of the gain of the antenna 7 when the antenna 7 performs wireless communication with the IC tag 13, and the light weight of the antenna 7. Note that in the case where the antenna 7 is a single element patch antenna having one antenna element 8, the antenna element 8 is basically disposed at the central portion of the reflector plate 9. Therefore, the camera through-hole 9a formed at the central portion of the reflector plate 9 is also blocked by the antenna element 8, and thus the camera through-hole 9a needs to be formed at another position. However, if the camera through-hole 9a is formed at a position other than the central portion of the reflector plate 9, the frequency characteristics and the like of the antenna 7 when performing wireless communication with the IC tag 13 vary depending on the position of the camera through-hole 9a. On the other hand, as shown in the present embodiment, if the antenna 7 is made into a double element patch antenna, and the camera through-hole 9a is formed at a position of the central portion of the reflector plate 9 corresponding to between each antenna element 8, it is confirmed that the frequency characteristics and the like of the antenna 7 when performing wireless communication with the IC tag 13 hardly vary with or without the camera through-hole 9a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the antenna 7 is set to such specifications.

[0048] As Figure 6 embodiment of the present application is provided with the above unmanned aerial vehicle 1, the IC tag 13 provided to the monitoring target, i.e., the marine hose 18, and the arithmetic device 12 into which the monitoring data acquired from the IC tag 13 by the communicator 6 through wireless communication is input. In the embodiment, the arithmetic device 12 is disposed at a position away from the use site of the marine hose 18, and the communicator 6 and the arithmetic device 12 are configured to be each separate and independent, but can be designed to be integrated with each other and mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle 1.

[0049] As the arithmetic device 12, a publicly known computer can be used, and the arithmetic device 12 performs various arithmetic processes using the input data. The arithmetic device 12 is input with the monitoring data acquired from the IC tag 13 by the communicator 6, and the image data acquired by the camera device 5.

[0050] As Figure 6 embodiment, the marine hose 18 is composed of a cylindrical hose main body, and connection metal pieces 19 each connected to both ends in the length direction of the hose main body. Each connection metal piece 19 has a pipe joint 19b extending in the length direction of the hose main body, and a flange 19a engaged with the pipe joint 19b. The marine hoses 18 are connected to each other by the connection metal pieces 19 of each other, and generally, ten or so marine hoses 18 are connected and used.

[0051] As Figure 7 , Figure 8As illustrated, the inner surface layer 20, the first reinforcing layer 21, the body wire layer 22, the fluid retention layer 24, the second reinforcing layer 23, the buoyancy layer 25, and the outer surface layer 26 are stacked in this order from the inner peripheral side toward the outer peripheral side on the hose main body of the marine hose 18. The marine hose 18 is of a double skeleton layer type having the first reinforcing layer 21 and the second reinforcing layer 23 stacked at intervals in the radial direction of the hose main body with the fluid retention layer 24 interposed therebetween. The body wire layer 22 can be arbitrarily provided. The inner peripheral side region of the inner surface layer 20 is a flow path 18a for the fluid L. As the fluid L, crude oil, heavy oil, gasoline, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), water, seawater, chemicals (alcohols refined from gasoline), and the like can be exemplified.

[0052] The first reinforcing layer 21, the body wire layer 22, and the second reinforcing layer 23 are fixed to the respective pipe joints 19b using pipe joint wire 21w, 22w, 23w at both end portions thereof and a fixing ring 19c protruding to the outer peripheral surface of the pipe joint 19b provided at both end portions of the hose main body. The fluid retention layer 24 formed between the first reinforcing layer 21 and the second reinforcing layer 23 is a space for storing the fluid L leaked from the flow path 18a.

[0053] As Figure 9 As illustrated, the IC tag 13 is housed in the housing 27 erected on the surface of the marine hose 18 (the outer peripheral surface of the pipe joint 19b) and is located on the water surface. The IC tag 13 has an IC chip 13a provided on a substrate 15 and an antenna portion 14 connected to the IC chip 13a.

