Object Inspection Path Planning With Absolute Coordinates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone-based inspection systems for objects, such as wind turbines, rely on manual control, which is inefficient and prone to errors due to the difficulty in maintaining a consistent distance and alignment, especially at large heights, leading to inaccurate defect detection and measurement.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine a path along an object using absolute coordinates, allowing a movable capturing unit to automatically inspect the object by converting relative coordinates to absolute GPS coordinates, enabling precise positioning and alignment, and adapting to the object's movement in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control is used for drone-based inspection, then the pilot can control the camera and drone, but the position monitoring is only visual and the distance/alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated computer-controlled system. The calculating unit automatically determines the path based on 3D model data and GPS coordinates, substituting the pilot's manual control mechanisms with electronic automation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation through automated control while dramatically improving measurement precision through computer-calculated positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the drone to autonomously navigate and position itself along the object using pre-calculated paths stored in memory. The drone self-corrects its position based on GPS data and pre-determined path coordinates, eliminating the need for continuous manual intervention while maintaining precise alignment and distance control throughout the inspection.
2Ease of operation
If the drone is controlled manually from ground level, then the pilot can operate the camera, but monitoring objects at large heights becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations to determine the complete inspection path before the drone begins its flight. The calculating unit processes the 3D model and GPS data to pre-calculate all positioning points and camera angles. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time manual adjustments during flight, significantly reducing monitoring time and enabling efficient re-inspection of specific locations by simply replaying the pre-calculated path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pilot's visual monitoring and manual control system with an automated computer-controlled navigation system. The computer automatically manages camera positioning and drone navigation based on pre-calculated paths, eliminating the time loss associated with manual tracking and control adjustments, especially when re-inspecting locations at great heights.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the path is determined manually without absolute coordinates, then the drone can be controlled flexibly, but the positioning accuracy and consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified automated control system. The calculating unit simultaneously handles path calculation, position determination using absolute GPS coordinates, and camera alignment control. This universal system maintains flexibility by allowing adaptation to different objects and inspection requirements while ensuring consistent positioning accuracy through computer-calculated coordinates throughout all operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual path determination with an automated computer-based system that uses absolute GPS coordinates and 3D model data. This substitution maintains flexibility through programmable path adjustment while dramatically improving positioning accuracy by relying on precise satellite-based coordinate systems and computer-calculated trajectories rather than manual estimation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining a path along an object includes a step of “determining a reference point of the object in absolute coordinates”, a step of “ascertaining a set of points of the object in absolute coordinates on the basis of further points of the object within a relative coordinate system, conversion of the further points of the object to the absolute coordinate system being effected on the basis of the reference point of the object”, and a step of “determining the path along the object on the basis of the set of points of the object, so that the path extends at a distance from the object”.