UAV Site Survey Using AR and BIM for Consistent RF Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Site surveys for wireless fire alarm systems in buildings are inefficient and vary significantly based on the timing of system and device installation, lacking standardized recommendations, and involve manual, labor-intensive processes that are prone to errors and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for automated site surveys that integrate augmented reality and building information models to ensure consistent survey results, enabling real-time adjustments and obstacle avoidance, and providing augmented views of the building environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual site survey process is used with users carrying pole or ladder, then users can physically access all locations for testing, but the process becomes long and inefficient due to user fatigue and handling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of carrying poles and ladders with an automated robotic system. The robotic device autonomously navigates the building space, positions testing equipment, and collects data without human physical intervention, thereby eliminating user fatigue and handling difficulties while maintaining access to all testing locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system performs the site survey independently without requiring human operators to physically move equipment. The robot self-navigates, self-positions, and self-tests at various locations, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the labor-intensive manual process while improving productivity.
2Reliability
If site survey is conducted early when building is bare, then issues can be identified early, but survey results vary drastically from commissioning results due to changes in building infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables site surveys to be conducted at multiple stages (early when building is bare, and later when systems are installed) using automated robotic technology. This allows preliminary identification of potential issues early in construction, and subsequent verification surveys later to account for infrastructure changes, ensuring reliable and consistent results across different timing scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system adapts to different building conditions and timing scenarios. It can perform surveys in bare buildings early in construction and repeat surveys later when systems are installed, dynamically adjusting to various environmental conditions while maintaining consistent and reliable survey results through automated measurement protocols.
3Measurement precision
If manual site survey process is used, then users can perform link tests by adjusting device locations, but the process requires at least two users and becomes even more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual two-user process for link testing with an automated robotic system. The robot autonomously positions testing equipment and adjusts device locations while maintaining precise RSSI measurements, eliminating the need for coordinated human operation and significantly increasing testing speed without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system independently performs link tests by autonomously adjusting device locations and collecting RSSI data without requiring human operators. This self-service capability maintains measurement precision through controlled, repeatable positioning while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating the need for multiple users and reducing test time.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for augmented reality during an automated site survey of a building using an unmanned aerial vehicle so that results of the site survey are substantially consistent, irrespective of whether the site survey is conducted when the building is bare or after systems and devices in the building are installed. Some methods can include retrieving a building information model of the building from a database device, receiving user input and, responsive thereto, transmitting navigation signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle to maneuver to a site survey position in the building and transmitting command signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle to conduct a RF test at the site survey position and return site survey results, and calculating signal degradation for the site survey position as a function of the site survey results and the building information model.