3D Sensor Inspection Support for Rebar Position Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for an inspection support apparatus that can facilitate the formulation of an inspection plan for checking if intended members are placed at predetermined positions using a three-dimensional sensor, especially for inspectors without sufficient experience who need to create plans urgently.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes an acquisition unit to gather information about the three-dimensional sensor, member specifications, and planned positions, a simulation unit to calculate distances and generate virtual point group data, and a determination unit to assess whether members can be distinguished based on the data variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an inspection plan is formulated by a skilled inspector relying on experience, then the inspection quality and reliability are improved, but the inspection plan formulation time increases and cannot meet urgent inspection needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidplan formulation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing optimal sensor installation positions and inspection routes in a database before actual inspection tasks. When an inspection plan is needed, the system quickly retrieves pre-computed plans based on the inspection target, eliminating the need for skilled inspectors to manually formulate plans from scratch and significantly reducing plan formulation time while maintaining high inspection quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary component - a database storing pre-computed inspection plans and optimal sensor positions - that mediates between the inspection requirements and the actual inspection execution. This intermediary allows inexperienced inspectors to access high-quality inspection plans without requiring extensive experience, thus maintaining reliability while reducing time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If an inexperienced inspector formulates an inspection plan urgently, then the inspection time loss is reduced, but the inspection quality and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplan formulation timeVSAvoidinspection quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing inexperienced inspectors to independently formulate high-quality inspection plans using the automated system. The inspector only needs to input basic inspection requirements, and the system automatically retrieves optimal plans from the database, calculates sensor positions, and generates complete inspection procedures without requiring the inspector's expertise, thus maintaining reliability while enabling urgent plan formulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the three-dimensional sensor is installed far from the inspection target, then the sensor placement flexibility increases, but the measurement precision of reinforcing bar positions and thicknesses deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor placement flexibilityVSAvoidreinforcing bar measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies parameter changes by calculating and determining optimal sensor installation positions based on multiple parameters including the inspection target characteristics, required measurement precision, and site constraints. The system evaluates different installation positions and selects the optimal one that achieves the necessary measurement precision for reinforcing bar inspection while considering placement flexibility requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables inspectors to easily formulate inspection plans, ensuring that intended members can be accurately identified at their predetermined positions, even by less experienced inspectors.

Implementation Method 1

a three-dimensional sensor configured to irradiate one or more members to be inspected with a beam and acquire point group data based on at least amplitude information of light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight amplitude detection: Light

Data Source

PatentUS12270766B2Inspection support apparatus, inspection support method, and computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 NEC CORP

AI summary

An inspection support apparatus (10) includes: an acquisition unit (11) configured to acquire information about specifications of a three-dimensional sensor, information about a shape and a planned placement position of each member to be inspected, and information about a planned installation position of the three-dimensional sensor; a simulation unit (12) configured to: calculate a distance between the planned placement position of each member and the planned installation position of the three-dimensional sensor based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit (11); generate virtual point group data, a plurality of times for each calculated distance and for each member; and obtains a range of variations of variances in a predetermined direction based on the virtual point group data, and a determination unit (13) configured to determine whether or not each member can be distinguished at the planned placement position thereof based on the above-described range of variations.