UAV Gas Sampling Tube Control for Ground-Level Emission Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for collecting ground-level gas samples require human operators to manually traverse challenging terrain, posing safety risks and inefficiencies due to the need for continuous serpentine patterns and precise sampling over large areas, which can be hazardous and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system equipped with a pump/detector combination, geolocation unit, imager, and controller that flies over a tract of interest, collecting gas samples continuously or intermittently while navigating terrain with a flexible sampling tube and adjusting altitude to maintain precise sampling proximity to the ground, allowing for efficient and safe data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a human operator manually traverses terrain to collect ground-level gas samples, then sampling can be performed with precise spatial control, but operator safety is compromised and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual human traversal with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that autonomously flies over the terrain. The UAV carries a sampling tube and pump system that mechanically collects gas samples without requiring human physical presence in hazardous areas, thereby maintaining spatial sampling precision while eliminating operator safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a UAV as an intermediary between the operator and the hazardous environment. The UAV acts as a mediator that performs the dangerous task of traversing challenging terrain and collecting samples, allowing the operator to remain safely remote while still achieving precise spatial control through GPS-guided flight paths and controlled sampling locations.
2Reliability
If continuous serpentine sampling patterns are used to cover large areas, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but time consumption and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic flight path planning that adapts the serpentine sampling pattern to the specific terrain and regulatory requirements. The UAV can adjust its speed, altitude, and path spacing in real-time based on GPS location and pre-programmed parameters, maintaining compliance with the 5-meter spacing requirement while optimizing coverage speed and reducing unnecessary maneuvers compared to manual sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous sampling operation throughout the flight path, with the pump system continuously drawing gas samples through the sampling tube as the UAV moves. This eliminates the start-stop nature of manual sampling and allows uninterrupted data collection across the entire tract, significantly reducing total sampling time while maintaining regulatory compliance through continuous spatial coverage.
3Measurement precision
If manual positioning of sampling tube is performed by operator, then precise sample location control is achieved, but operator exposure to hazardous conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual operator positioning with an automated positioning system on the UAV that uses GPS coordinates and flight control algorithms to precisely locate and sample at predetermined points. The sampling tube is mechanically positioned and oriented by the UAV's flight path and attitude control systems, achieving the same spatial precision as manual positioning without exposing any operator to hazardous conditions such as thorny vegetation, unstable terrain, or high gas concentration areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service positioning where the UAV autonomously navigates to sampling locations and positions the sampling tube without human intervention. The system uses onboard sensors, GPS, and flight control to automatically achieve precise sample location control, eliminating the need for operator presence in hazardous environments while maintaining the required spatial accuracy for regulatory compliance.
4Measurement precision
If sampling density is increased to improve data fidelity, then detection accuracy improves, but operational complexity and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of sampling density parameters during flight operations. The system can modify the spacing between sampling points, the flight speed, and the number of passes based on detected gas concentrations and pre-defined thresholds. This allows increased sampling density in areas of interest (such as where high methane concentrations are detected) while maintaining lower density in low-risk areas, thereby improving detection accuracy without uniformly increasing operational complexity across the entire tract.
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 UAV system enables efficient, safe, and precise collection of ground-level gas samples, reducing operator risk and increasing sampling density, with the ability to navigate varied terrain and locate gas emission sources with high accuracy, improving compliance with regulatory requirements and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The pump/detector combination is configured to draw gas samples from a distal end of the tube to the detector
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle detector includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a pump/detector combination on the unmanned aerial vehicle and a tube including a rigid section and a flexible section. The tube is connected at a proximal end to the pump/detector combination. The pump/detector combination is configured to draw gas samples from a distal end of the tube to the detector and to detect a level of a gas drawn from within a prescribed distance above ground level.