Drone Inspection Timing Determination via Flight Plan History Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial vehicle management techniques lack an efficient method to determine the optimal timing for inspections, leading to unnecessary frequent inspections and potential performance degradation due to undetected component deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An information-processing device that acquires flight plans and histories, calculates differences between them, and determines inspection timings based on these differences, accounting for factors like collision avoidance, weather, and flight plan difficulty, to minimize unnecessary inspections and ensure timely maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inspections are performed frequently to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to loss of operational time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of inspection timing from fixed periodic intervals to variable intervals based on accumulated flight hours and flight condition data. This allows inspections to be scheduled based on actual usage patterns rather than conservative fixed schedules, improving productivity while maintaining reliability through data-driven timing decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring flight history data, flight conditions, and component performance metrics to dynamically adjust inspection timing. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from actual operational patterns and optimize inspection schedules, reducing unnecessary inspections while ensuring safety when needed.
2Productivity
If inspections are delayed to extend operational life, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential component failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of flight history data and component wear patterns to predict optimal inspection timing before failures occur. By proactively scheduling inspections based on predicted component degradation trends rather than reacting to failures or using conservative fixed schedules, the system extends operational life while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection scheduling system transitions from static fixed intervals to dynamic timing based on actual component usage and degradation patterns. The system adapts inspection schedules in real-time based on monitored parameters such as flight hours, environmental conditions, and component performance, allowing extensions of operational life when conditions permit while ensuring safety when degradation is detected.
3Ease of operation
If inspections are performed based on fixed schedules, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to unnecessary inspections
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically analyzing flight history data and generating optimized inspection schedules without requiring manual intervention. The automated system processes flight data, applies analysis algorithms, and produces inspection recommendations, reducing the operational burden while minimizing unnecessary inspections and associated time losses.
4Productivity
If component deterioration is not detected, then productivity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to undetected performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual inspection mechanisms with automated data analysis systems that continuously monitor flight history and component performance metrics. This substitution enables continuous operation without interruption while simultaneously detecting performance degradation through automated analysis of operational data, maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Flight control unit and flight unit start flight in accordance with a flight plan. Flight history acquisition unit acquires a flight history of drone. Flight plan acquisition unit acquires a flight plan for drone. Inspection timing determination unit calculates a difference between the acquired flight plan and the acquired flight history, and based on the difference, determines an inspection timing for drone. Inspection timing notification unit provides notification of the determined inspection timing.