Aircraft Inspection Control Using Image Line Target Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inspecting long objects like electric wires or pipes using aircraft, such as drones, is challenging due to the need to specify the target among multiple parallel wires or pipes, which can lead to errors in identification and inspection.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft control system that includes a display unit to show captured images, an input unit for users to draw lines on the images, a selection unit to identify the target, and a command generation unit to guide the aircraft to photograph the selected target while moving along it, facilitating accurate targeting and inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an inspector manually specifies an inspection target among multiple parallel electric wires or pipes, then the inspection can be performed, but the identification accuracy decreases and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a marker attachment unit, image capture unit, and processing unit. This intermediary automatically detects markers attached to electric wires or pipes, calculates their three-dimensional positions, and determines the inspection target based on proximity to the aircraft. This eliminates manual specification errors and improves identification accuracy.
2Productivity
If an aircraft inspects multiple parallel electric wires or pipes simultaneously, then inspection coverage increases, but the ability to specify and inspect individual targets decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of target specification with an automated optical and computational system. The image capture unit photographs markers, the processing unit calculates three-dimensional positions, and the system automatically determines the inspection target based on the closest marker to the aircraft. This substitution enables both high productivity and precise individual target specification.
3Productivity
If manual inspection methods are used for long objects like electric wires or pipes, then flexibility is maintained, but inspection efficiency and accuracy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service inspection system where the aircraft autonomously identifies inspection targets using markers attached to electric wires or pipes. The system automatically captures images, calculates three-dimensional positions, determines the closest marker to the aircraft, and executes inspection without human intervention. This enhances both efficiency and accuracy while maintaining the ability to inspect long objects.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft control apparatus (20) includes a display unit (210), a display (220), an input unit (230), a selection unit (240), and a command generation unit (250). The command generation unit (250) acquires an image that has been generated by an image capture unit (350) of an aircraft (30). The display unit (210) displays, on the display (220), the image acquired by the command generation unit (250). The image includes at least one electric wire or at least one pipe that could be an inspection target. The input unit (230) displays, according to an input from a user, a line within the image displayed on the display (220). The selection unit (240) selects an inspection target by use of the line displayed by the input unit (230). The command generation unit (250) generates command information for the aircraft to photograph the inspection target while moving along the inspection target, and transmitting the command information to the aircraft (30).