Power plant intelligent inspection unmanned aerial vehicle and power plant intelligent inspection system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a power plant intelligent inspection unmanned plane and power plant intelligent inspection system, power plant intelligent inspection unmanned plane includes: communication module, position and attitude detection module, power device, flight control module, control module and camera module, control module is connected communication module, flight control module, position and attitude detection module and camera module respectively, flight control module connects position and attitude detection module and power device respectively, and position and attitude detection module detects the position information and attitude information of power plant intelligent inspection unmanned plane, and flight control module controls power device movement, and carries out flight according to the flight path corresponding with flight instruction, and specifically realizes flight control through flight control module, completes and carries out flight according to the path corresponding with flight instruction, uses camera module to shoot at corresponding preset position, thereby completes both inspection flight, and also retains the original image of inspection, to wait and analyze in depth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of inspection drone technology, and in particular to a power plant intelligent inspection drone and a power plant intelligent inspection system. Background Technology

[0002] Power plant inspections are generally the responsibility of security personnel. However, power plants cover a large area, and due to limitations in movement speed, the time required for a single inspection by security personnel is relatively long, resulting in a limited number of inspections and a large gap between inspections. In particular, the number of inspections will be further reduced at night due to the influence of human biological rhythms.

[0003] Furthermore, currently, after completing an inspection, inspectors only record whether any abnormalities occurred in their logbooks, and the descriptions of each inspection remain literal. Inspection results heavily rely on the experience and technical skill of the personnel, with descriptions of equipment status often being qualitative (such as "minor oil leakage" or "abnormal sound"), lacking objective and quantitative data support, making it prone to omissions and misjudgments. Inspection records are mostly in paper form, making effective digital storage, traceability, and in-depth analysis difficult. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of this utility model is to provide a power plant intelligent inspection drone and a power plant intelligent inspection system, aiming to provide a solution for inspecting power plants.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes an intelligent power plant inspection drone, which includes: a communication module, a position and attitude detection module, a power unit, a flight control module, a control module, and a camera module; The control module is connected to the communication module, the flight control module, and the camera module respectively; the flight control module is connected to the position and attitude detection module and the power unit respectively. The position and attitude detection module is used to detect the position and attitude information of the power plant intelligent inspection drone and output it to the flight control module. The control module interacts with the ground station via the communication module; Upon receiving flight commands from the ground station, the control module outputs the corresponding flight path information to the flight control module. The flight control module is used to control the movement of the power unit upon receiving the flight path information, so as to fly according to the flight path corresponding to the flight path information; The power unit includes: a rotor and an electric motor; The flight control module is also used to output position information to the control module; The control module is also used to be positioned corresponding to the flight command, control the camera module to take pictures of the preset target, and transmit the photo data to the ground station.

[0006] Optionally, the camera module includes: an infrared camera and a visible light camera; The infrared camera is used to capture infrared images / videos and output them to the control module; The visible light camera is used to capture visible light images / visible light videos and output them to the control module.

[0007] Optionally, the intelligent power plant inspection drone also includes: A speaker, connected to the control module; The control module is also used to control the speaker to play a voice signal corresponding to the voice playback command when it receives a voice playback command from the ground station.

[0008] Optionally, the intelligent power plant inspection drone also includes: A searchlight, connected to the control module; An energy storage module is connected to the searchlight and supplies power to the searchlight; The control module is also used to control the searchlight to emit light signals when it receives a searchlight command from the ground station.

[0009] Optionally, the intelligent power plant inspection drone also includes: A photosensitive sensor is connected to the control module; the photosensitive sensor is located outside the illumination range of the searchlight. The photosensitive sensor is used to detect the light intensity of the surrounding environment and output the result to the control module; The control module controls the searchlight to emit a light signal when the light intensity is lower than or equal to a preset threshold.

[0010] Optionally, the intelligent power plant inspection drone also includes: The battery module is connected to the communication module, position and attitude detection module, power unit, flight control module, control module and camera module respectively, and provides corresponding operating voltages to the communication module, position and attitude detection module, power unit, flight control module, control module and camera module respectively; A wireless transmission coil is connected to the battery module.

