Submersible Inspection Drone Wireless Communication in Transformers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems for submersible inspection devices, such as drones used for evaluating electrical transformers, face challenges in reliable and efficient data transmission and control within liquid-filled environments, particularly in preventing signal interference and maintaining stable communication.
Innovation Solution
A submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system equipped with wireless communication capabilities, including a transmitter and receiver, allows for the transmission of inspection images and sensor data through a liquid environment, using various frequencies and protocols, and an input/output selector to manage camera feeds, enabling reliable control and data transfer from within a sealed transformer tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented for submersible inspection devices in liquid-filled environments, then real-time monitoring and control capabilities are improved, but signal interference and communication stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid-filled sealed enclosure (transformer tank) as an intermediary environment that contains the submersible inspection device and its wireless communication system. This sealed environment isolates the communication signals from external interference while allowing the device to operate remotely within the liquid-filled space, thus maintaining communication stability while enabling real-time monitoring and control capabilities
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are used on the submersible device to capture comprehensive inspection images, then inspection coverage and capability are improved, but device complexity and data transmission requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inspection system into multiple independent camera units positioned at different locations on the submersible device. Each camera captures images from its specific viewpoint, and the images are transmitted separately through the wireless communication system. This segmentation allows comprehensive inspection coverage while keeping each camera unit simple and manageable, reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple camera feeds into a unified wireless transmission system that sends images from all cameras to a remote receiver. The receiver integrates the multiple image streams, providing comprehensive inspection data through a single communication channel. This merging approach maintains versatile inspection capability while simplifying the transmission architecture
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 reliable and efficient wireless communication for submersible inspection drones, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of transformer components, reducing the need for physical access and enhancing inspection capabilities within sealed environments.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter (74) structured to transmit the signal composed by the input/output selector circuit (78) related to the scene of electromagnetic energy
Data Source
AI summary
A submersible inspection drone used for inspection of liquid cooled electrical transformers can include a number of separate cameras for imaging the internal structure of the transformer. The submersible can be configured to communicate to a base station using a wireless transmitter and receiver. The cameras on the submersible can be fixed in place and can be either static or motion picture cameras. The submersible can include an input/output selector capable of switching between the camera images, either through commanded action of a user or through computer based switching. In one form the input/output selector is a multiplexer. The base station can be configured to display images from the cameras one at a time, or can include a number of separate viewing portals in which real time images are displayed. The base station can include a demultiplexer synchronized to the multiplexer of the submersible.