UAV Fiber-Optic Sensing Dock for Autonomous Remote Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributed fiber-optic sensing technologies require manual operations and the presence of experienced personnel in remote environments, limiting efficiency and accessibility for measurements such as temperature, strain, and acoustic data.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an interrogator unit that communicatively couples with a fiber optic cable, allowing for autonomous acquisition of distributed fiber-optic sensing measurements by sending light pulses and receiving backscattered signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operations are used for distributed fiber-optic sensing measurements, then experienced personnel can perform measurements, but the presence of personnel and vehicles in remote environments is required, reducing efficiency and accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables autonomous self-service operation through the UAV that automatically navigates to the target location, lands on the landing dock, establishes fiber optic connection, performs measurements, and returns without human intervention. The interrogator unit on the UAV autonomously sends light pulses and processes backscattered signals to generate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing dock serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates automatic coupling between the UAV and the fiber optic cable. It provides the mechanical interface and alignment features that enable the UAV to connect to the fiber optic network without manual assistance, bridging the gap between aerial platform and ground-based sensing infrastructure.
2Productivity
If manual operations are used for distributed fiber-optic sensing measurements, then measurements can be acquired, but the requirement for experienced personnel in remote environments limits efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV system performs all operations autonomously including navigation, landing, connection establishment, measurement acquisition, and data generation without requiring skilled operators to travel to remote locations. This eliminates the need for experienced personnel while maintaining measurement quality and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual operation with an automated aerial robotic system. The UAV with integrated interrogator unit substitutes human operators and ground-based vehicles, using automated flight control and robotic landing mechanisms to perform measurements that previously required skilled personnel.
3Device complexity
If manual operations are used for distributed fiber-optic sensing measurements, then measurements can be acquired, but operation vehicles are required to house equipment, increasing logistical requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the interrogator unit, laser pulse generator, backscattered light detector, and measurement processing system into a single integrated package mounted on the UAV. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate operation vehicles and equipment trailers, reducing logistical requirements while accelerating deployment speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from ground-based vehicle operations to aerial operations, moving the measurement system into the third dimension. The UAV launches from a remote location, hovers or lands briefly to perform measurements, and then departs, eliminating the need for extensive ground logistics and vehicle deployment while improving access to remote areas.
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
This solution enables efficient and automated data acquisition in remote areas, reducing the need for manual operations and minimizing the requirement for experienced personnel, while also allowing for real-time monitoring and analysis of field measurements.
Implementation Method 1
sends a series of laser light pulses into the optical fiber and records the backscattered light signal with respect to time
Implementation Method 2
distributed fiber-optic sensing is a measurement technique that uses optical fibers as the sensing element
Data Source
AI summary
A method to perform measurements of a field is disclosed. The method includes disposing a landing dock at a target location in the field, the landing dock being coupled to a fiber optic cable for distributed fiber-optic sensing measurement, directing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to land on the landing dock, the UAV including an interrogator unit, communicatively coupling, in response to the UAV landing on the landing dock, the interrogator unit and the fiber optic cable, sending, by the interrogator unit, a light pulse to the fiber optic cable, receiving, by the interrogator unit and in response to sending the light pulse, a backscattered light signal from the fiber optic cable, and generating, by the interrogator unit and based on the received backscattered light signal, a measurement of the target location.