[0011] Optionally, the intelligent power plant inspection drone also includes: A power detection circuit, with its detection end connected to the battery module and its output end connected to the control module; The power detection circuit is used to detect the power of the battery module and output it to the control module; The control module is also used to output a power alarm signal to the ground station when the power level is lower than or equal to a preset power level value.

[0012] This utility model also proposes a power plant intelligent inspection system, which includes a ground station and a power plant intelligent inspection drone.

[0013] Optionally, the power plant intelligent inspection system further includes: Multiple power replenishment devices are installed at multiple preset locations in the power plant, one for each device; each power replenishment device is equipped with a transmitting coil. The control module is also used to output the location information to the ground station; When the power plant intelligent inspection drone lands on the energy replenishment device, the ground station outputs a charging command to the energy replenishment device; Upon receiving the charging command, the power replenishment device emits energy through the transmitting coil to wirelessly charge the power plant intelligent inspection drone.

[0014] Optionally, the power plant intelligent inspection system further includes: Multiple wireless repeaters are installed in the power plant to form a relay network covering a preset area within the power plant; the multiple wireless repeaters are used to relay data interaction between the communication module and the ground station.

[0015] This utility model discloses an intelligent inspection drone for power plants. Specifically, the flight is controlled by a flight control module, which completes the flight according to the flight command path. At the corresponding preset position, the camera module takes pictures, thus completing the inspection flight and retaining the original inspection images for later review and in-depth analysis. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model 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 utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the intelligent power plant inspection drone of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the intelligent power plant inspection drone of this utility model; Figure 3This is a structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the intelligent power plant inspection drone of this utility model.

[0018] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0019] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0021] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0022] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixing" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] Furthermore, in this utility model, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0024] This utility model proposes an intelligent inspection drone for power plants, such as... Figure 1As shown, the intelligent inspection drone for power plants includes: a communication module 60, a position and attitude detection module 20, a power unit 40, a flight control module 30, a control module 10, and a camera module 50; The control module 10 is connected to the communication module 60, the flight control module 30, the position and attitude detection module 20, and the camera module 50, respectively; the flight control module 30 is connected to the position and attitude detection module 20 and the power unit 40, respectively. The position and attitude detection module 20 is used to detect the position and attitude information of the power plant intelligent inspection drone and output it to the flight control module 30 and the control module 10. The control module 10 interacts with the ground station via the communication module 60; Upon receiving a flight command from the ground station, the control module 10 outputs the flight command to the flight control module 30. The flight control module 30 is used to control the movement of the power unit 40 upon receiving the flight command, so as to fly according to the flight path corresponding to the flight command; The power unit 40 includes: a rotor and an electric motor; The control module 10 is also used to output a shooting signal to the camera module 50 when the intelligent inspection drone reaches the position corresponding to the flight command; The camera module 50 takes a picture when it receives the image, and outputs the photo data to the control module 10.

[0025] It should be noted that the UAV in this invention includes a flight control module 30 and a control module 10. The flight control module 30 is connected to the position and attitude detection module 20 and the power unit 40, and is used for UAV flight control. The position and attitude detection module 20 senses the UAV's three-dimensional spatial position, flight speed, acceleration, and attitude angles (pitch, roll, yaw) in real time and with high precision, providing stable navigation feedback information to the flight control module 30. The position and attitude detection module 20 may include a multi-system Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver (such as a GPS + BeiDou dual-mode module) and a high-precision inertial measurement unit (IMU). The inertial measurement unit includes a three-axis MEMS gyroscope and a three-axis accelerometer, such as the TDK ICM-42688-P chip. The multi-system GNSS receiver provides absolute position, and the IMU provides short-term high-precision attitude and displacement calculations when GNSS signals are briefly lost.

