Railway line inspection system and method

Abstract

According to the railway line inspection system and method provided by the invention, a plurality of base stations are arranged on the roadside of a railway line at intervals, and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle is allocated to each base station; the ground control center is respectively connected with the plurality of base stations and the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles; before inspection, the ground control center sets an unmanned aerial vehicle inspection strategy, and the unmanned aerial vehicle determines an inspection task and an inspection path according to the unmanned aerial vehicle inspection strategy; the ground control center issues an inspection task to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the base station, and then the base station provides a take-off condition for the unmanned aerial vehicle; collecting inspection data in the inspection interval according to the inspection path after the unmanned aerial vehicle takes off, judging whether the inspection data is abnormal or not in real time, and correspondingly processing according to a judgment result; after inspection is completed, the unmanned aerial vehicle is parked and charged in the corresponding base station, and at the moment, the base station sends inspection data to the ground control center; and the ground control center receives, stores and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards according to an analysis result and gives an alarm, so that the inspection efficiency of the unmanned aerial vehicle is improved, and resources are saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of railway inspection technology, and in particular to a railway line inspection system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Inspections of railway lines are crucial for timely detection of hazards such as foreign object intrusion and track damage, ensuring operational safety. Currently, inspections primarily involve workers walking along the line during maintenance windows. This method is limited by the maintenance window and the speed of manual walking, making timely and comprehensive inspections impossible. Manual inspections also face many limitations; for example, they become difficult after extreme weather events such as storms, heavy rains, and blizzards, when line checks are most needed.

[0003] Currently, in addition to manual inspections, drones are gradually being used for the inspection of facilities along railway lines. The basic idea is that the drone departs from the "base" and begins its return journey before reaching its designated range. This method has the following problems: the drone's inspection range is limited, making it impossible to cover the entire line, and the time and power spent on the return journey are wasted.

[0004] Therefore, providing an effective railway line inspection system and method to solve the above problems is a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a railway line inspection system. This system is simple in structure, safe, effective, reliable and easy to operate. It can effectively solve the problems of low efficiency and resource waste in drone inspection, improve the efficiency of drone inspection and save resources at the same time.

[0006] Based on the above objectives, the technical solution provided by the present invention is as follows: A railway line inspection system includes: a ground control center, multiple base stations, and multiple drones; Multiple base stations are spaced apart along the railway line; The ground control center is connected to multiple base stations and multiple drones respectively; Each of the base stations is equipped with at least one of the drones; The ground control center is connected to multiple drones and multiple base stations respectively; The ground control center is used to set up the UAV inspection strategy and issue inspection tasks to the base station, receive, store and analyze inspection data, and record hazards and issue alarms based on the analysis results. The base station is used to provide a place for the drone to park and charge, to provide take-off conditions for the drone after receiving the inspection task, to provide communication relay for the drone during the inspection, and to send the inspection data to the ground control center after the inspection is completed. The drone is used to perform the inspection task according to the drone inspection strategy. During the inspection, the drone collects the inspection data, determines whether the inspection data is abnormal, and performs corresponding processing according to the determination result. After the inspection is completed, the drone is parked and charged at the base station.

[0007] Preferably, the UAV includes: an inspection planning module and a flight module; The inspection planning module is used to determine the inspection area and inspection path according to the UAV inspection strategy; The flight module is used to control the drone to fly within the inspection area according to the inspection path.

[0008] Preferably, the drone further includes: a data acquisition module, a first judgment module, and a processing module; The data acquisition module is used to collect the inspection data during the flight of the UAV; The first judgment module is used to determine whether there is any abnormality in the inspection data; The processing module is used to perform a first processing step when the inspection data is abnormal. The first judgment module is also used to determine whether the inspection data collection is complete when there are no abnormalities in the inspection data; The processing module is also used to perform a second processing step after the inspection data collection is completed.

[0009] Preferably, the processing module includes: a first communication module and a first alarm module; The first communication module is used to send abnormal inspection data to the ground control center when the inspection data is abnormal; The first judgment module is further configured to determine whether the first communication module successfully sent the abnormal inspection data; The first alarm module is used to issue an alarm when the first communication module fails to send the abnormal inspection data; The first communication module is also used to send a drone entry and parking application to the base station when the inspection data collection is completed.