[0054] The IC chip 13a stores, in addition to the tag unique information such as the identification number of the IC tag 13, other necessary information as appropriate. The IC tag 13 adopts a general circulation standard, and for example, an RFID tag can be used. The IC tag 13 (IC chip 13a) is connected to a sensor portion 16 that detects the state of the marine hose 18. In the present embodiment, a pressure sensor is used as the sensor portion 16. Note that, Figure 9 In the present embodiment, the IC chip 13a and the sensor portion 16 are in a hanging state, but can be provided in a flat-lying state like the antenna portion 14.

[0055] An IC tag 13 and a sensor unit 16 are disposed in the upper space of the housing 27. A check valve 28 is provided in the lower part of this upper space. Furthermore, a connecting pipe 29 communicating with the fluid retention layer 24 is connected to the lower space of the housing 27. Therefore, a check valve 28 is disposed between the upper and lower spaces of the housing 27. The check valve 28 only allows the flow of fluid L and gas to the upper space, restricting the flow from the upper space to the lower space. Therefore, when the pressure value of the upper space rises, it will maintain its pressure state. A known check valve can be used for the check valve 28. The sensor unit 16 detects the pressure value of the upper space, and its detection data is stored in the IC tag 13 (IC chip 13a).

[0056] The following describes an example of a step in determining whether there is a fluid L leak in the ship's hose 18 using a monitoring system equipped with the drone 1.

[0057] like Figure 6 As illustrated, the UAV 1 takes off from a measurement base such as land or a ship and moves to the airspace above the ship's hose 18. The position coordinates of the UAV 1 are monitored in real time by the GNSS receiver 4. The UAV 1 can fly to the desired location by wireless control via a controller connected to the computing device 12 by the UAV operator. By inputting the position coordinates of the desired location into the control unit of the UAV 1, the UAV 1 can also fly from the measurement base to the desired location through automatic control.

[0058] After moving the drone 1 to a position above the ship's flexible hose 18, in order to establish wireless communication between the IC tag 13 and the communicator 6, the drone 1 is moved downwards so that the communicator 6 approaches the IC tag 13. Specifically, during wireless communication between the IC tag 13 and the communicator 6, the drone operator refers to image data acquired in real-time by the camera device 5 (an overhead view of the ship's flexible hose 18), such as... Figure 7 As illustrated, the drone 1 is positioned and hovered by placing the antenna 7 close to the IC tag 13 (antenna section 14) (e.g., within 1m to 2m of the IC tag 13).

[0059] The camera aperture 9a, located at the center of the reflector 9 corresponding to the position between the antenna elements 8, is situated at the center of the UAV 1 when viewed from above. The camera device 5, positioned above the reflector 9, acquires image data below the UAV 1 through the camera aperture 9a. This allows the UAV operator to accurately position and hover the UAV 1 near and above the IC tag 13 (e.g., within 1m to 2m of the IC tag 13) by referring to this image data. In other words, the UAV 1 can be positioned such that the IC tag 13 is located at the center of the acquired image data.

[0060] In this state where the antenna 7 is brought close to the IC tag 13 (antenna portion 14), as Figure 7 As illustrated, the antenna 7 transmits a transmission wave Rl to the IC tag 13. The IC tag 13 generates power by the transmission wave Rl received by the antenna portion 14 constituting the IC tag 13, and the IC tag 13 is activated by the power. With the power, the activated IC tag 13 transmits a reply wave R2 through the antenna portion 14. The reply wave R2 is received by the antenna 7. In this way, by transmitting the reply wave R2 in response to the transmission wave Rl, wireless communication is performed between the IC tag 13 and the communication device 6.

[0061] In this wireless communication, the detection data (pressure data) detected by the sensor portion 16 and stored in the IC tag 13 is acquired by the communication device 6. The operation device 12 uses the detection data acquired by the communication device 6 as monitoring data, and judges the state of the marine hose 18 based on the monitoring data.

[0062] For example, a pre-test or the like is performed to grasp the pressure value in the fluid stagnation layer 24 in a sound state where the fluid L does not leak from the flow path 18a in advance, and the pressure value is set as a reference value. The operation device 12 compares the acquired monitoring data and the size of the reference value set in advance. In a case where the monitoring data is equal to or less than the reference value, the operation device 12 judges that the fluid L does not leak, and in a case where the monitoring data is greater than the reference value, the operation device 12 judges that the fluid L leaks.