[0026] The power unit 40 includes rotors and motors to generate the lift and thrust required for flight. Takeoff, hovering, translation, landing, and attitude adjustment of the UAV are achieved by changing the rotational speeds of multiple motors. The power unit 40 typically includes multiple brushless DC motors (BLDC), multiple electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and matching propellers (rotors). For example, using T-Motor's U12 series brushless motors paired with F1350 carbon fiber propellers provides strong and efficient power output. The motors are controlled by the electronic speed controllers (ESCs) and receive commands from the flight control module 30.

[0027] The flight control module 30, acting as the "spinal cord" of the UAV, is responsible for low-level flight control. It receives data from the position and attitude detection module 20 and higher-level commands from the control module 10, and uses complex control algorithms (such as a PID controller) to calculate and output control signals to the various electronic speed controllers (ESCs) in the power unit 40 in real time, thereby precisely controlling the UAV's flight trajectory and attitude. It should be noted that a hardware solution using the PX4 or ArduPilot open-source flight control system can be adopted, with the main control processor being a high-performance STM32F7 series MCU.

[0028] The flight control system, consisting of the flight control module 30, the power unit 40, and the position and attitude detection module 20, is responsible for flight control, such as flying to a specific location or following a specific flight trajectory.

[0029] It should be noted that the flight control system composed of the flight control module 30, the power unit 40, and the position and attitude detection module 20 can use the flight control systems demonstrated in the PX4 open-source project or the ArduPilot open-source project, and the flight control algorithm in the flight control system can use the open-source algorithms in the PX4 open-source project or the ArduPilot open-source project. That is, this utility model can utilize the content of open-source projects, select components, and construct the position and attitude detection module 20, the power unit 40, and the flight control module 30.

[0030] The flight control module 30, upon receiving the flight path information, controls the movement of the power unit 40 to fly along the flight path corresponding to the flight path information. The flight control module 30 can run the underlying control algorithm of open-source flight control software (such as PX4 or ArduPilot), receive data from the position and attitude detection module 20 in real time, compare it with the desired flight state (flight path information from the control module 10), calculate the required motor control quantity using PID and other control algorithms, and output it to each ESC, thereby precisely controlling the attitude and position of the UAV.

[0031] In this invention, a flight control module 30 and a control module 10 are used for control. The flight control module 30 performs flight control, while the control module 10 performs other functions besides flight. Using the flight control module 30 to control the flight function separately avoids the problems of untimely flight data processing and poor flight control performance caused by using a single controller to control all functions of the unmanned aerial vehicle in existing technologies. Furthermore, the control module 10 includes a memory to store photo or video data transmitted by the camera module 50. The control module 10 may include a controller such as an MCU, FPGA, or SOC. The communication module 60 may include a 4G / 5G industrial module or a LoRa long-distance communication module.

[0032] The control module 10 interacts with the ground station through the communication module 60. When the control module 10 receives a flight command from the ground station, it outputs the flight command to the flight control module 30.

[0033] It should be explained that this utility model does not limit the control method of the ground station. In one example, the ground station is manually controlled by an operator. The operator controls the drone's flight by touching a slider (using a drone controller equipped with a joystick) or clicking a command icon (using software installed on a computer to control the drone). In this example, because of operator control, the flight path, inspection time, and inspection photo points in the flight commands are determined based on the operator's actual actions; for example, the operator can control the drone to fly along any path, and the operator can control the drone to take photos. It is easy to understand that the flight time is determined by the operator.

[0034] In another example, the ground station is controlled by a program. An operator can pre-set the inspection time, path, and photo-taking points for the intelligent inspection drone within the ground station. At the preset inspection time, the ground station sends flight commands, including the inspection path and photo-taking points, to the intelligent inspection drone. Upon receiving the flight commands, the control module 10 transmits them to the flight control module 30. Based on these commands, the flight control module 30 controls the power unit 40 to move, flying along the inspection path. Furthermore, upon reaching the photo-taking point, the control module 10 controls the camera module 50 to take pictures and output the captured signals (images or videos). The control module 10 stores the captured signal data and uploads it to the ground station after the drone completes its inspection.

