Waypoint-Column UAV Inspection of Vertical Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inspecting vertical structures for damage requires significant time and resources, posing safety risks to personnel due to the need for manual inspections and adherence to safety procedures.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with sensors and cameras to autonomously perform inspections by following a predefined flight plan, allowing operators to safely gather detailed image and sensor data without direct human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual inspection by trained personnel is used, then detailed inspection can be performed, but significant time investment and safety risks are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated UAV system equipped with cameras and sensors. The UAV autonomously navigates to the structure, captures images and sensor data, and transmits them for analysis, eliminating the need for personnel to physically climb or approach hazardous structures while maintaining comprehensive inspection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system performs self-service through automated UAV flight planning, autonomous navigation to inspection points, automatic image capture at predefined locations, and automated data transmission. The system requires minimal human intervention after initial setup, significantly reducing time investment while maintaining inspection quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual inspection by trained personnel is used, then detailed inspection can be performed, but safety risks to personnel increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidsafety risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The UAV acts as an intermediary between the inspector and the hazardous structure. It collects data from the structure and transmits it to operators who remain in safe locations, eliminating direct exposure to hazards while preserving the ability to conduct detailed inspections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If cranes or raised platforms are used for inspection, then personnel safety is improved, but equipment complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety risksVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection capability is extracted from the complex ground-based equipment (cranes, platforms) and transferred to a lightweight, mobile UAV platform. This extraction simplifies the overall system by removing the need for heavy, complex support equipment while maintaining inspection effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If extensive personnel training is conducted, then inspection quality is maintained, but time and resource investment increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidtraining time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12428147B2Unmanned aerial vehicle inspection system

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 SKYDIO INC

AI summary

A portion of a vertical structure is determined for inspection by an unmanned aerial vehicle. A flight plan including safe locations around the vertical structure is determined. Each of the safe locations is associated with a respective column of waypoints. The unmanned aerial vehicle navigates according to the flight plan by navigating to a first safe location of the safe locations, navigating vertically along a first column associated with the first safe location, activating sensors to obtain respective sensor information at at least some of the waypoints associated with the first safe location, navigating to a second safe location of the safe locations, navigating vertically along a second column associated with the second safe location, and activating the sensors to obtain respective sensor information at at least some of the waypoints associated with the second safe location.