Unmanned aerial vehicle for uninterrupted inspection in limited space

Abstract

The utility model discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle for uninterrupted inspection in a limited space. The unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a main body assembly, a motor assembly, a point cloud assembly and a mooring assembly, the body assembly comprises a body frame, and the bottom of the body frame is connected with a base assembly. The top end of the main body frame is connected with a handle assembly for holding the unmanned aerial vehicle to take off and take over; the main body frame of the unmanned aerial vehicle adopts a structure that the main plate and the side plates are connected, and the motor assembly is arranged in the motor mounting cavity, so that the whole structure is compact and stable and is suitable for a complex environment in a limited space; the anti-collision plate is arranged on the main body frame and is made of an elastic material, so that collision impact force is effectively absorbed, the main body frame of the unmanned aerial vehicle is protected from being damaged, and the collision adaptability of the unmanned aerial vehicle in a limited space is improved; the point cloud assembly integrates a laser radar, a flight control assembly, an airborne computer and a circuit assembly, the laser radar collects spatial data in real time, the airborne computer processes and analyzes the data, and the inspection accuracy and efficiency are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, and in particular to a UAV for continuous inspection in confined spaces. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional manual inspection methods have many shortcomings when conducting inspections in confined spaces, such as mines, tunnels, and inside large equipment. Confined spaces are often complex environments with inherent safety hazards, making manual inspections not only inefficient but also high-risk. To address this issue, drone inspection technology has emerged. However, existing drone inspection technologies still face some challenges when applied to confined spaces.

[0003] First, when existing drones fly in confined spaces, the limited space itself restricts their movement, significantly shortening the safe distance between the drone's main body and surrounding obstacles (such as walls, pipes, and equipment), thus increasing the risk of collisions. For example, most propeller-driven drones mount their propellers at the front or sides of the fuselage. While this design usually doesn't cause problems in open areas, in confined spaces such as indoors, tunnels, or dense urban areas, the propellers are prone to colliding with surrounding obstacles, leading to drone damage or interruption of inspection missions. Improvements are needed to address this issue. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this section is to outline some aspects of embodiments of the present invention and to briefly describe some preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions may be made in this section, as well as in the abstract and title of this application, to avoid obscuring the purpose of these documents; however, such simplifications or omissions should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a confined space uninterrupted inspection drone, including a main body component, a motor component, a point cloud component and a tethering component;

[0006] The main component includes a main frame, with a base assembly connected to the bottom of the main frame to serve as a support structure for the drone, ensuring that the drone is stably parked on the ground or other flat surfaces; a handle assembly is connected to the top of the main frame to facilitate hand-holding the drone for takeoff and takeover.

[0007] The motor assembly is used to provide power for the flight of the UAV, including a motor, a propeller connected to the output end of the motor, a motor support plate connected to the motor housing, a first support aluminum column arranged on the motor support plate, and the motor support plate being fixed to the main frame by the first support aluminum column.

[0008] The point cloud component is arranged on the main frame and includes a lidar, a flight control component, an onboard computer, and a circuit component. The lidar is connected to a radar mount and fixed to the top of the main frame. The flight control component is electrically connected to the lidar through the circuit component. The onboard computer is communicatively connected to the lidar and the flight control component. The circuit component serves as the electrical connection center to ensure normal communication and data transmission between the various parts.

[0009] The tethering assembly is located at the rear of the main frame and is used to connect the UAV to the ground station to enable continuous power supply and signal transmission.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, the main frame has a motor mounting cavity, and the motor assembly is arranged in the motor mounting cavity; the main frame includes a motherboard, and a side plate is arranged on the side of the motherboard, and the motherboard and the side plate are connected to form the main frame of the drone.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, the main frame is provided with LED indicator lights to display the drone's working status and battery level.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, an omnidirectional lighting lamp is arranged on the front side of the main frame to provide lighting for the drone and ensure sufficient light during the drone inspection process.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, the main frame is provided with a collision protection plate on its side. The collision protection plate is made of elastic material and is used to effectively absorb the impact force of collision and protect the main frame of the drone from damage.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, the handle assembly includes an upper nylon fixing seat, an upper carbon fiber diagonal rod, a carbon fiber handle, and a nylon handle bracket. The bottom of the carbon fiber handle is fixed to the top of the main frame through the nylon handle bracket. The side of the carbon fiber handle is connected to the upper carbon fiber diagonal rod, the other end of the upper carbon fiber diagonal rod is connected to the upper nylon fixing seat, and the upper nylon fixing seat is connected to the top of the main frame.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, the base assembly includes an alloy base, carbon fiber rods connecting the inner walls of both sides of the alloy base, a second supporting aluminum column arranged at the top of the alloy base, and the second supporting aluminum column connected to the top of the main frame; lower carbon fiber diagonal braces are connected to the four corners of the alloy base, the lower carbon fiber diagonal braces are connected to lower nylon fixing seats, and the lower nylon fixing seats are connected to the bottom of the main frame.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the uninterrupted inspection drone in confined space described in this utility model, the upper nylon fixing seat and the lower nylon fixing seat are arranged in corresponding positions, and a main column is connected between the upper and lower sets of nylon fixing seats. A set of main boards is arranged at each of the upper and lower ends of the main column.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0018] 1. The main frame of this utility model adopts a structure in which the main board and side plate are connected, and the motor assembly is arranged in the motor mounting cavity, making the overall structure compact and stable, suitable for complex environments in confined spaces; by arranging anti-collision plates on the main frame, which are made of elastic materials, the impact force of collisions is effectively absorbed, protecting the main frame of the drone from damage and improving the collision adaptability of the drone in confined spaces.

