Composite Image Flight Control for Hovering Bridge Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inspecting structures like bridges require manual setup of scaffolds, lane closures, and significant resources, which are costly and disruptive, 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, capturing images and allowing intuitive user operation through a control terminal that generates composite images for designating inspection areas, reducing the need for manual setup and lane closures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual inspection methods using scaffolds and tripods are used, then inspection can be performed with simple equipment, but it requires extensive manual setup, lane closures, and significant resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection systems (scaffolds, tripods, manual camera operation) with an automated aerial vehicle that performs inspection autonomously. The vehicle captures images and the system automatically generates composite images, eliminating the need for manual setup and lane closures while reducing inspection preparation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention for setup and execution. The aerial vehicle navigates and captures images automatically, and the composite image generation is performed automatically by the control device, making the system self-service oriented and eliminating dependency on manual labor and resource allocation.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple images are captured and combined into a composite image, then inspection coverage is improved, but image processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device integrates multiple functions including image capture coordination, image alignment, composite image generation, and defect detection into a single unified system. This multi-functional approach expands inspection coverage area while managing processing complexity through integrated design rather than separate independent systems.
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.