[0010] Preferably, the base station includes: a control module, a second judgment module, a charging module, and a housing; The cabin is equipped with an openable and closable cover; The control module is connected to the second judgment module, the cover plate, and the charging module respectively; The second judgment module is used to determine whether the hangar is currently vacant based on the parking application. The control module is used to open the cover when the cabin is currently empty, and to close the cover after the drone is parked and turned off in the cabin. The charging module is used to charge the drone when the cover is closed; The control module is also used to control the cover to open after receiving the inspection task, and to control the cover to close after the drone takes off from the cabin.

[0011] Preferably, the base station further includes: a second communication module; The second communication module is used to acquire the inspection data and send it to the ground control center after the UAV is parked and turned off in the cabin; The second communication module is also used to provide relay functionality for the UAV during the UAV inspection process.

[0012] Preferably, the ground control center includes: an inspection strategy module and a third communication module; The third communication module is connected to the first communication module; The inspection strategy module is used to set the UAV inspection strategy; The third communication module is used to send the UAV inspection strategy to the inspection planning module.

[0013] Preferably, the ground control center further includes: a mission planning module, a data storage module, a data analysis module, and a second alarm module; The third communication module is connected to the second communication module; The task creation module is used to generate inspection tasks; The third communication module is also used to issue the inspection task to the control module; The third communication module is also used to receive the abnormal inspection data sent by the first communication module and to receive the inspection data sent by the second communication module; The data storage module is used to store the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data, and to create corresponding data indexes; The data analysis module is used to analyze the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data to identify and record line hazards; The second alarm module is used to issue an alarm based on the line hazards corresponding to the analysis results of the inspection data.

[0014] Preferably, the ground control center further includes: functional modules; The functional module is used to display the status of the ground control center, the multiple base stations, and the multiple drones; The functional module is also used to remotely control the corresponding base station and / or the drone broadcast; The functional module is also used to manage the hazards of the line and generate review work orders.

[0015] A railway line inspection method, based on the railway line inspection system described above, includes the following steps: After setting up the drone inspection strategy, the ground control center issues inspection tasks to the base station. After receiving the inspection task, the base station provides the takeoff conditions for the drone. The drone performs the inspection task according to the drone inspection strategy; The drone collects inspection data during the inspection process, determines whether the inspection data is abnormal, and takes corresponding actions based on the determination results. The drone will be parked and charged at the base station after the inspection is completed. After the inspection is completed, the base station sends the inspection data to the ground control center. The ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results. Preferably, the UAV performs the inspection task according to the UAV inspection strategy, including the following steps: The inspection area and inspection path are determined based on the aforementioned UAV inspection strategy; Control the drone to fly within the inspection area according to the inspection path.

[0016] Preferably, determining whether the inspection data is abnormal and processing it accordingly includes the following steps: Determine whether the inspection data is abnormal; When the inspection data is abnormal, the first step is to be taken; If there are no abnormalities in the inspection data, determine whether the inspection data collection is complete. Once the inspection data collection is complete, proceed to the second processing step; Preferably, the first process specifically involves sending abnormal inspection data to the ground control center; The second process specifically involves sending a drone entry and parking application to the base station.

[0017] Preferably, the ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results, including the following steps: Receive the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data sent by the base station, store the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data sent by the base station, and create corresponding data indexes; Analyze the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data sent by the base station to identify and record line hazards; An alarm is issued based on the line hazards corresponding to the analysis results of the inspection data.

[0018] Preferably, it further includes: The ground control center manages the hazards to the line and generates review work orders.

[0019] The railway line inspection system provided by this invention consists of multiple base stations spaced along the railway line, with at least one drone assigned to each base station. A ground control center connects to the multiple base stations and the multiple drones. During operation, before the inspection begins, the ground control center sets the drone inspection strategy, and the drone determines the inspection section and path according to the strategy. The ground control center issues inspection tasks to the base stations, which then provide takeoff conditions for the drones. After takeoff, the drones collect inspection data within the inspection section according to the inspection path, and the system judges whether the inspection data is abnormal in real time, and takes corresponding actions based on the judgment results. After the inspection is completed, the drones park and charge at the corresponding base stations, at which time the base stations send the inspection data to the ground control center. The ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results.

[0020] Compared to existing technologies, by setting up multiple base stations at intervals and assigning at least one drone to each base station, each drone can complete the inspection between the starting base station and the ending base station according to the inspection task. The drone does not need to return but instead stops and charges at the ending base station, thereby improving the efficiency of drone inspections and saving resources.

