Pipeline Inspection UAV for Confined Sewer Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting sewerage pipelines, such as direct visual observation and television camera usage, pose risks to human health and are inefficient due to mobility issues in water-filled environments.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with four rotary wings, a drive device, an imaging camera, and impact members, allowing it to fly and capture images inside closed spaces while controlling its attitude and navigating obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an investigator goes underground into the pipe for direct visual observation, then inspection can be performed, but there is a risk of influence on human body via poisonous gas and risk by inundation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an imaging camera to capture visual information inside the sewerage pipeline, creating a copy of the inspection scene that can be viewed remotely. This eliminates the need for investigators to physically enter hazardous environments while maintaining inspection capabilities through recorded or live video feeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human investigators with an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with imaging equipment. This substitution eliminates human exposure to poisonous gases and inundation risks while maintaining the inspection function through automated flight and imaging systems.
2Productivity
If a television camera is positioned inside the pipe connected via cable, then images can be taken, but sufficient inspection speed is not obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable connection requirement from the inspection system by using an unmanned aerial vehicle that transmits images wirelessly. This removes the constraint of cable-based image transmission and enables free movement throughout the pipeline at high speed without physical tether limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamically controllable unmanned aerial vehicle that can adjust its flight path, speed, and positioning within the pipeline. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize inspection speed and coverage area adaptively, unlike static cable-based camera systems.
3Productivity
If a self-propelled car with television camera is used inside the pipe, then images can be taken while running, but difficulty in controlling the car when water level rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the ground-based self-propelled car system with an aerial vehicle that operates in the air space above the pipeline bottom. This substitution eliminates the problem of water level interference, as the unmanned aerial vehicle maintains controllability regardless of water presence or level changes within the pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from ground-level operation to aerial operation, changing the operational dimension from the pipeline bottom surface to the three-dimensional air space within the pipeline. This dimensional change allows the system to operate above water levels and avoid the controllability issues that arise when water rises and obstructs ground-based vehicles.
4Reliability
If unmanned aerial vehicle flies inside closed-type space, then safe imaging is achieved, but control precision and stability are challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms in the control signal generation circuit that continuously monitor the unmanned aerial vehicle's position, orientation, and flight status within the confined pipeline space. This feedback enables real-time adjustments to maintain precise control and stable imaging despite the challenging enclosed environment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient imaging within sewerage pipelines without human intervention, maintaining mobility in water-filled conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an unmanned aerial vehicle having at least four rotary wings (rotors), a drive device that drives the rotary wings
Implementation Method 2
a thrust generation propeller and propels by rotations of the thrust generation propeller while floating by rotations of the at least four rotary wings
Implementation Method 3
an imaging camera... taking (capturing) images inside the closed-type space by means of the imaging camera
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient method for capturing images inside a confined space without the need for direct visual observation by an inspector. Provided is an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with at least four rotors, a drive device that drives the rotors, a control signal generation circuit that generates a control signal for causing the drive device to drive the rotors, and an imaging camera, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to fly within a confined space by driving the rotors while capturing images inside the confined space by means of the imaging camera.