[0019] 2. The handle assembly of this utility model is designed so that operators can easily take off and take over the drone handheld without relying on a take-off and landing platform, thereby reducing reliance on ground equipment and costs. Operators can also quickly deploy and retrieve the drone in various complex environments. Especially in scenarios with limited space or where it is difficult to set up a take-off and landing platform, it can ensure that the drone can quickly enter the work area and quickly withdraw after completing the task, avoiding operation delays or interruptions caused by take-off and landing platform limitations.

[0020] 3. The point cloud component of this utility model integrates lidar, flight control components, airborne computer and circuit components. The lidar can collect spatial data in real time, and the airborne computer processes and analyzes the data, which improves the accuracy and efficiency of inspection. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. Among them:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the handle assembly of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the base assembly of this utility model.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the motor assembly of this utility model.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the point cloud component of this utility model.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the tethering component of this utility model.

[0028] In the diagram: 100, Main Component; 101, Main Frame; 1011, Main Board; 1012, Side Panel; 102, Handle Assembly; 1021, Upper Nylon Mounting Base; 1022, Upper Carbon Fiber Diagonal Brake; 1023, Carbon Fiber Handle; 1024, Nylon Handle Bracket; 103, Base Assembly; 1031, Alloy Base; 1032, Carbon Fiber Rod; 1033, Second Support Aluminum Column; 1034, Lower Carbon Fiber Diagonal Brake; 1035, Lower Nylon Mounting Base; 104, LED Indicator Light; 105, Omnidirectional Light; 106, Bumper Plate; 107, Main Column;

[0029] 200. Motor assembly; 201. Motor; 202. Propeller; 203. Motor support plate; 204. First support aluminum column;

[0030] 300. Point cloud component; 301. LiDAR; 302. Flight control component; 303. Onboard computer; 304. Circuit component; 305. Radar mount;

[0031] 400. Tethering components. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0034] Secondly, the term "an embodiment" or "embodiment" as used herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a single or selective embodiment that excludes other embodiments.

[0035] Secondly, this utility model is described in detail with reference to the schematic diagrams. When describing the embodiments of this utility model, for ease of explanation, the cross-sectional views illustrating the device structure may be partially enlarged, not adhering to the usual scale. Furthermore, the schematic diagrams are merely examples and should not limit the scope of protection of this utility model. In addition, actual manufacturing should include the three-dimensional spatial dimensions of length, width, and depth.

[0036] Reference Figures 1-6 This embodiment of the present invention provides a confined space uninterrupted inspection drone, including a main body component 100, a motor component 200, a point cloud component 300, and a tethering component 400;

[0037] The main component 100 includes a main frame 101, with a base component 103 connected to the bottom of the main frame 101, serving as a support structure for the drone to ensure that the drone is stably parked on the ground or other flat surfaces; and a handle component 102 connected to the top of the main frame 101, which facilitates hand-held take-off and take-over of the drone.

[0038] The main frame 101 has a motor mounting cavity, and the motor assembly 200 is arranged inside the motor mounting cavity. The main frame 101 includes a main board 1011, and a side plate 1012 is arranged on the side of the main board 1011. The main board 1011 and the side plate 1012 are connected to form the main frame 101 of the UAV. The UAV adopts the main frame 101, and its main board 1011 and side plate 1012 are connected to form a robust main structure that can withstand greater external forces and pressures. The motor mounting cavity arranged on the main frame 101 provides a stable installation environment for the motor assembly 200, ensuring stability and reliability during flight.

[0039] The main frame 101 is equipped with LED indicator lights 104 to display the drone's working status and battery level. An omnidirectional light 105 is located on the front of the main frame 101 to provide illumination for the drone, ensuring sufficient light during inspections. A collision protection plate 106, made of elastic material, is located on the side of the main frame 101 to effectively absorb impact forces and protect the drone's main frame 101 from damage. When flying in confined spaces, the collision protection plate 106 significantly reduces damage caused by collisions, improving the drone's durability and reliability.