[0021] The present invention also provides a railway line inspection method, which solves the same technical problem and belongs to the same technical concept, and should have the same beneficial effects, so it will not be described in detail here. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a railway line inspection system provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a drone provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a base station provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a ground control center provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a railway line inspection method provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The embodiments of this invention are written in a progressive manner.

[0026] This invention provides a railway line inspection system and method. It primarily addresses the technical problems of low inspection efficiency and resource waste caused by the limited inspection range of drones and the wasted time and energy during the return trip, as well as other existing technologies.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, a railway line inspection system includes: a ground control center, multiple base stations, and multiple drones; Multiple base stations are spaced apart along the railway line; The ground control center is connected to multiple base stations and multiple drones. Each base station is equipped with at least one drone; The ground control center is connected to multiple drones and multiple base stations; The ground control center is used to set up the drone inspection strategy and issue inspection tasks to the base station, receive, store and analyze inspection data, and record hazards and issue alarms based on the analysis results. Base stations are used to provide parking and charging locations for drones. When they receive an inspection task, they provide takeoff conditions for the drones, provide communication relay for the drones during the inspection process, and send inspection data to the ground control center after the inspection is completed. The drone is used to perform inspection tasks according to the drone inspection strategy. During the inspection, the drone collects inspection data, judges whether the inspection data is abnormal, and takes corresponding actions based on the judgment results. After the inspection is completed, the drone is parked and charged at the base station.

[0028] In practical application, multiple base stations are set up at intervals along the railway line, with at least one drone assigned to each base station. A ground control center connects to these base stations and drones. During operation, before the inspection begins, the ground control center sets the drone inspection strategy, and the drones determine the inspection area and path according to this strategy. The ground control center issues inspection tasks to the base stations, which then provide takeoff conditions for the drones. After takeoff, the drones collect inspection data within the inspection area according to the inspection path, continuously assessing any anomalies and taking appropriate action based on the assessment results. After the inspection is completed, the drones park and charge at the corresponding base station, at which point the base station sends the inspection data to the ground control center. The ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results.

[0029] In this embodiment, the drone base station is deployed along the railway line, with the distance between adjacent base stations being 3 to 10 kilometers and not exceeding 80% of the drone's maximum range. This maximizes the inspection range of a single drone while ensuring that the drone has sufficient power to fly to the next base station. Ground control centers can be located near railway lines or in the cloud. The drone selected is a rotary-wing drone. The drone has a range of about 10 kilometers (meeting the distance requirements between base stations), can fly in wind, rain and snow of a certain intensity, and has the relevant functions to perform inspection tasks according to the inspection area and inspection path, such as: GPS / BeiDou positioning, path planning, self-navigation and obstacle avoidance, basic flight, etc. To further reduce costs, the drones on the route adopt a high-low mix: ordinary inspection drones are small and flexible, while dedicated inspection drones have larger platforms, greater payloads, more stable flight, and longer operation intervals, and are used for high-precision measurement operations.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, preferably, the UAV includes: an inspection planning module and a flight module; The inspection planning module is used to determine the inspection area and inspection path based on the drone inspection strategy. The flight module is used to control the drone to fly along the inspection path within the inspection area.

[0031] In practical applications, the UAV is equipped with an inspection planning module and a flight module. The inspection planning module receives the UAV inspection strategy set by the ground control center and extracts the inspection interval (coordinates of the starting and ending base stations) and the inspection path from the UAV inspection strategy. The flight module controls the UAV to fly from the starting base station according to the inspection path until it lands at the ending base station.

[0032] Preferably, the UAV further includes: a data acquisition module, a first judgment module, and a processing module; The data acquisition module is used to collect inspection data during the flight of the drone; The first judgment module is used to determine whether there are any abnormalities in the inspection data; The processing module is used to perform initial processing when abnormalities are found in the inspection data; The first judgment module is also used to determine whether the inspection data collection is complete when there are no abnormalities in the inspection data. The processing module is also used to perform secondary processing after the inspection data collection is completed.

[0033] In practical applications, the drone is also equipped with a data acquisition module, a first judgment module, and a processing module. During flight, the drone collects inspection data along the inspection path through the data acquisition module. The collected inspection data is then used by the first judgment module to determine in real time whether there are any anomalies, and the judgment result is sent to the processing module. When an anomaly is found in the inspection data, the processing module selects the first processing method. When no anomalies are found, the first judgment module determines whether the drone has completed data collection. When the inspection data collection is complete, the processing module selects the second processing method. In this embodiment, when the inspection data is abnormal, such as slope anomalies, tunnel entrance deformation, or bridge settlement, an emergency first-line treatment is required.

