Interactive Inspection Maps With Data Validity for Inspection Robots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection and treatment systems for industrial surfaces face challenges such as hazardous environments, incomplete inspections, human error, and the need for system shutdowns, which result in inconvenient and potentially dangerous operations.
Innovation Solution
A modular inspection robot with selectively couplable drive assemblies and payloads, equipped with diverse sensors and environmental capabilities, generates interactive inspection maps and operates in hostile environments with reduced footprint for improved surface climbing and horizontal range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If personnel manually inspect industrial surfaces in hazardous environments, then inspection can be performed with simple equipment, but personnel safety is compromised and inspection completeness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection robot autonomously navigates, inspects, and maps industrial surfaces without requiring human operators to enter hazardous environments. The system self-manages navigation, data collection, and inspection tasks, eliminating personnel exposure to dangers while maintaining inspection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection methods with an automated robotic system equipped with sensors, processors, and communication modules. This substitution eliminates the need for personnel to physically traverse hazardous areas while providing more comprehensive and consistent inspection capabilities
2Reliability
If system shutdown is required for inspection, then inspection can be performed with basic safety procedures, but productivity is reduced due to system downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection robot enables continuous operation by inspecting industrial surfaces during normal system operation rather than requiring shutdowns. The robotic system can navigate and collect data while the facility remains operational, eliminating productivity losses associated with system downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic inspection system acts as an intermediary that can operate in hazardous environments without requiring the main system to shut down. It mediates between the need for safe inspection and the need for continuous production by performing inspections independently while the facility remains operational
3Measurement precision
If inspection maps are generated in real-time with detailed data, then inspection accuracy is improved, but data processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes and organizes inspection data during data collection, structuring information as it is gathered rather than processing all raw data after inspection completion. This preliminary organization reduces the computational burden and time required for subsequent analysis while maintaining data accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by continuously processing and displaying inspection data during the inspection process. This allows for immediate validation of data quality and enables adjustments to be made during inspection, reducing the need for re-inspection and overall processing time
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface inspected by an inspection robot includes an inspection circuit structured to interpret inspection data of the inspection surface from the inspection robot and a user interaction circuit structured to interpret a user focus value from a user device. The user focus value includes an activation state value. The system further includes an inspection visualization circuit structured to provide the interactive inspection map to the user device in response to the user focus value. The interactive inspection map is based on the inspection data. Also, the system includes an inspection data validation circuit that determines an inspection data validity description of the inspection data. The inspection data validity description is provided as a display layer on the interactive inspection map to indicate whether the inspection data is valid.