[0063] As the sensor portion 16, a temperature sensor can be used instead of or in addition to the pressure sensor. By using the temperature sensor, it is possible to judge whether or not there is abnormal heating inside the marine hose 18.

[0064] In the present embodiment, by adopting the above-described dual-element patch antenna as the antenna 7 constituting the communication device 6, the wireless communication distance between the antenna 7 and the IC tag 13 is easily increased. That is, the frequency characteristics and the like of the antenna 7 when performing wireless communication with the IC tag 13 hardly change depending on the presence or absence of the camera through-hole 9a, and the antenna gain can be improved compared to a single-element patch antenna.

[0065] Further, the reflection plate 9 and each antenna element 8 are displayed in the field of view of the UAV 1 viewed from directly below, and thus the antenna 7 can more stably perform wireless communication with the IC tag 13 without being blocked by the camera device 5 or other components of the communication device 6 or the like. As a result, it is possible to maintain the wireless communication between the IC tag 13 and the antenna 7 in a better state, and it is advantageous to more reliably acquire the monitoring data indicating the state of the marine hose 18 from the IC tag 13. Therefore, it is advantageous to accurately grasp the state of the marine hose 18.

[0066] Further, the reflector plate 9 and each of the antenna elements 8 are formed of an aluminum alloy plate having a thickness of 3 mm or less. Thus, the weight reduction of the antenna 7 reduces the load on the UAV 1, thereby increasing the flight time of the UAV 1 each time, which is advantageous for promptly performing a monitoring operation.

[0067] As Figure 10 illustrated, the operation device 12 is connected to the desired terminal device 17 via a communication network such as the Internet. For example, various information (data) can be transmitted from the operation device 12 to the terminal device 17 of the management room of the marine hose 18 using company (user) located at a position away from the marine hose 18 use site, the terminal device 17 of the sales company of the marine hose 18, the terminal device 17 of the relevant company such as the manufacturing company of the marine hose 18. Thus, the monitoring data acquired by the communicator 6 and the determination result obtained by the operation device 12 can also be sequentially transmitted from the operation device 12 to each of the terminal devices 17.

[0068] As Figures 11-12 illustrated in the embodiment of the monitoring system, the IC tag 13 can also be provided in the fluid stagnation layer 24 at a position in the length direction of the marine hose 18. The other configurations are the same as in the previous embodiment. The IC tag 13 is disposed in the fluid stagnation layer 24 in a process (molding process) of manufacturing the marine hose 18 and is fixed in the fluid stagnation layer 24 by vulcanization adhesion or the like. The IC tag 13 is previously provided to have a specification in which the wireless communication state (communication strength) changes by contact with the fluid L. On the surface of the outer surface layer 26 at a position corresponding to the buried position of the IC tag 13, a target mark indicating the buried position of the IC tag 13 is previously marked.

[0069] Hereinafter, an example of a step of determining whether or not the fluid L leaks from the flow path 18a using the monitoring system will be described.

[0070] For example, in a sound condition in which the fluid L does not leak from the flow path 18a, a pre-test or the like is performed to previously grasp the strength of the reply wave R2 when wireless communication is performed between the communicator 6 and the IC tag 13 and set as a reference value. The UAV operator refers to the image data (overhead image data of the marine hose 18) acquired in real time by the camera device 5 and positions the UAV 1 so that the antenna 7 is close to the IC tag 13 (antenna portion 14) at the position of the target mark as Figure 11 illustrated. Then, the strength of the reply wave R2 when wireless communication is performed between the communicator 6 and the IC tag 13 during hovering is used as monitoring data. Then, the operation device 12 compares the size of the acquired monitoring data and the previously set reference value and determines whether or not the fluid L leaks based on the comparison result.

[0071] The reflector plate 9 can also be provided with a plurality of through holes that extend vertically through the reflector plate 9 in addition to the camera through hole 9a. It is preferable that the plurality of through holes be dispersed on the reflector plate 9 within a range in which the minimum required rigidity of the reflector plate 9 is ensured. By providing the plurality of through holes in the reflector plate 9, the air resistance received by the reflector plate 9 during flight or hovering of the drone 1 can be reduced. This is also advantageous in enabling the drone 1 to accurately move to and hover at a desired position. In addition, since the power consumption of the drone 1 is reduced, it is also advantageous in increasing the flight time of the drone 1 per use.

