Rotating Container Imaging Unit for Bulk Vehicle Interior Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inspection methods for the inner surfaces of bulk transport vehicle storage containers are inefficient and inaccurate due to the uniform color of protective coatings, making damage detection difficult, and require manual entry, leading to transportation and processing delays and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
An automated, self-contained imaging system with a rotating camera unit and lidar sensors that takes high-resolution images of the inner surfaces, adjusting focus and lighting based on distance measurements to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection by persons is used, then inspection can be performed, but it requires significant time and leads to transportation and processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated imaging system that uses cameras and computer vision technology to capture and analyze images of the storage container interior, eliminating the need for persons to physically enter and inspect the container while maintaining inspection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies (images) of the storage container interior surfaces and uses these copies for inspection analysis, allowing remote examination without physical presence and enabling rapid automated assessment of coating conditions
2Measurement precision
If visual inspection or standard cameras are used, then inspection can be performed, but the uniform color of protective coating makes damage detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs imaging systems with enhanced color sensitivity and image processing algorithms that can detect subtle color variations, discoloration, and reflectivity changes on the uniform protective coating surface, enabling identification of wear, damage, and coating defects that are invisible to the human eye
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the inspection parameters by using multiple spectral bands, lighting angles, and image processing metrics to detect surface conditions, converting subtle physical changes in the coating into detectable signal variations that reveal damage despite the uniform appearance
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
The system efficiently and accurately inspects the cleanliness and structural integrity of storage containers without manual intervention, reducing delays and costs by providing detailed, high-resolution images of the inner surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the camera unit is rotated about the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis to a designated position within the storage container
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging unit is provided and placed in an access opening of a storage container of a transport vehicle, where the imaging unit includes a mounting assembly including an upper member and a mounting arm extending from the upper member, the upper member configured to rotate the mounting arm about a longitudinal axis and a camera unit rotatably attached to the mounting arm and configured to rotate about a lateral axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, where the camera unit is rotated about the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis to a designated position within the storage container and takes at least one image of the inner surfaces of the storage container.