UAV NDI Support Arm With Compliant Surface Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-destructive inspection techniques using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack non-destructive inspection capabilities and maintenance assistance, being limited to visual inspection and simple IR thermography, and do not provide effective stand-off NDI or maintenance support for complex structures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a UAV equipped with a support arm and NDI scanning device, featuring a pivotally coupled compliant arm mechanism for secure attachment to structures using magnetic, vacuum, electrostatic, or gripper-based mechanisms, enabling the use of various sensors and maintenance tools for comprehensive non-destructive inspection and maintenance activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If in-person human based inspections are used, then inspection accuracy and maintenance capability are improved, but time consumption, cost, and danger to individuals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system performs autonomous NDI operations without requiring human presence at the inspection site. The UAV independently navigates to the structure, positions the support arm, applies the NDI sensor to the surface, and collects inspection data, thereby eliminating time-consuming human travel and setup while maintaining high inspection accuracy through automated sensor-based detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human inspection operations with an automated UAV-based system that uses NDI sensors to detect subsurface defects. The mechanical support arm with compliant members and attachment mechanisms substitutes for human hands and tools, enabling automated application of sensors to complex structures while reducing both time consumption and human exposure to dangerous environments
2Loss of time
If UAV delivery systems are used, then time consumption and danger are reduced, but non-destructive inspection capabilities and maintenance assistance are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV system is designed with multi-functionality, combining delivery capabilities with integrated NDI inspection and maintenance assistance functions. The support arm mechanism can accommodate various NDI sensors and maintenance tools, allowing the same platform to perform both material delivery and comprehensive inspection tasks, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing time consumption compared to separate human-based operations
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the UAV and the structure surface. It provides the necessary interface to apply NDI sensors and maintenance tools to complex geometries, enabling the UAV to perform sophisticated inspection tasks beyond simple visual observation. This intermediary mechanism restores NDI capability while maintaining the time efficiency of automated UAV operations
3Ease of operation
If simple visual inspection and IR thermography are used, then ease of operation is improved, but inspection precision and capability for complex structures deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm incorporates compliant members that provide dynamic adaptation to complex structure surfaces. The mechanism can adjust its configuration to conform to varying geometries, maintaining ease of operation through automated positioning while enabling precise NDI measurements on complex structures that static inspection methods cannot access effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between simple UAV operation and sophisticated NDI measurement. It provides the mechanical interface needed to apply sensors precisely to complex geometries while maintaining ease of operation through automated control, thereby enhancing inspection precision without sacrificing operational simplicity
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a nondestructive inspection ("NDI") system (100) that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle ("UAV") (102) comprising a body structure (204) and at least one support arm (502). The support arm (502) includes a first arm portion (504) having a first end coupled to the body structure (204) and a second end coupled to a second arm portion (506). The second arm portion (506) includes a first end coupled to the second end of the first arm portion (504) and a second end coupled to an NDI scanning device (104). The support arm (502) also includes a compliant member (210) disposed between the first arm portion (504) and the second arm portion (506). The NDI scanning device (104) includes one or more NDI sensors.