Ring-Mounted CCD Tunnel Imaging for Real-Time Lining Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tunnel inspection methods rely on manual operations, leading to inefficiency, low accuracy, and long time-consuming processes, with existing automatic systems being costly, having limited detection ranges, and failing to ensure timely and comprehensive inspection.
Innovation Solution
A tunnel-inspection system with a plurality of CCD cameras fixed on a common ring at the tunnel's center, synchronized with auxiliary light sources, mounted on a mobile platform, enabling 360° coverage and real-time image processing, splicing, and disease identification, with modular design for easy transport and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple CCD cameras are arranged at different positions, then the detection range is improved, but the image processing complexity increases due to varying distances and angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions multiple CCD cameras on a circular arc with the tunnel center as the center, ensuring that all cameras are equidistant from the tunnel lining. This equipotential arrangement eliminates the need for complex geometric corrections during image processing, as each camera captures images under identical geometric conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between expanded detection range and simplified image processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a circular arc arrangement for the CCD cameras, matching the curved geometry of the tunnel. This spheroidal configuration ensures that all cameras operate at the same radial distance from the tunnel center, creating uniform imaging conditions across the entire detection range and eliminating the need for complex distortion corrections that would otherwise be required with linear or irregular arrangements.
2Device complexity
If manual inspection operations are used, then the equipment cost is reduced, but the inspection efficiency and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple CCD cameras to capture optical copies of the tunnel lining from different positions simultaneously. These digital image copies are then processed by a computer to identify defects, replacing the need for manual visual inspection while maintaining equipment simplicity. This approach achieves automated inspection efficiency without requiring complex mechanical scanning systems or expensive specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection operations with an automated optical-digital system. Instead of inspectors physically moving through the tunnel and examining surfaces, the system uses CCD cameras to capture images and a computer to automatically analyze them, substituting mechanical human labor with automated sensing and processing while keeping the overall equipment configuration relatively simple.
3Measurement precision
If all tunnel images are collected before processing, then the image quality is improved, but the inspection time increases due to sequential processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges multiple CCD cameras to simultaneously capture images of different tunnel sections in advance, before any processing occurs. This preliminary parallel data collection ensures that all necessary image data is captured with high quality, and the subsequent processing can proceed without waiting for sequential image acquisition, thereby reducing total inspection time while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous parallel operation where multiple CCD cameras continuously capture images simultaneously as the inspection system moves through the tunnel. This continuous parallel data acquisition eliminates idle time between image captures and allows processing to occur on multiple image streams concurrently, maintaining high image quality while minimizing inspection time through uninterrupted simultaneous operation.
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
Facilitates high-accuracy, real-time inspection with reduced image deformation, large detection range, and efficient disease recognition, allowing on-site processing and timely notification of defects.
Implementation Method 1
with the LED array light source, a light band with uniform brightness may be formed on a tunnel wall
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of CCD cameras are configured and the plurality of CCD cameras are fixed on the same ring
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
Disclosed are a tunnel-inspection image acquisition device, a tunnel-inspection system and a tunnel-inspection method. With a plurality of CCD cameras, a plurality of auxiliary light sources and a fixing bracket, wherein the CCD cameras and the auxiliary light sources are fixed on the fixing bracket, and the plurality of CCD cameras are fixed on the same ring, a center of the ring is located at a center of a circle of the tunnel in working condition, distances between the plurality of CCD cameras and a tunnel lining are the same and overall shooting angles of the plurality of CCD cameras cover a range of the tunnel lining; meanwhile, with the cooperation of a computer, a monitor, a synchronous encoder and a data collector on a defect detecting mobile platform, functions such as the synchronous shooting, the disease identification, the real-time splicing and display of the tunnel can be achieved. In this design, the invention has the technical characteristics of simple structure, large detection range, high timeliness, fast detection speed, high recognition accuracy, accurate inspection positioning, clear captured images and the like.