Unmanned Surface Vehicle Oil Thickness Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oil spill response techniques face inefficiencies due to delayed and inaccurate remote sensing data, which hinders the deployment of recovery assets to the thickest regions of an oil spill, necessitating a real-time and precise remote survey system to enhance response effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned surface vehicle equipped with a thickness detection assembly and cameras that can obtain images or videos of the air-oil-water interface, determining the thickness of a released substance on the water's surface, and communicate this data in real-time to a central command center for strategic response planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If satellite or aircraft remote sensing is used to detect oil spills, then the survey coverage area is large, but the data is delayed and provides outdated information by the time it reaches response teams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional satellite or aircraft remote sensing systems with an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) equipped with thickness detection cameras. This substitution enables the system to operate directly on the water surface, providing real-time data transmission to response teams while maintaining comprehensive survey coverage of the oil spill area.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional remote sensing platforms are used, then the deployment is relatively simple, but the measurement precision of oil thickness is rudimentary and often inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of measurement by using thickness detection cameras that capture images of the air-oil-water interface. This optical approach provides quantitative thickness information, transforming the measurement from rudimentary visual estimation to precise dimensional analysis, while the USV platform maintains operational simplicity.
3Loss of information
If remote sensing data is used for oil spill response, then the initial detection capability is provided, but the data becomes obsolete quickly due to the high mobility of oil on water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback by equipping the unmanned surface vehicle with communication capabilities that transmit thickness detection data immediately to response teams. This continuous feedback loop ensures that the most current information about oil spill location and thickness is always available, allowing response teams to adapt to the rapidly changing situation as oil moves across the water surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote survey system includes an unmanned surface vehicle that includes a body, a propulsion system coupled to the body to provide mobility to the unmanned surface vehicle to traverse a surface of a waterbody, and a thickness detection assembly mounted to a hull of the body and including one or more thickness detection cameras. A central computer system is located at a command center and in wireless communication with the unmanned surface vehicle via a communication module. The one or more thickness detection cameras are positioned to obtain one or more images or videos of an air-oil-water interface on the surface of the waterbody, and a thickness of a released substance present on the surface of the waterbody is determined based on the one or more images or videos of the air-oil-water interface.