UAV Vertical Structure Inspection With Safe Flight Waypoints
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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) to perform automatic scanning of vertical structures, enabling safe flight planning and intelligent reaction to contingencies, allowing for detailed image and sensor data collection without exposing operators to harm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If trained personnel use traditional inspection methods, then inspection accuracy is improved, but safety risk increases and time consumption increases
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 dangerous structures while maintaining high measurement precision through automated image capture and analysis
2Measurement precision
If trained personnel use traditional inspection methods, then inspection quality is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated inspection where the UAV autonomously navigates to predetermined locations, automatically captures images and sensor data, and enables automated analysis of inspection results. This eliminates manual operations at each inspection stage, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining or improving inspection quality through consistent automated data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-programming flight paths and inspection parameters before the actual inspection. The UAV is pre-configured with waypoints, altitude profiles, and camera trigger conditions, allowing it to execute the inspection autonomously without real-time human intervention, thereby reducing overall inspection time
3Object-affected harmful factors
If expensive equipment like cranes or raised platforms is used, then inspection safety is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical systems (cranes, raised platforms, suspended platforms) with an aerial robotic system. The UAV uses aerodynamic lift and propulsion to reach inspection positions, eliminating the need for ground-based mechanical support structures. This substitution dramatically reduces equipment cost and complexity while maintaining inspector safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy or representation of the vertical structure through photogrammetry and sensor data. Instead of physically accessing every part of the structure with expensive equipment, the UAV captures comprehensive imagery that can be analyzed digitally, replacing the need for physical inspection infrastructure
4Measurement precision
If manual inspection procedures are followed, then inspection thoroughness is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV performs continuous inspection along predetermined flight paths without interruption. The automated system continuously captures images and sensor data as the UAV traverses the inspection area, eliminating the start-stop nature of manual inspections. This continuous automated data collection significantly increases productivity while maintaining thoroughness through systematic coverage
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.