In-Wall Drone Guide for Hidden Hazard Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building monitoring systems primarily focus on usable spaces and neglect areas behind walls, where damage from termites, radon, or other hazards can occur without visible indicators, compromising structural integrity and habitability.
Innovation Solution
Deployment of drones within building walls to monitor variables like noise, humidity, and temperature, using sensors and a guide rail system for data collection and reporting deviations to external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional monitoring systems are used, then monitoring of usable spaces is achieved, but areas behind walls remain unmonitored where hidden hazards can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions monitoring from the traditional two-dimensional occupied space to the three-dimensional wall cavity environment. The drone navigates within wall spaces, enabling detection of hidden hazards such as termites, moisture, and structural issues that conventional surface-level sensors cannot detect.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous drone serves as an intermediary between the hidden wall cavity environment and the external monitoring system. It carries sensors into the wall space, collects data on humidity, temperature, and structural conditions, and transmits this information externally, bridging the gap between inaccessible hidden areas and visible monitoring points.
2Loss of information
If drones are deployed within walls, then hidden hazards can be detected, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is designed as a multi-functional device that performs navigation, environmental sensing (humidity, temperature, gas detection), structural monitoring, and wireless communication within a single platform. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to deploying separate specialized devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone operates autonomously within the wall cavity, navigating independently and performing self-diagnosis and self-monitoring. It returns to its base station for recharging and data transfer without requiring manual intervention, reducing the operational complexity for building occupants and maintenance personnel.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then early hazard detection is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drone implements periodic monitoring cycles, returning to its base station at regular intervals to recharge and transmit data. This periodic operation allows for continuous surveillance coverage while managing energy consumption through scheduled rather than constant operation, balancing detection reliability with power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring capability through the drone's repeated cycles of deployment, data collection, return, and recharging. While the drone itself operates intermittently, the monitoring function remains continuous as the drone can be rapidly redeployed, ensuring no gaps in hazard detection while allowing energy recharge periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein including a monitoring system for a building including an in-wall guide for a drone, the in-wall guide extending behind at least one wall from a first location to a second location and a power delivery circuit in, or adjacent, the in-wall guide.