[0040] The handle assembly 102 includes an upper nylon mounting base 1021, an upper carbon fiber diagonal rod 1022, a carbon fiber handle 1023, and a nylon handle bracket 1024. The bottom of the carbon fiber handle 1023 is fixed to the top of the main frame 101 via the nylon handle bracket 1024. The side of the carbon fiber handle 1023 is connected to the upper carbon fiber diagonal rod 1022, and the other end of the upper carbon fiber diagonal rod 1022 is connected to the upper nylon mounting base 1021. The upper nylon mounting base 1021 is connected to the top of the main frame 101. The base assembly 103 includes an alloy base 1031, and a carbon fiber rod is connected between the inner walls of the two sides of the alloy base 1031. 1032, A second supporting aluminum column 1033 is arranged at the top of the alloy base 1031, and the second supporting aluminum column 1033 is connected to the top of the main frame 101; Lower carbon fiber diagonal braces 1034 are connected to the four corners of the alloy base 1031, and the lower carbon fiber diagonal braces 1034 are connected to lower nylon fixing seats 1035, which are connected to the bottom of the main frame 101; The upper nylon fixing seats 1021 and the lower nylon fixing seats 1035 are arranged vertically and vertically, and a main column 107 is connected between the upper and lower sets of nylon fixing seats, and a set of main plates 1011 are arranged at each of the upper and lower ends of the main column 107.

[0041] The drone's design incorporates high-strength, lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and alloys. For example, the carbon fiber handle 1023, upper carbon fiber diagonal bar 1022, and carbon fiber rod 1032 significantly reduce the drone's weight while maintaining strength, thus improving flight efficiency. The alloy base 1031 provides additional strength and stability, ensuring stable parking of the drone on the ground or other flat surfaces.

[0042] The base assembly 103 forms a stable support system through the carbon fiber rod 1032, the second support aluminum column 1033 and the lower carbon fiber diagonal tie rod 1034, which further enhances the overall strength of the drone; the main column 107 connects the upper and lower sets of nylon fixing seats, providing additional support and stability for the drone.

[0043] The motor assembly 200 is used to provide power for the flight of the UAV, including a motor 201, a propeller 202 connected to the output end of the motor 201, a motor support plate 203 connected to the housing of the motor 201, a first support aluminum column 204 arranged on the motor support plate 203, and the motor support plate 203 is fixed to the main frame 101 by the first support aluminum column 204.

[0044] The point cloud component 300 is arranged on the main frame 101. The point cloud component 300 includes a lidar 301, a flight control component 302, an onboard computer 303, and a circuit component 304. The lidar 301 is connected to a radar mount 305 and is fixed to the top of the main frame 101 through the radar mount 305. The flight control component 302 is electrically connected to the lidar 301 through the circuit component 304. The onboard computer 303 is communicatively connected to the lidar 301 and the flight control component 302. The circuit component 304 serves as the electrical connection center to ensure normal communication and data transmission between the various parts.

[0045] The tethering assembly 400 is located at the rear of the main frame 101 and is used to connect the UAV to the ground station to achieve continuous power supply and signal transmission. The tethering assembly 400 may include an airborne DC / DC power module, a communication receiving device, and a tethering cable interface. The tethering cable interface is used to connect to the tethering cable of the ground station. The airborne DC / DC power module is responsible for converting the high-voltage DC power transmitted from the ground through the tethering cable into the low-voltage DC power required by the various systems of the UAV. The communication receiving device is used to receive control commands and real-time status information from the ground station.

[0046] In this embodiment: The UAV is controlled by a ground station, which starts motor 201. Motor 201 drives propeller 202 to rotate, providing flight power for the UAV. Driven by the motor, the UAV takes off and flies within a confined space. LiDAR 301 collects spatial data in real time (this is a direct application of existing technology, and its specific principle will not be elaborated here), and transmits it to onboard computer 303 for processing and analysis via circuit component 304 (this is a direct application of existing technology, and its specific principle will not be elaborated here). Flight control component 302 adjusts the UAV's flight attitude and path according to the processing results (this is a direct application of existing technology, and its specific principle will not be elaborated here), ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of the inspection.

[0047] The tethering component 400 connects the drone to the ground station, providing continuous power to the drone and transmitting inspection data and control commands through a communication receiving device, ensuring uninterrupted inspection of the drone in confined spaces.

