Composite Image Flight Control for Bridge Underside Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inspecting structures like bridges require manual scaffolding, lane closures, and safety concerns, making them costly and disruptive to traffic, especially when accessing hard-to-reach areas like bridge undersides.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a hovering camera equipped with an imaging device that performs automatic flights based on pre-set flight paths, captured images are stitched to create a composite image displayed on a control terminal, allowing users to intuitively designate flight paths and inspect structures without physical barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual scaffolding and lane closures are used for bridge inspection, then inspection safety and accessibility are improved, but construction cost and traffic disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual scaffolding systems with an aerial vehicle that can autonomously navigate and inspect bridge structures. The vehicle uses onboard imaging devices and composite image generation technology to perform inspections without requiring physical scaffolding, thereby eliminating the need for lane closures and reducing construction costs while maintaining inspection safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual composite model of the bridge structure by stitching together multiple images captured from different angles and positions. This composite image provides a comprehensive view of the bridge underside and hard-to-reach areas, enabling safe and cost-effective inspection without physical access requirements
2Ease of operation
If manual inspection methods are used for hard-to-reach areas, then inspection accessibility is improved, but inspection time and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an aerial vehicle that can dynamically position itself at various locations around the bridge structure, including hard-to-reach areas like the underside. The vehicle autonomously navigates to optimal imaging positions and captures images from multiple angles, enabling comprehensive inspection of inaccessible areas without requiring manual access and significantly reducing inspection time
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes multiple captured images into a single composite image that consolidates information from all viewing angles. This preliminary image stitching and processing allows inspectors to review complete bridge structures in one comprehensive view, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual inspection of multiple locations and reducing overall inspection time
3Loss of information
If composite image generation is implemented, then inspection comprehensiveness is improved, but image processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple images captured from different positions and angles into a single composite image that provides a comprehensive view of the entire bridge structure. This image stitching process consolidates information from multiple sources into one unified visual representation, enabling complete inspection coverage while managing processing complexity through automated algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system includes at least one imaging device attached to a vehicle and that captures multiple images, and a control circuit that generates a composite image from the multiple images and displays the composite image on a display unit. The vehicle is operated according to a user operation on a portion of the display unit on which the composite image is being displayed.