Drone-Mounted Sludge Detection With Hollow-Gauge Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining sludge levels in wastewater reservoirs are inaccurate and pose safety risks to operators, requiring multiple personnel and equipment handling, which can lead to economic and environmental costs due to premature or late cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An aerially controlled sludge level detection system using a drone to lower and raise a sludge level detection tool with a hollow gauge and analyzer, allowing for precise sludge and fluid sampling without human intervention, utilizing cameras and sensors for accurate measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual sampling with traditional gauges or mud probes is used, then sludge level measurement can be performed, but operator safety is compromised and measurement accuracy deteriorates due to boat movement and inability to remain stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a drone as an intermediary carrier to transport the sludge level detection tool into the reservoir. This eliminates the need for operators to be physically present in the reservoir on a boat, thereby removing safety risks while enabling accurate measurements through the drone's precise positioning and stable platform for the detection tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical boat-based sampling system with an aerial drone-based system. The drone uses aerial propulsion and positioning mechanisms instead of water-based boat navigation, eliminating the problems of boat movement and operator safety while providing a stable platform for accurate sludge level measurements.
2Reliability
If multiple personnel are deployed for manual sampling, then operational safety is improved, but operational complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drone-based system enables self-service operation where a single operator can control the drone and conduct sludge level measurements independently. The automated drone system performs the sampling task without requiring coordination of multiple personnel, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining safety through automated positioning and controlled descent/ascent of the detection tool.
3Ease of operation
If sonar/radar sensors are used, then measurement can be performed remotely, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to calibration difficulties and equipment sensitivity to boat movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the drone as an intermediary carrier that provides a stable, controllable platform for the sludge level detection tool. This eliminates the problem of boat movement affecting measurements, as the drone can maintain precise positioning through automated control systems, thereby achieving both remote operation and high measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces sonar/radar-based remote sensing with a direct physical sampling method using a drone-delivered detection tool. This substitution eliminates calibration difficulties associated with sonar/radar while providing accurate sludge level measurements through direct contact with the sludge, and the drone's precise positioning enables remote operation without compromising accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerially controlled sludge level detection system is for determining a sludge level in a wastewater reservoir. The system may have a drone and a sludge level detection tool suspended from the drone. The drone may be operable to lower the sludge level detection tool into the wastewater reservoir and raise the sludge level detection tool out of the wastewater reservoir. The sludge level detection tool may have a longitudinally extending gauge. At least a portion of the gauge at a distal end may be hollow to allow a volume of a fluid and a volume of the sludge from within the wastewater reservoir to enter the gauge when lowered into the wastewater reservoir. The sludge level detection tool may also have an analyzer connected to the gauge for analyzing the volume of the fluid and the volume of the sludge within the gauge.