[0048] When needed, operators can easily take off and take over the drone by hand using the carefully designed handle assembly 102. The handle assembly includes an upper nylon mounting base 1021, an upper carbon fiber diagonal bar 1022, a carbon fiber handle 1023, and a nylon handle bracket 1024. These components together form a stable and comfortable grip structure. The carbon fiber handle 1023 is not only lightweight but also strong, providing a good grip and control. Operators can easily lift and carry the drone by holding the handle, and can also make precise operations and adjustments to the drone through the handle. This type of handle assembly 102 design eliminates the need for a take-off and landing platform, allowing operators to quickly deploy and retrieve the drone in various complex environments. This greatly shortens the preparation and completion time of operations, improving the flexibility and efficiency of operations. Especially in scenarios with limited space or where it is difficult to set up a take-off and landing platform, the handheld take-off and take-over method is particularly important. It ensures that the drone can quickly enter the work area and quickly withdraw after completing the task, avoiding operation delays or interruptions caused by take-off and landing platform limitations. Traditional drone operations usually require ground equipment such as take-off and landing platforms, which not only increases operating costs but also limits the application range of drones. The drone's optimized handle design enables hands-free takeoff and takeoff, reducing reliance on and costs associated with ground equipment. This allows the drone to be used more widely in various scenarios, including temporary operations, emergency rescue, and disaster assessment, providing operators with more options and flexibility.

[0049] It is worth noting that the entire device is controlled by a controller. Since the controller is a common device and belongs to existing mature technology, its electrical connection relationship and specific circuit structure will not be described in detail here.

[0050] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solution of this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of this utility model, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A confined space uninterrupted inspection drone, characterized in that: It includes a main body component (100), a motor component (200), a point cloud component (300), and a tethering component (400); The main component (100) includes a main frame (101), and a base component (103) is connected to the bottom of the main frame (101) as a support structure for the drone to ensure that the drone is stably parked on the ground or other planes; a handle component (102) is connected to the top of the main frame (101) to facilitate hand-held take-off and take-over of the drone. The motor assembly (200) is used to provide power for the flight of the UAV, including a motor (201), the output end of the motor (201) is connected to a propeller (202), a motor support plate (203) is connected to the housing of the motor (201), a first support aluminum column (204) is arranged on the motor support plate (203), and the motor support plate (203) is connected to the main frame (101) through the first support aluminum column (204); The point cloud component (300) is arranged on the main frame (101). The point cloud component (300) includes a lidar (301), a flight control component (302), an onboard computer (303), and a circuit component (304). The lidar (301) is connected to a radar mount (305) and is fixed to the top of the main frame (101) through the radar mount (305). The flight control component (302) is electrically connected to the lidar (301) through the circuit component (304). The onboard computer (303) is communicatively connected to the lidar (301) and the flight control component (302). The circuit component (304) serves as the electrical connection center and is used for communication and data transmission. The tethering assembly (400) is located at the rear of the main frame (101) and is used to connect the UAV to the ground station to enable continuous power supply and signal transmission.

2. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The main frame (101) has a motor mounting cavity, and the motor assembly (200) is arranged in the motor mounting cavity; the main frame (101) includes a main board (1011), and a side plate (1012) is arranged on the side of the main board (1011). The main board (1011) and the side plate (1012) are connected to form the main frame (101) of the UAV.

3. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 1, characterized in that: LED indicator lights (104) are arranged on the main frame (101) to display the working status and battery level of the drone.

4. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The front side of the main frame (101) is provided with an omnidirectional light (105) to provide illumination for the drone and ensure sufficient light during the drone inspection process.

5. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The main frame (101) is provided with a crash plate (106) on its side. The crash plate (106) is made of elastic material and is used to protect the main frame (101) of the UAV from damage.

6. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The handle assembly (102) includes an upper nylon fixing seat (1021), an upper carbon fiber diagonal rod (1022), a carbon fiber handle (1023), and a nylon handle bracket (1024). The bottom of the carbon fiber handle (1023) is fixed to the top of the main frame (101) through the nylon handle bracket (1024). The side of the carbon fiber handle (1023) is connected to the upper carbon fiber diagonal rod (1022), and the other end of the upper carbon fiber diagonal rod (1022) is connected to the upper nylon fixing seat (1021). The upper nylon fixing seat (1021) is connected to the top of the main frame (101).

7. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The base assembly (103) includes an alloy base (1031), a carbon fiber rod (1032) connecting the inner walls of the two sides of the alloy base (1031), a second supporting aluminum column (1033) arranged at the top of the alloy base (1031), and the second supporting aluminum column (1033) connected to the top of the main frame (101); a lower carbon fiber diagonal brace (1034) is connected to the four corners of the alloy base (1031), the lower carbon fiber diagonal brace (1034) is connected to a lower nylon fixing seat (1035), and the lower nylon fixing seat (1035) is connected to the bottom of the main frame (101).

8. The uninterrupted inspection drone in confined spaces as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The upper nylon fixing seat (1021) and the lower nylon fixing seat (1035) are arranged in corresponding positions, and the two sets of nylon fixing seats are connected by a main column (107). A main board (1011) is arranged at each of the upper and lower ends of the main column (107).

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