UAV Inspection Routing for Hazardous Vertical Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inspecting vertical structures such as cell phone towers or nuclear radiators for damage requires significant time and resources, involving trained personnel and cumbersome equipment, posing safety risks for inspectors.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with sensors and cameras, an operator can generate and execute a flight plan to safely inspect vertical structures from a distance, avoiding obstructions and risks by defining safe flight paths and contingencies, allowing for real-time data collection and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If trained personnel use traditional inspection equipment (cranes, raised platforms), then inspection detail and accuracy are improved, but safety risk and time investment increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as an intermediary device between the inspector and the vertical structure. The UAV carries cameras and sensors to collect inspection data, eliminating the need for human inspectors to physically approach hazardous structures while maintaining high measurement precision through automated imaging and sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical inspection systems (cranes, raised platforms) with an aerial vehicle system. Instead of mechanically lifting human inspectors to dangerous heights, the system uses aerodynamic flight to position a remotely operated platform equipped with optical and sensing instruments, substituting mechanical advantage with aerodynamic capability.
2Reliability
If trained personnel perform manual inspections, then inspection quality is maintained, but time investment and training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated inspection capabilities where the UAV system performs data collection, processing, and analysis without continuous human intervention. The system autonomously navigates to inspection points, captures images and sensor data, and processes information to generate inspection reports, enabling the system to serve itself and reducing dependency on trained personnel for each inspection task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of inspection by transitioning from manual, ground-based methods to automated, aerial-based methods. This includes changing the position parameter (from ground level to aerial positions), the speed parameter (faster data collection), and the data acquisition rate (multiple sensors operating simultaneously), thereby improving efficiency while maintaining quality.
3Measurement precision
If expensive equipment like cranes and raised platforms are used, then inspection capability is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the UAV system as a multi-functional platform that can perform various inspection tasks across different vertical structures. The same aerial vehicle can inspect cell towers, broadcast towers, and other vertical infrastructure by adjusting flight parameters and sensor orientations, eliminating the need for specialized equipment for each structure type and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical copying methods where cameras and sensors capture visual and sensor data of the vertical structure, creating digital replicas and records. This allows inspection data to be obtained through non-contact optical means rather than requiring physical access equipment, simplifying the mechanical system while maintaining inspection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes obtaining, from a user device, flight operation information describing an inspection of a vertical structure to be performed, the flight operation information including locations of one or more safe locations for vertical inspection. A location of the UAV is determined to correspond to a first safe location for vertical inspection. A first inspection of the structure is performed is performed at the first safe location, the first inspection including activating cameras. A second safe location is traveled to, and a second inspection of the structure is performed. Information associated with the inspection is provided to the user device.