UAV Charging on Moving Platforms for Autonomous Offshore Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current offshore wind turbine inspection methods are costly, risky, and inefficient, requiring human intervention in harsh environments, with existing UAV charging systems being stationary and unable to operate from moving platforms, limiting the duration and frequency of inspections.
Innovation Solution
A heterogeneous unmanned team comprising an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can autonomously launch, land, and recharge on a moving platform, enabling persistent inspections and reducing human risk through precision landing and charging technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a stationary charging station is used for UAVs, then the UAV can be charged reliably, but the inspection frequency and operational duration are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the stationary charging station into a mobile platform that can move with the UAV. The charging station is mounted on a vehicle (boat, truck, or another UAV) that can dynamically reposition to match the UAV's location, enabling continuous operations without returning to a fixed base.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile platform as an intermediary between the UAV and the ground-based infrastructure. This mobile platform carries the charging equipment and acts as a moving base that can follow the UAV throughout its inspection area, facilitating continuous recharging during extended operations.
2Reliability
If human inspectors are deployed to offshore wind turbines, then detailed inspections can be performed, but the risk to human safety increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs autonomous UAVs that can perform inspections independently without human intervention. The UAVs are equipped with sensors, cameras, and navigation systems that allow them to autonomously navigate to wind turbines, conduct inspections, capture data, and return for recharging, eliminating the need for humans to physically ascend turbines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human inspectors physically climbing turbines with an aerial robotic system. UAVs use their flight capabilities to access turbine structures from the air, avoiding the need for human exposure to hazardous conditions at heights.
3Ease of operation
If expert UAV pilots are used to operate drones from vessels, then the UAV can be controlled precisely, but the operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent equips UAVs with autonomous navigation and control systems that enable them to operate independently without requiring skilled pilots. The UAVs can autonomously navigate, maintain position, conduct inspections, and return to the mobile platform, transforming complex manual operations into automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters from manual control requiring expert pilots to automated control using sensors, GPS, and onboard computers. This parameter change shifts the system from requiring human expertise to relying on electronic control systems and algorithms.
4Ease of manufacture
If manual battery charging is used for UAVs, then the charging process is simple, but the inspection continuity is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous inspection operations by positioning the charging station on a mobile platform that can follow the UAV throughout its patrol area. The UAV can dock for rapid recharging during extended missions without returning to a fixed base, maintaining continuous operational capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system and method for automatically recharging a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a moving platform, comprising: a software module identifying the moving platform; a software module estimating a real-time state of the moving platform; a software module controlling automatic landing of the UAV on the moving platform based on the real-time state estimation of the moving platform and data collected from the one or more sensors; a software module controlling automatic connection of the UAV to a charging station of the moving platform with a pre-determined orientation; and a software module controlling automatic taking off of the UAV from the moving platform after charging.