[0035] This utility model discloses a smart inspection drone for power plants. Specifically, the flight control module 30 realizes flight control and completes the flight according to the flight command path. At the corresponding preset position, the camera module 50 takes pictures, thus completing the inspection flight and retaining the original inspection images for later viewing and in-depth analysis.

[0036] In one example, the camera module 50 includes an infrared camera and a visible light camera; The infrared camera is used to capture infrared images / videos and output them to the control module 10; The visible light camera is used to capture visible light images / visible light videos and output them to the control module 10.

[0037] It is easy to understand that the visible light camera can capture images of the object's appearance and analyze whether it is damaged. The infrared light camera can capture infrared temperature images of the object, used to detect overheating or abnormal temperature conditions in objects (e.g., power plant equipment). By combining the two cameras, the drone can simultaneously acquire appearance and temperature data, improving the comprehensiveness and accuracy of inspections. Furthermore, since images can be saved after each inspection, the trend of changes in the object can be determined by reviewing the images from each inspection.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, in another example, the power plant intelligent inspection drone also includes: Speaker 70 is connected to the control module 10; The control module 10 is also used to control the speaker 70 to play a voice signal corresponding to the voice playback command when it receives a voice playback command from the ground station.

[0039] It should be noted that the power plant intelligent inspection drone's inspection speed exceeds that of humans. When an anomaly is detected, the ground station can output a voice playback command to play audio, alerting nearby personnel to the abnormality. This can improve the speed of resolving the anomaly or the efficiency of evacuating nearby personnel. The voice playback command is input by the operator through the ground station, and audio can be input via a microphone. The ground station then transmits the audio file to the power plant intelligent inspection drone.

[0040] For example, when a theft is discovered, a smart inspection drone for the power plant can be controlled to hover above the theft site and call nearby security personnel to handle the situation.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, in another embodiment, the power plant intelligent inspection drone further includes: Searchlight 80 is connected to the control module 10; An energy storage module is connected to the searchlight 80 and supplies power to the searchlight 80; The control module 10 is also used to control the searchlight 80 to emit light signals when it receives a searchlight command from the ground station.

[0042] It should be noted that the searchlight 80 is preferably a high-power LED light assembly, characterized by high brightness, low power consumption, and long lifespan. This light assembly can be configured with multiple operating modes, such as constant-on mode, flashing warning mode, and adjustable brightness mode. The searchlight 80 is connected to the GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output) or PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) interface of the control module 10 via a driver circuit to receive control signals. The energy storage module can be an independent dedicated battery (such as a small lithium polymer battery) or a dedicated power supply line drawn from the UAV's main battery module but processed by an independent voltage regulator circuit. Its core function is to serve as a dedicated power source for the searchlight 80. The control module 10, acting as the control center, is responsible for parsing wireless commands from the ground station. When the communication module 60 receives a searchlight command containing "turn on searchlight 80" or "flash warning," the control module 10 sends a corresponding electrical signal to the drive circuit of the searchlight 80, driving the searchlight 80 to perform the corresponding action.

[0043] During nighttime inspections at power plants, operators can remotely send commands via ground station to control the activation of the searchlights, enabling two core functions: (1) Provide supplemental lighting for camera module 50: Insufficient ambient light at night prevents the visible light camera from acquiring a clear image of the device's appearance. Turning on the spotlight 80 provides sufficient illumination for the target, ensuring that the acquired visible light image is clear and usable for determining whether the device has any appearance defects such as damage, leakage, or displacement.

[0044] (2) Night patrol lighting: The drone can serve as a mobile "patrol beacon". The beam of its searchlight 80 can illuminate a large area, which not only expands the monitoring range of the drone, but also deters potential intrusions. When an abnormal situation is detected, the searchlight 80 can be switched to flashing mode, which can serve as a remote optical warning signal.

[0045] By introducing a remotely controllable searchlight 80, this utility model significantly enhances the drone's operational capabilities in low-light or no-light environments, enabling all-weather inspections of power plants and solving the problems of difficult manual nighttime inspections and the existence of safety blind spots.

