VTOL Drone Shape Detection for Construction Site Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

In civil construction sites, it is challenging to measure the shape, size, and position of executed work accurately due to the presence of various working vehicles, which often requires interrupting work or measuring infrequently, leading to inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A site management system utilizing an unmanned airplane capable of switching between high-speed flight and VTOL modes, equipped with a shape detection sensor, and an external control apparatus that controls the airplane's flight and sensor operations to detect the shape of the construction site without interfering with working vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a measurement apparatus is carried in the executed place to check the shape and size, then measurement accuracy is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates due to work interruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

An unmanned airplane is introduced as an intermediary measurement platform that can fly over the construction site and perform measurements remotely. The airplane carries measurement sensors and transmits data to a terminal device, enabling accurate measurement without requiring personnel to enter the work zone and without interrupting the working vehicles' operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If measurement is performed frequently to ensure working accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates due to repeated interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking accuracyVSAvoidtime loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The unmanned airplane enables continuous measurement monitoring by flying over the construction site and capturing data at multiple points without requiring work stoppage. The system can perform measurements at different stages of work execution, ensuring continuous verification of working accuracy while maintaining uninterrupted construction operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If an operator uses a measurement device in the vicinity of working vehicles, then measurement accuracy is improved, but safety deteriorates due to proximity to moving vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidsafety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement platform transitions from ground level to aerial dimension by using an unmanned airplane. This dimensional change allows the measurement device to operate from above the working vehicles, maintaining safe distance while still achieving accurate measurement of the executed place's shape, size, and height position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3112967B1Site management system, in-flight detection method, and nontransitory computer readable medium storing program of site management system
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP3112967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3112967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3112967B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A site management system includes an unmanned airplane (13) being switchable between an airplane mode for high speed flight and a VTOL mode for low speed flight, a working vehicle (12) working in a civil construction site (CS), a shape detection sensor (44) provided in the unmanned airplane (13) to detect a shape of the civil construction site (CS), and an external control apparatus (11) that controls flight of the unmanned airplane (13), driving of the working vehicle (12), and driving of the shape detection sensor (44). The external control apparatus (11) moves the unmanned airplane (12) to an observation area (Ai) by performing the high speed flight. Further, the external control apparatus (11) detects a shape of the observation area by driving the shape detection sensor (44) while performing the high speed flight or by driving the shape detection sensor (44) while performing low speed flight by switching from the airplane mode to the VTOL mode.