Cable Inspection Robot Laser Imaging for Overhead Line Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inspecting overhead transmission lines, such as manual inspection and unmanned aerial vehicle-assisted inspection, suffer from low accuracy and efficiency, and high risk due to environmental factors and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A cable inspection robot equipped with an imaging unit and a laser emission unit that emits parallel laser beams to form laser lines on the overhead line, allowing for image recognition and comparison with theoretical diameters to determine abnormalities, reducing the need for manual inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection is used to inspect overhead transmission lines, then the inspection can be performed with simple equipment, but the accuracy and efficiency are low and the risk is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated robotic system that uses laser emission and image processing. The cable inspection robot emits laser beams to create laser lines on the cable surface, captures images of these laser lines, and automatically analyzes them to detect cable abnormalities, eliminating the need for manual inspection while significantly improving accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces laser lines as an intermediary element to enable precise measurement. By projecting laser lines onto the cable surface and analyzing their distortion in captured images, the system can accurately detect cable diameter changes, strand scattering, and other abnormalities without direct physical contact or manual measurement.
2Reliability
If unmanned aerial vehicle auxiliary inspection is used, then the inspection can be performed remotely, but the accuracy is greatly affected by environmental factors such as light brightness change and cable reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic laser emission to create stable, controlled light patterns on the cable surface. The laser beams are emitted in specific patterns (parallel lines, concentric circles, or grids) that remain consistent regardless of ambient lighting conditions, allowing for reliable image capture and analysis in various environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light source from ambient natural light (which varies with environmental conditions) to controlled laser light with specific parameters (wavelength, intensity, pattern). This parameter change makes the inspection process insensitive to environmental factors like light brightness changes and cable reflection, significantly improving detection accuracy.
3Productivity
If traditional inspection methods are used, then the inspection process is simple, but the efficiency is low and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service inspection system where the robot autonomously navigates along the cable, emits laser beams, captures images, and processes the data to detect abnormalities. The system automatically compares measured cable dimensions against standard values and generates inspection reports without manual intervention, significantly improving inspection efficiency and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable inspection robot is designed as a multi-functional system that combines navigation, laser emission, image capture, image processing, and abnormality detection in a single platform. This universal design allows the system to perform complete inspection tasks autonomously, eliminating the need for separate manual operations and greatly enhancing inspection efficiency.
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 method significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of overhead line inspections while reducing risk by automatically detecting abnormalities through laser line diameter comparison, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
controlling the laser emission unit to emit N groups of parallel laser beams to the overhead line to form N parallel laser lines on the overhead line
Implementation Method 2
controlling the imaging unit to shoot the overhead line and the N parallel laser lines to acquire a target detection image
Implementation Method 3
calculating distances between all pixels of the j-th light strip centerline and the imaging unit by using a laser triangulation method
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an overhead line detection method and system based on a cable inspection robot. The cable inspection robot is suspended on the overhead line. An imaging unit and a laser emission unit are disposed at the front end of the cable inspection robot. The imaging unit is at a first angle to the overhead line. The laser emission unit is at a second angle to the overhead line. The overhead line detection method includes the following steps: controlling the laser emission unit to emit N groups of parallel laser beams to the overhead line to form N parallel laser lines on the overhead line; controlling the imaging unit to shoot the overhead line and the N parallel laser lines to acquire a target detection image; performing image recognition on the target detection image to acquire N laser line diameters corresponding to the N parallel laser lines on the overhead line; and comparing the N laser line diameters with theoretical line diameters at corresponding positions to determine whether the overhead line is abnormal. Therefore, the accuracy and efficiency of the inspection can be greatly improved, and the inspection risk can be reduced.