[0046] In one example, the power plant intelligent inspection drone also includes: A photosensitive sensor is connected to the control module 10; the photosensitive sensor is located outside the illumination range of the searchlight 80. The photosensitive sensor is used to detect the light intensity of the surrounding environment and output it to the control module 10; When the light intensity is lower than or equal to a preset threshold, the control module 10 controls the searchlight 80 to emit a light signal.

[0047] It is easy to understand that the control module 10 has a preset threshold stored inside (this threshold can be set and adjusted by the ground station). The control module 10 compares the real-time light intensity value transmitted by the photosensor with the preset threshold. When it is determined that the light intensity is lower than or equal to the preset threshold (i.e., the ambient light is too dim), the control module 10 automatically generates a control signal and outputs it to the drive circuit of the searchlight 80, controlling the searchlight 80 to automatically turn on and emit a light signal.

[0048] The photosensitive sensor can be a photodiode, photoresistor, or other similar component. Its output is connected to the ADC (analog-to-digital converter) interface of the control module 10 or directly to the digital I / O port to convert the physical quantity of light illumination into an electrical signal for the control module 10 to read.

[0049] The photosensitive sensor continuously monitors the ambient light intensity. The control module 10 compares the real-time light data with a preset threshold. Once it is determined that the ambient light is insufficient, the control module 10 immediately and automatically turns on the searchlight 80 without waiting for instructions from the ground station.

[0050] When drones perform pre-set route inspections, whether transitioning from daytime to nighttime or flying into dimly lit areas such as factories, the system automatically activates its lighting. This eliminates the need for operators to constantly monitor lighting changes and manually operate the system, reducing manpower and making the inspection process more intelligent and efficient. Furthermore, it avoids the problem of image data loss or quality degradation caused by operator negligence or delayed commands failing to provide timely supplemental lighting in low-light environments, ensuring the integrity and validity of inspection data. In automatic cruise mode, the drone can respond instantly to changes in local environmental brightness, reacting much faster than relying on remote human judgment and operation.

[0051] In one example, the power plant intelligent inspection drone also includes: The battery module is connected to the communication module 60, the position and attitude detection module 20, the power unit 40, the flight control module 30, the control module 10, and the camera module 50 respectively, and provides corresponding working voltages to the communication module 60, the position and attitude detection module 20, the power unit 40, the flight control module 30, the control module 10, and the camera module 50 respectively. A wireless transmission coil is connected to the battery module.

[0052] It is easy to understand that the battery module is the core energy center of the drone. It is electrically connected to the communication module 60, position and attitude detection module 20, power unit 40, flight control module 30, control module 10, and camera module 50 through the drone's internal power distribution network. The battery module is responsible for converting and distributing the stored electrical energy, providing each of the above modules with a stable and matching operating voltage of different levels required for their normal operation.

[0053] A battery module can include battery cells and a battery management system. It is typically composed of multiple high-capacity, high-discharge-rate (High C-Rate) lithium polymer (Li-Po) or lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery cells connected in series and parallel to form a battery pack to meet the high power output and total energy storage required for drone flight and equipment operation.

[0054] The total output voltage of the battery module (e.g., a 6S battery with a nominal voltage of 22.2V) is converted and distributed through a complex power management circuit. The brushless motor and electronic speed controller (ESC) of the power unit 40 directly use high voltage and high current; while the flight control module 30, control module 10, sensors, communication module 60, and other precision electronic equipment require a stable 12V, 5V, or 3.3V low-voltage power supply through a DC-DC buck converter. This hierarchical power supply design ensures that each module can operate at the optimal voltage, avoids mutual electromagnetic interference, and improves the overall stability and reliability of the system.

[0055] The wireless transmission coil is a key energy pickup component for wireless charging. It typically consists of Litz wire wound with multiple strands of fine wire and a compensating resonant capacitor connected in series or parallel, forming an LC resonant circuit. Its resonant frequency matches the external transmitter, efficiently receiving alternating magnetic field energy and converting it into alternating current. The coil is securely mounted on the bottom of the drone fuselage, usually protected by a non-metallic (e.g., engineering plastic or carbon fiber) shield to prevent wear during landing and to avoid shielding and interference from metal components on the magnetic field. The coil's output can be connected to the drone's internal high-frequency rectifier bridge and voltage regulator circuit. Its function is to rectify the high-frequency alternating current induced by the coil into direct current and stabilize it to a voltage level suitable for battery charging, ultimately supplying it to the charging input of the battery module.

