Autonomous Drone Truck Yard Status Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining accurate records of trucks and trailers in outdoor yards is a labor-intensive and potentially dangerous process, prone to inaccuracies, as it requires manual verification by personnel.
Innovation Solution
A drone system equipped with RFID readers, optical code readers, and data receivers for PCM/ECM modules, capable of navigating autonomously and detecting security breaches, damage, and error codes, to efficiently scan and record truck and trailer status, reducing human intervention and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual verification by personnel is used to check truck and trailer status, then human judgment and flexibility are maintained, but labor costs increase and safety risks arise from human exposure to hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an autonomous vehicle as an intermediary device between the inspection target (trucks and trailers) and human operators. This autonomous vehicle equipped with sensors, cameras, and diagnostic tools performs status verification tasks, serving as a mediator that eliminates direct human exposure to hazardous environments while maintaining inspection accuracy through automated detection systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical inspection process with an automated autonomous vehicle system. The autonomous vehicle uses electronic sensors, optical cameras, and computer vision algorithms to substitute human visual and physical inspection methods, thereby eliminating safety risks associated with human presence in hazardous areas while maintaining or improving verification accuracy
2Productivity
If manual inspection methods are used, then system complexity remains low, but productivity decreases due to labor-intensive processes
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle is designed with multi-functionality to perform various inspection tasks simultaneously - visual inspection using cameras, sensor-based detection, diagnostic readings, and navigation. This universal design allows a single system to handle multiple inspection functions that would otherwise require separate manual processes, thereby improving productivity while the complexity is managed through integrated control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicle operates independently without requiring continuous human intervention during inspection tasks. It autonomously navigates to targets, performs inspections, collects data, and returns information, effectively serving itself for the core inspection functions. This self-service capability significantly improves productivity by eliminating the need for manual operation while the complexity is contained within the autonomous control system
3Productivity
If automated drone systems are deployed for status determination, then productivity increases and safety improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system is segmented into distinct functional modules - navigation module, inspection module with sensors and cameras, data processing module, and communication module. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture, making the complex automated system more manageable while maintaining high productivity and safety benefits
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments relate to a drone system including a drone configured for navigation of an outdoor facility and equipped with an RFID reader, an optical code reader, and at least one of powertrain control module data receiver and an electronic control module data receiver. The system includes a computing system in communication with the drone.