[0072] The monitoring target is not limited to the marine hose 18, and can also be exemplified by a conveyor belt, an air-filled fender, an extra-large tire for an engineering vehicle, and the like. The state of the monitoring target is grasped based on the monitoring data acquired from the passive IC tag 13 provided on the monitoring target in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, using the communication device 6 mounted on the drone 1.

[0073] In addition, the present application can be used not only to grasp the state of a monitoring target in use, but also to grasp the state of a monitoring target stored in a warehouse, a factory, or the like. That is, the present application can also be applied for the purpose of monitoring target storage management to grasp the temperature, internal pressure state, and the like of a stored monitoring target.

[0074] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0075] 1: Drone

[0076] 1a: Propeller

[0077] 2a, 2b, 2c: Support

[0078] 3: Leg

[0079] 4: GNSS receiver

[0080] 5: Camera device

[0081] 6: Communication device

[0082] 7: Antenna

[0083] 8: Antenna element (patch)

[0084] 8a: Notch

[0085] 9: Reflector plate

[0086] 9a: Camera through hole

[0087] 9b: Perimeter portion

[0088] 10: Insulating fixing portion

[0089] 11: Distributor

[0090] 12: arithmetic device

[0091] 13: IC tag

[0092] 13a: IC chip

[0093] 14: antenna section

[0094] 15: substrate

[0095] 16: sensor section

[0096] 17: terminal device

[0097] 18: marine hose (monitoring target object)

[0098] 18a: flow path

[0099] 19: connecting metal piece

[0100] 19a: flange

[0101] 19b: pipe joint

[0102] 19c: fixing ring

[0103] 20: inner surface layer

[0104] 21: first reinforcing layer

[0105] 21w: pipe joint line

[0106] 22: main body line layer

[0107] 22w: pipe joint line

[0108] 23: second reinforcing layer

[0109] 23w: pipe joint line

[0110] 24: fluid retention layer

[0111] 25: buoyancy layer

[0112] 26: outer surface layer

[0113] 27: housing

[0114] 28: check valve

[0115] 29: communication pipe

Claims

1. A drone equipped with a communication unit and a camera device, the communication unit having an antenna for wireless communication with a passive IC tag disposed on a monitored object. The UAV is configured such that the antenna is a dual-element patch antenna having a reflector and two plate-shaped antenna elements arranged side-by-side at intervals on the lower surface of the reflector. The reflector and each of the antenna elements are formed of aluminum alloy plates with a thickness of less than 3 mm. A camera through-hole is formed at the center of the reflector, corresponding to the position between each of the antenna elements. The reflector is positioned on the drone such that the camera aperture is located in the center of the drone when viewed from above. When viewing the drone from directly below, the reflector and each of the antenna elements will be visible. The camera device is positioned above the reflector, and the camera device acquires image data below the drone through the camera through-hole.

2. The UAV according to claim 1, wherein, The total mass of the reflector and each of the antenna elements is less than 1.2 kg.

3. The UAV according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The reflector has a shape in which its periphery is bent downwards.

4. The UAV according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, In addition to the camera through-hole, the reflector also has a plurality of vertically penetrating vent holes.

5. A surveillance system comprising a drone according to any one of claims 1 to 4, an IC tag disposed on the object being monitored, and a computing device inputting surveillance data obtained by the communicator from the IC tag via wireless communication. The IC tag stores detection data obtained by a sensor unit that detects the state of the monitored object. The detection data obtained by the communication device from the IC tag via wireless communication is used as the monitoring data, and the computing device determines the state of the monitored object based on the monitoring data.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein, The object being monitored is a ship's hose.

7. A surveillance method, the surveillance method using a drone according to any one of claims 1 to 4, an IC tag affixed to the object being monitored, and a computing device inputting surveillance data obtained from the IC tag by the communication device via wireless communication. The state of the monitored object is detected by a sensor unit installed on the monitored object, and the detection data obtained by the sensor unit is stored in the IC tag in advance. The communication device obtains the detection data from the IC tag through wireless communication and uses the detection data as the monitoring data. The computing device determines the state of the monitored object based on the monitoring data.

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