[0056] The wireless transmission coil is the key technology used in this invention to solve the core technical problem of "low inspection frequency and long downtime". Through power replenishment platforms distributed in key areas of the power plant, drones can automatically plan their path to the nearest platform for "seamless" charging when their battery level drops below a certain threshold. After charging, they can immediately or as planned continue their inspection tasks. This significantly breaks through the limitations of a single drone flight time, providing an energy foundation for near-24-hour uninterrupted cyclical inspections and significantly improving the frequency and coverage of inspections. Power plant environments are complex, containing dust, humidity, and even potentially explosive gases. Wireless charging achieves contactless energy transfer, completely avoiding the electrical sparks that can occur with traditional metal contact charging due to poor contact or foreign object intrusion, fundamentally eliminating safety hazards caused by charging in special environments. Simultaneously, the absence of physical contact also means no mechanical wear and contact oxidation problems, improving the reliability and lifespan of the charging system in harsh industrial environments. The entire energy replenishment process of "inspection-return-charging-retake" requires no manual intervention (such as plugging and unplugging the charging cable). It is perfectly integrated with the drone's autonomous flight, precise positioning, and autonomous landing functions. It is the core technical support for realizing fully automated closed-loop management of inspections, which greatly reduces the reliance on manpower and improves the level of intelligent operation and maintenance.

[0057] The intelligent inspection drone for power plants also includes: A power detection circuit, with its detection end connected to the battery module and its output end connected to the control module 10; The power detection circuit is used to detect the power of the battery module and output it to the control module 10; The control module 10 is also used to output a power alarm signal to the ground station when the power level is lower than or equal to a preset power level value.

[0058] It is easy to understand that the control module 10 has a preset power level value (e.g., 20% or 30% remaining power, which can be remotely set and adjusted via the ground station). The control module 10 continuously or periodically reads the data transmitted from the power detection circuit and compares it with the preset power level value. When it is determined that the real-time power level of the battery module is lower than or equal to the preset power level value, the control module 10 automatically generates a power alarm signal and wirelessly transmits it to the ground station via the communication module 60.

[0059] The power detection circuit is connected in series with a precision sampling resistor in the main discharge circuit of the battery. By monitoring the current flowing through the battery in real time and integrating it over time, and combining the battery voltage and temperature information, the remaining capacity of the battery can be accurately calculated.

[0060] Once the control module 10 determines that the battery is about to run out, it will immediately send a battery alarm signal to the ground station via the communication module 60 (such as 4G or a data radio). This signal can be a prominent prompt that pops up in the monitoring software interface, an audible alarm, or even a text message or app push sent to maintenance personnel.

[0061] This example provides ample advance warning time, enabling the ground station system or operator to issue timely instructions so that the drone can automatically return to base or fly to the nearest charging platform before its battery is completely depleted. This effectively avoids serious consequences such as drone crashes and mission data loss caused by sudden power outages, ensuring the reliability of equipment and missions.

[0062] This utility model also proposes a power plant intelligent inspection system, which includes a ground station and a power plant intelligent inspection drone.

[0063] The specific structure of the intelligent inspection drone for power plants is as described in the above embodiments. Since this intelligent inspection system for power plants adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0064] In one example, the power plant intelligent inspection system further includes: Multiple power replenishment devices are installed at multiple preset locations in the power plant, one for each device; each power replenishment device is equipped with a transmitting coil. The control module 10 is also used to output the location information to the ground station; When the power plant intelligent inspection drone lands on the energy replenishment device, the ground station outputs a charging command to the energy replenishment device; Upon receiving the charging command, the power replenishment device emits energy through the transmitting coil to wirelessly charge the power plant intelligent inspection drone.