[0034] Preferably, the processing module includes: a first communication module and a first alarm module; The first communication module is used to send abnormal inspection data to the ground control center when there is an anomaly in the inspection data. The first judgment module is also used to determine whether the first communication module successfully sent abnormal inspection data; The first alarm module is used to issue an alarm when the first communication module fails to send abnormal inspection data; The first communication module is also used to send a drone entry and parking application to the base station after the inspection data collection is completed.

[0035] In practical application, the first processing method is that the UAV transmits the abnormal inspection data to the ground control center in real time through the first communication module. When the abnormal inspection data transmission fails, an alarm is triggered through the first alarm module. The second processing method is that when there is no abnormality in the inspection data and the inspection data collection is completed, the UAV enters the terminal base station for parking and charging. Specifically, the first communication module sends a frequent parking application for the UAV to the base station. In this embodiment, the failure to send abnormal inspection data may be due to poor wireless network communication. In this case, the first alarm module can select an audible and visual alarm to alert the trains on the inspection path by sound or light.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, preferably, the base station includes: a control module, a second judgment module, a charging module, and a housing; The naval compartment is equipped with an openable cover; The control module is connected to the second judgment module, the cover plate, and the charging module, respectively. The second judgment module is used to determine whether the hangar is currently vacant based on the parking application. The control module is used to open the cover when the cabin is currently empty, and to close the cover after the drone is parked and turned off inside the cabin. The charging module is used to charge the drone when the cover is closed; The control module is also used to open the cover when an inspection task is received, and to close the cover after the drone takes off from the cabin.

[0037] In practical application, the base station is equipped with a control module, a second judgment module, a charging module, and a cabin. On one hand, when the control module of the endpoint base station receives a drone's application to enter and park, it sends the application to the second judgment module. The second judgment module determines whether the cabin is currently empty. If it is empty, the control module controls the cabin to open the cover and waits for the drone to land in the empty cabin. After landing, the drone is parked and turned off. At this time, the control module controls the cabin cover to close. After the cabin closes, the charging module charges the drone. On the other hand, when the originating base station receives an inspection task, it controls the cabin cover to open and waits for the drone to take off from the cabin before controlling the cover to close.

[0038] In this embodiment, the base station is further equipped with a pole. The aforementioned equipment compartment, control module, second judgment module, and charging module are installed on the upper part of the pole. The pole is typically 5-10 meters above the ground and can be custom-made using steel or concrete materials, or it can utilize existing utility poles, signal towers, or other objects along the railway line. Cameras are installed on the pole, which can be used for the security of the base station itself, or as fixed monitoring points to monitor important surrounding areas, such as tunnel entrances, slopes, and bridges. Furthermore, 2-3 racks can be set up. The purpose of redundant racks is twofold: firstly, to ensure that there is still a place to park newly arrived drones in case of abnormal situations; secondly, to deploy dual drones in key areas to increase the frequency of inspections and ensure operational safety.

[0039] Preferably, the base station further includes: a second communication module; The second communication module is used to acquire inspection data and send it to the ground control center after the drone is parked and turned off in the cabin. The second communication module is also used to provide relay functionality for drones during drone inspections.

[0040] In practical applications, all base stations are equipped with a second communication module. After the UAV is stably parked in the cabin and turned off, the second communication module sends the inspection data collected by the UAV without any abnormalities to the ground control center. When the UAV is in flight inspection, the second communication module of each base station can also act as a relay to provide relay function between the UAV and the ground control center, stabilizing the communication between the first communication module and the ground control center.

[0041] In this embodiment, a second communication module is installed at the top of the tower and above the cabin. Specifically, an antenna can be selected. The antenna on the base station is used for communication relay of the UAV, providing link support when real-time communication is required, such as emergency reporting and voice broadcasting from the ground control center.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, preferably, the ground control center includes: an inspection strategy module and a third communication module; The third communication module is connected to the first communication module; The inspection strategy module is used to set up drone inspection strategies. The third communication module is used to send the drone inspection strategy to the inspection planning module.

