Bridge Inspection Drone Working Zone Using 3D POI Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional drone inspection methods for bridges are inefficient and unsafe due to the reliance on manual control and the limitations of fixed-shaped electronic fences, which struggle to accurately fit irregular bridge structures.
Innovation Solution
A drone apparatus equipped with a communication device, positioning device, and flight controller that allows for 3D flight and the construction of a working zone by setting edge rules, calculating points of interest, and generating polyhedron units to create a customized working zone that fits the bridge, ensuring accurate and safe inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed-shaped electronic fence is used to limit drone inspection range, then the drone can be controlled to fly within a defined zone, but the electronic fence cannot accurately fit irregular bridge structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the working zone into multiple working zone units, each defined by edge rules and POIs. These units are then combined to form the complete working zone that accurately fits the irregular bridge structure, resolving the contradiction between precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static fixed-shaped electronic fence into a dynamic working zone that can be constructed and deployed based on actual bridge geometry. The working zone is built by combining multiple working zone units with dynamically determined POIs, allowing it to adapt to various irregular bridge shapes while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If manual inspection is used with inspectors close to bridge components, then visual inspection accuracy is improved, but public security risks and time-consuming operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a drone as an intermediary inspection tool that can approach bridge components closely without exposing human inspectors to danger. The drone captures images and data from close range, maintaining inspection accuracy while eliminating public security risks associated with manual close-range inspection.
3Ease of operation
If drone relies on human control for bridge inspection, then operational flexibility is maintained, but collision risk with bridge structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining the working zone and working zone units before the actual inspection flight. The edge rules and POIs are established in advance, creating boundaries that guide the drone's flight path and prevent collisions, while still allowing operational flexibility within the defined zone.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional electronic fence with fixed shape is used, then setup simplicity is maintained, but inspection accuracy for irregular bridges is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the working zone into multiple working zone units that can be independently defined and combined. This segmentation allows the system to maintain relative setup simplicity while achieving high inspection accuracy for irregular bridge structures, as each unit can be precisely fitted to specific bridge sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional fixed-shaped electronic fence to a three-dimensional working zone constructed from multiple working zone units. This dimensional change enables accurate representation of irregular bridge structures while maintaining a systematic setup process through the use of edge rules and POIs.
Data Source
AI summary
A drone apparatus and a method for deploying a drone working zone are provided. The drone apparatus includes an aircraft body, a communication device, a positioning device and a flight controller. The flight controller is configured to: set edge rules of a working zone unit used to construct a working zone for the drone apparatus to work around a bridge; control the aircraft body to fly along a target section selected in the bridge according to a control signal received by the communication device, and calculate positions of multiple points of interest (POIs) passed by during the flight using the positioning device; generate one working zone unit with positions of adjacent two of the POIs according to the edge rules of the working zone unit; and combine multiple working zone units generated by using positions of all the POIs to construct and deploy the working zone of the target section.