[0065] It should be noted that multiple power replenishment devices are precisely positioned at various pre-defined locations within the power plant (e.g., on the roof of the main control building, outside the turbine hall, in the substation area, near the coal yard, etc.) based on the division of the power plant's inspection areas and the drone's endurance, following precise path planning. These locations collectively form a wireless charging network covering key inspection paths. The core component of each power replenishment device is a transmitting coil and its driving circuit. When performing inspection tasks, the control module 10 of the intelligent power plant inspection drone continuously or periodically outputs its real-time location information to the ground station via the communication module 60. When the intelligent power plant inspection drone (e.g., triggering automatic return due to low battery, or intermittently replenishing power as planned) lands on a power replenishment device, the ground station (through location information transmitted back by the drone or trigger signals from the power replenishment device itself) senses this state and immediately sends a charging command to that device. Upon receiving a charging command from the ground station, the power electronic circuitry within the charging device is activated. This activates the transmitting coil, converting electrical energy into high-frequency alternating magnetic field energy, which is then emitted outwards. Simultaneously, the wireless transmission coil of the drone located on top of the device senses and receives this energy, subsequently wirelessly charging the drone's battery module via its onboard circuitry.

[0066] Each charging unit comprises a rugged, waterproof, and dustproof housing, a large-sized transmitting coil wound with Litz wire, a resonant inverter driver board based on Qi, A4WP, or a custom protocol, a microprocessor controller, and a communication module (such as 4G, Ethernet, or LoRa) for communicating with the ground station. To assist in precise drone landing, the charging platform can integrate visual guidance markers (such as QR codes) or small radio beacons (such as Bluetooth beacons). The charging unit is powered by a wired power source (such as AC mains power) or a solar photovoltaic system and maintains a data connection with the ground control center via a network, receiving charging commands and reporting its own status. When the ground station determines that a drone needs charging based on a preset strategy (such as receiving a low battery alarm signal) or manual instructions, it can send coordinated commands to the drone and the designated charging unit to guide the drone to land and initiate the charging process.

[0067] By deploying a distributed power replenishment network, the bottleneck of single-unit endurance has been completely resolved, enabling drones to operate continuously across shifts and day and night within a wide area of ​​the power plant, like "mobile robots," achieving a qualitative leap from "single flight" to "continuous presence." Furthermore, the ground station can intelligently plan optimal inspection zones and loop paths for multiple drones based on the location of replenishment points, ensuring efficient coverage of the entire power plant area and avoiding efficiency losses caused by excessively long return-to-recharge distances.

[0068] The intelligent inspection system for power plants also includes: Multiple wireless repeaters are installed in the power plant to form a relay network covering a preset area within the power plant; the multiple wireless repeaters are used to relay data interaction between the communication module 60 and the ground station.

[0069] Multiple wireless repeaters are strategically positioned at different locations within the power plant (e.g., on the tops of tall buildings, between adjacent plant buildings, and at entrances to underground facilities) based on the plant's architectural layout and electromagnetic environment survey. They are interconnected wirelessly or via wired connections, forming a redundant relay network covering all pre-defined inspection areas within the power plant. The core function of these multiple wireless repeaters is to relay all data interactions between the communication module 60 on the UAV and the ground station, including but not limited to: flight commands, telemetry data (position, attitude), real-time high-definition images / videos, and power alarm signals.

[0070] A wireless repeater is typically an industrial-grade wireless access point or mesh node device. It contains at least two wireless radio frequency modules (e.g., one for communicating with drones, and another for communicating with the network backbone or neighboring repeaters), a high-performance antenna, a network switching chip, and an embedded operating system. They form a wireless mesh network via an ad hoc networking protocol. Each repeater is a node that can automatically discover neighboring nodes and dynamically select the optimal path to forward data to the core gateway connecting to the ground station.