[0043] In practical application, the ground control center is equipped with an inspection strategy module and a third communication module. Before the inspection begins, the UAV inspection strategy is set through the inspection strategy module. After the setting is completed, the UAV inspection strategy is sent to the first communication module of each UAV through the third communication module to prepare for the UAV inspection.

[0044] In this embodiment, the optimal inspection route is automatically generated based on factors such as the characteristics of the section line, weather conditions, and inspection task type.

[0045] Preferably, the ground control center further includes: a mission planning module, a data storage module, a data analysis module, and a second alarm module; The third communication module is connected to the second communication module; The task creation module is used to generate inspection tasks; The third communication module is also used to send inspection tasks to the control module; The third communication module is also used to receive abnormal inspection data sent by the first communication module and inspection data sent by the second communication module; The data storage module is used to store abnormal inspection data and inspection data, and to create corresponding data indexes; The data analysis module is used to analyze abnormal inspection data and inspection data to identify and record line hazards; The second alarm module is used to issue alarms based on the line hazards corresponding to the analysis results of the inspection data.

[0046] In practical application, the ground control center is equipped with a task designation module, a data storage module, a data analysis module, and a second alarm module. The ground control center generates inspection tasks based on actual needs through the task designation module, and then sends these tasks to the control module in the base station via the third communication module before starting the inspection. During the inspection, if the UAV detects an anomaly, it receives the anomaly inspection data sent by the UAV's first communication module via the third communication module. If the UAV does not experience any anomalies during the inspection and is parked in the base station bay after the inspection is completed, it receives the inspection data sent by the second communication module via the third communication module. The data storage module stores the anomaly inspection data and the inspection data, and creates corresponding data indexes. The data analysis module analyzes the anomaly inspection data and the inspection data, identifies line hazards, and generates hazard records. When the analysis of the inspection data reveals a corresponding line hazard, the second alarm module issues an alarm. In this embodiment, the data storage module can employ a big data storage architecture or a regular disk array as needed. The stored data includes video image data, LiDAR scan data, base station records, drone records, inspection routes, etc. After receiving a data transmission request from the base station, the data storage module begins receiving inspection data and creates indexes based on the route section, date, inspection task number, and other information. Once data reception is complete, the data analysis server is notified to begin data analysis. The data analysis module employs technologies such as pattern recognition and artificial intelligence to perform frame-by-frame analysis of collected inspection data (images or videos) in real time, identifying hazards along the railway line and creating hazard records. Abnormal inspection data, i.e., LiDAR data, is analyzed during idle periods to construct a 3D map of the railway line. By comparing this map with historical data and supplementing it with images, it identifies hazards such as slope anomalies, tunnel entrance deformation, and bridge settlement, creating hazard records accordingly. The second alarm module can also be equipped with either a photoelectric or an audible / visual alarm.

[0047] Preferably, the ground control center further includes: functional modules; Functional modules are used to display the status of the ground control center, multiple base stations, and multiple drones; The functional module is also used for remote control of the corresponding base station and / or drone broadcasting; The functional module is also used to manage line hazards and generate review work orders.

[0048] In practical applications, the ground control center is also equipped with functional modules that can intuitively display the status of each module in the ground control center, multiple base stations, and multiple drones; the functional modules can also be used to remotely control the corresponding base stations and / or drones to achieve broadcasting; the functional modules can also be used to manage line hazards identified and recorded by the data analysis module, and generate corresponding review work orders for important line hazards and send them to staff for manual review.

[0049] In this embodiment, the functional module provides upper-layer applications, adopts a B / S architecture, and supports mobile APP and mini-program clients. Application service functions include, but are not limited to: viewing the equipment status and working status of all base stations and drones; line hazard management and work order management; remote broadcasting of base stations and drones; and review of emergency hazard notifications.

[0050] like Figure 5 As shown, a railway line inspection method, based on the railway line inspection system described above, includes the following steps: S1. After setting the UAV inspection strategy, the ground control center issues inspection tasks to the base station; S2. After receiving the inspection task, the base station provides the takeoff conditions for the drone; S3. The drone performs inspection tasks according to the drone inspection strategy; S4. The drone collects inspection data during the inspection process, determines whether the inspection data is abnormal, and takes appropriate action based on the determination results. S5. The drone will be parked and charged at the base station after the inspection is completed; S6. After the base station completes the inspection, it sends the inspection data to the ground control center. S7. The ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results.

