Drone-Robot Building Inspection for Suspected Damage Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual building inspections are costly and time-consuming, and existing automated systems lack the ability to efficiently inspect both exterior and interior environments of buildings, particularly in structures like windmills where extreme weather conditions and accessibility issues complicate the assessment of environmental conditions and equipment performance.
Innovation Solution
A building quality inspection system comprising a controller, a drone, and a robot that are communicably connected to perform visual inspections of exterior and interior environments, with the drone collecting data on exterior conditions and the robot conducting close inspections of suspected damage sites, while also monitoring human comfort and environmental quality attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection is performed by human inspectors, then inspection accuracy can be maintained through human judgment, but inspection cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system is segmented into multiple specialized components: drone for aerial exterior inspection, robot for ground-level detailed inspection, and controller for coordinating operations. Each component performs specific inspection tasks, allowing parallel execution of multiple inspection activities simultaneously, thus improving overall efficiency while maintaining accuracy through specialized functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with automated systems equipped with sensors, cameras, and data processing capabilities. The drone and robot use optical sensors, thermal imaging, and other detection devices to capture inspection data, which is then processed automatically, eliminating the need for human inspectors while maintaining or improving inspection accuracy
2Productivity
If automated inspection systems are introduced, then inspection efficiency and cost-effectiveness improve, but the ability to inspect both exterior and interior environments comprehensively is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by combining multiple inspection platforms (drone and robot) that can handle different inspection scenarios. The drone inspects exterior surfaces, roofs, and hard-to-reach areas, while the robot inspects ground-level exterior areas and interior environments. This multi-functional approach allows comprehensive inspection coverage without sacrificing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the drone, robot, and inspection objectives. It receives inspection objectives, assigns tasks to appropriate devices based on their capabilities, and integrates data from both exterior and interior inspections, enabling comprehensive inspection coverage through coordinated operation of multiple specialized devices
3Stability of the object's composition
If structures are overbuilt with additional shading, insulation and shelter, then interior environmental stability improves, but manufacturing cost, installation cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system enables self-service by providing detailed data on the actual condition of building exteriors and interiors, including identification of specific areas needing maintenance or improvement. This information allows building owners to make targeted investments in environmental control measures only where needed, rather than overbuilding throughout, thus reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs while maintaining necessary environmental stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback on the actual performance and condition of building structures through comprehensive inspection data. This feedback mechanism allows for evidence-based decision-making regarding environmental control investments, enabling optimization of shading, insulation, and shelter placements based on actual measured conditions rather than assumptions, thereby reducing unnecessary construction costs
4Loss of information
If dynamic monitoring of environmental conditions is implemented, then understanding of environmental performance and equipment operation improves, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into specialized sensing components on the drone and robot, each equipped with sensors for specific environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, air quality, structural conditions). This segmentation allows collection of diverse environmental data without requiring a single complex system, as each sensor module is relatively simple and can be independently managed and processed
Data Source
AI summary
A building quality inspection system includes a controller, a drone, and a robot that are communicably connected to one another. The controller includes circuitry configured to, when exterior of a building is inspected, sends an inspection objective to the drone to instruct the drone to carry out a visual inspection of the exterior of the building, receives inspection data collected by the drone during the visual inspection of the exterior of the building, extracts a location where damage is suspected from the inspection data collected by the drone, sends the location where damage is suspected to the robot to carry out an exterior inspection at the location where damage is suspected, receives inspection data collected by the robot during the exterior inspection, and determines current quality of the exterior of the building based on the inspection data collected by the drone and the robot.