[0071] The power plant environment contains numerous reinforced concrete structures, which severely shield radio signals. The establishment of a relay grid ensures that the command and control links with the control center remain uninterrupted no matter where the drone flies within the plant area, completely preventing drone loss of control, communication breakdowns, or mission interruptions due to signal loss. This is another key safety guarantee for achieving fully automated inspections. Stable, high-bandwidth links ensure that high-definition visible light video and infrared thermal imaging video collected by the drones can be transmitted back to the ground station in real time for analysis and storage. This prevents the loss of critical fault symptom images due to signal interruptions, providing a complete data foundation for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis. Furthermore, this gridded communication architecture is easily scalable. When the power plant expands or inspection needs increase, new repeaters can be deployed in the new areas to seamlessly integrate with the existing network without modifying the core architecture.

[0072] The above description is only an optional embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. All equivalent structural transformations made under the inventive concept of the present utility model using the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A smart inspection drone for power plants, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection drone for power plants includes: a communication module, a position and attitude detection module, a power unit, a flight control module, a control module, and a camera module; The control module is connected to the communication module, flight control module, position and attitude detection module, and camera module respectively; the flight control module is connected to the position and attitude detection module and the power unit respectively. The position and attitude detection module is used to detect the position and attitude information of the power plant intelligent inspection drone and output it to the flight control module and the control module. The control module interacts with the ground station via the communication module; When the control module receives a flight command from the ground station, it outputs the flight command to the flight control module. The flight control module is used to control the movement of the power unit upon receiving the flight command, so as to fly according to the flight path corresponding to the flight command; The power unit includes: a rotor and an electric motor; The control module is also used to output a shooting signal to the camera module when the intelligent inspection drone reaches the position corresponding to the flight command; The camera module takes a picture when it receives a signal and outputs the photo data to the control module.

2. The intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The camera module includes: an infrared camera and a visible light camera; The infrared camera is used to capture infrared images / videos and output them to the control module; The visible light camera is used to capture visible light images / visible light videos and output them to the control module.

3. The intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection drone for power plants also includes: A speaker, connected to the control module; The control module is also used to control the speaker to play a voice signal corresponding to the voice playback command when it receives a voice playback command from the ground station.

4. The intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection drone for power plants also includes: A searchlight, connected to the control module; An energy storage module is connected to the searchlight and supplies power to the searchlight; The control module is also used to control the searchlight to emit light signals when it receives a searchlight command from the ground station.

5. The intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection drone for power plants also includes: A photosensitive sensor is connected to the control module; the photosensitive sensor is located outside the illumination range of the searchlight. The photosensitive sensor is used to detect the light intensity of the surrounding environment and output the result to the control module; The control module controls the searchlight to emit a light signal when the light intensity is lower than or equal to a preset threshold.

6. The intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection drone for power plants also includes: The battery module is connected to the communication module, position and attitude detection module, power unit, flight control module, control module and camera module respectively, and provides corresponding operating voltages to the communication module, position and attitude detection module, power unit, flight control module, control module and camera module respectively; A wireless transmission coil is connected to the battery module.

7. The intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection drone for power plants also includes: A power detection circuit, with its detection end connected to the battery module and its output end connected to the control module; The power detection circuit is used to detect the power of the battery module and output it to the control module; The control module is also used to output a power alarm signal to the ground station when the power level is lower than or equal to a preset power level value.

8. A power plant intelligent inspection system, characterized in that, The intelligent power plant inspection system includes a ground station and an intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The intelligent power plant inspection system as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Including the intelligent power plant inspection drone as described in claim 6 or claim 7; The intelligent inspection system for power plants also includes: Multiple power replenishment devices are installed at multiple preset locations in the power plant, one for each device; each power replenishment device is equipped with a transmitting coil. The control module is also used to output the location information to the ground station; When the power plant intelligent inspection drone lands on the energy replenishment device, the ground station outputs a charging command to the energy replenishment device; Upon receiving the charging command, the power replenishment device emits energy through the transmitting coil to wirelessly charge the power plant intelligent inspection drone.

10. The intelligent power plant inspection system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The intelligent inspection system for power plants also includes: Multiple wireless repeaters are installed in the power plant to form a relay network covering a preset area within the power plant; the multiple wireless repeaters are used to relay data interaction between the communication module and the ground station.

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