[0051] In steps S1 to S7, after the UAV inspection strategy is set by the ground control center, the inspection task is issued to the UAV through the base station. The base station provides takeoff conditions for the UAV, and the UAV takes off and performs the inspection task according to the inspection strategy. During the inspection, the UAV collects inspection data in real time, judges whether the inspection data is abnormal, and takes appropriate action based on the judgment result. After the inspection is completed, the UAV lands at the base station for parking and charging. After the inspection is completed, the base station sends the inspection data collected by the UAV to the ground control center. The ground control center receives, stores and analyzes the inspection data, records line hazards and issues alarms based on the analysis results.

[0052] Preferably, the drone performs inspection tasks according to the drone inspection strategy, including the following steps: Determine the inspection area and inspection path based on the drone inspection strategy; Control the drone to fly along the inspection path within the inspection area.

[0053] Preferably, the process of determining whether the inspection data is abnormal and taking appropriate action based on the determination result includes the following steps: Determine if there are any anomalies in the inspection data; When abnormalities are found in the inspection data, the first step is to take action. If no abnormalities are found in the inspection data, determine whether the inspection data collection is complete. Once the inspection data collection is complete, proceed to the second stage of processing; Preferably, the first process specifically involves sending abnormal inspection data to the ground control center; The second step involves sending a drone entry and parking application to the base station.

[0054] Preferably, the ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results, including the following steps: Receive abnormal inspection data and inspection data sent by the base station, store the abnormal inspection data and inspection data sent by the base station, and create corresponding data indexes; Analyze abnormal inspection data and inspection data sent by base stations to identify and record line hazards; An alarm is issued based on the line hazards corresponding to the analysis results of the inspection data.

[0055] Preferably, it further includes: The ground control center manages line hazards and generates review work orders.

[0056] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed methods and systems can be implemented in other ways. The system embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as: multiple modules or components can be combined, or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the various components shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or modules, and can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0057] Furthermore, in the various embodiments of the present invention, each functional module can be fully integrated into a processor, or each module can be a separate device, or two or more modules can be integrated into a device; each functional module in the various embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0058] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above method embodiments can be implemented by program instructions and related hardware. The aforementioned program instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program instructions are executed, they perform the steps of the above method embodiments. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as mobile storage devices, read-only memory (ROM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0059] It should be understood that the use of terms such as "system," "device," "unit," and / or "module" in this application is merely one method of distinguishing different components, elements, parts, sections, or assemblies at different levels. However, if other terms can achieve the same purpose, they may be replaced by other expressions.

[0060] As indicated in this application and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "a," and / or "the" are not specifically singular and may include the plural. Generally, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of expressly identified steps and elements, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements. An element defined by the phrase "comprising an..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, product, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0061] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B; "and / or" in this document is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0062] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0063] If a flowchart is used in this application, it is used to illustrate the operations performed by the system according to embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the preceding or following operations are not necessarily performed in exact order. Instead, the steps can be processed in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, other operations can be added to these processes, or one or more steps can be removed from them.

[0064] The railway line inspection system and method provided by the present invention have been described in detail above. The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A railway line inspection system, characterized in that, include: Ground control center, multiple base stations, and multiple drones; Multiple base stations are spaced apart along the railway line; The ground control center is connected to multiple base stations and multiple drones respectively; Each of the base stations is equipped with at least one of the drones; The ground control center is connected to multiple drones and multiple base stations respectively; The ground control center is used to set up the UAV inspection strategy and issue inspection tasks to the base station, receive, store and analyze inspection data, and record hazards and issue alarms based on the analysis results. The base station is used to provide a place for the drone to park and charge, to provide take-off conditions for the drone after receiving the inspection task, to provide communication relay for the drone during the inspection, and to send the inspection data to the ground control center after the inspection is completed. The drone is used to perform the inspection task according to the drone inspection strategy. During the inspection, the drone collects the inspection data, determines whether the inspection data is abnormal, and performs corresponding processing according to the determination result. After the inspection is completed, the drone is parked and charged at the base station.

2. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drone includes: an inspection planning module and a flight module; The inspection planning module is used to determine the inspection area and inspection path according to the UAV inspection strategy; The flight module is used to control the drone to fly within the inspection area according to the inspection path.

3. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The drone also includes: a data acquisition module, a first judgment module, and a processing module; The data acquisition module is used to collect the inspection data during the flight of the UAV; The first judgment module is used to determine whether there is any abnormality in the inspection data; The processing module is used to perform a first processing step when the inspection data is abnormal. The first judgment module is also used to determine whether the inspection data collection is complete when there are no abnormalities in the inspection data; The processing module is also used to perform a second processing step after the inspection data collection is completed.

4. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The processing module includes: a first communication module and a first alarm module; The first communication module is used to send abnormal inspection data to the ground control center when the inspection data is abnormal; The first judgment module is further configured to determine whether the first communication module successfully sent the abnormal inspection data; The first alarm module is used to issue an alarm when the first communication module fails to send the abnormal inspection data; The first communication module is also used to send a drone entry and parking application to the base station when the inspection data collection is completed.

5. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The base station includes: a control module, a second judgment module, a charging module, and a housing; The cabin is equipped with an openable and closable cover; The control module is connected to the second judgment module, the cover plate, and the charging module respectively; The second judgment module is used to determine whether the hangar is currently vacant based on the parking application. The control module is used to open the cover when the cabin is currently empty, and to close the cover after the drone is parked and turned off in the cabin. The charging module is used to charge the drone when the cover is closed; The control module is also used to control the cover to open after receiving the inspection task, and to control the cover to close after the drone takes off from the cabin.

6. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The base station also includes: a second communication module; The second communication module is used to acquire the inspection data and send it to the ground control center after the UAV is parked and turned off in the cabin; The second communication module is also used to provide relay functionality for the UAV during the UAV inspection process.

7. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The ground control center includes: an inspection strategy module and a third communication module; The third communication module is connected to the first communication module; The inspection strategy module is used to set the UAV inspection strategy; The third communication module is used to send the UAV inspection strategy to the inspection planning module.

8. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The ground control center also includes: a mission planning module, a data storage module, a data analysis module, and a second alarm module; The third communication module is connected to the second communication module; The task creation module is used to generate inspection tasks; The third communication module is also used to issue the inspection task to the control module; The third communication module is also used to receive the abnormal inspection data sent by the first communication module and to receive the inspection data sent by the second communication module; The data storage module is used to store the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data, and to create corresponding data indexes; The data analysis module is used to analyze the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data to identify and record line hazards; The second alarm module is used to issue an alarm based on the line hazards corresponding to the analysis results of the inspection data.

9. The railway line inspection system as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The ground control center also includes: functional modules; The functional module is used to display the status of the ground control center, the multiple base stations, and the multiple drones; The functional module is also used to remotely control the corresponding base station and / or the drone broadcast; The functional module is also used to manage the hazards of the line and generate review work orders.

10. A railway line inspection method, implemented based on the railway line inspection system as described in claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: After setting up the drone inspection strategy, the ground control center issues inspection tasks to the base station. After receiving the inspection task, the base station provides the takeoff conditions for the drone. The drone performs the inspection task according to the drone inspection strategy; The drone collects inspection data during the inspection process, determines whether the inspection data is abnormal, and takes corresponding actions based on the determination results. The drone will be parked and charged at the base station after the inspection is completed. After the inspection is completed, the base station sends the inspection data to the ground control center. The ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards, and issues alarms based on the analysis results.

11. The railway line inspection method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The drone performs the inspection task according to the drone inspection strategy, including the following steps: The inspection area and inspection path are determined based on the aforementioned UAV inspection strategy; Control the drone to fly within the inspection area according to the inspection path.

12. The railway line inspection method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, Determine whether the inspection data is abnormal, and take appropriate action based on the determination result, including the following steps: Determine whether the inspection data is abnormal; When the inspection data is abnormal, the first step is to be taken; If there are no abnormalities in the inspection data, determine whether the inspection data collection is complete. Once the inspection data collection is complete, proceed to the second processing step.

13. The railway line inspection method as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The first process specifically involves sending abnormal inspection data to the ground control center; The second process specifically involves sending a drone entry and parking application to the base station.

14. The railway line inspection method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The ground control center receives, stores, and analyzes the inspection data, records hazards and issues alarms based on the analysis results, including the following steps: Receive the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data sent by the base station, store the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data sent by the base station, and create corresponding data indexes; Analyze the abnormal inspection data and the inspection data sent by the base station to identify and record line hazards; An alarm is issued based on the line hazards corresponding to the analysis results of the inspection data.

15. The railway line inspection method as described in claim 14, characterized in that, Also includes: The ground control center manages the hazards to the line and generates review work orders.

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