AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STRUCTURAL OBJECT ASSESSMENT AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF
Some embodiments are directed to an unmanned or optionally manned vehicle for inspecting an object. The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle includes a data collection unit that captures, via the unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, images of the object, wherein the images are combined to generate stereoscopic images and compares the stereoscopic images with pre-stored images for detecting structural parameters of the object. The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle also includes a location unit that determines location data associated with the detected structural parameters. The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle also includes a report generation unit that generates an inspection report based on the comparison of the stereoscopic images and the location data.
1 . A method for inspecting a static object by using at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, the method comprising:
capturing, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, one or more images of the static object, wherein the one or more images are combined to generate one or more stereoscopic images;
comparing the one or more stereoscopic images with one or more pre-stored images for detecting one or more structural parameters of the static object, each of the one or more structural parameters being a structural change to the static object itself; and
determining location data of a location of the structural change at which the one or more structural parameters is detected, wherein the location data is used to generate an inspection report of the static object based on the one or more structural parameters detected in the comparison of the one or more stereoscopic images indicating the location of the structural change at which the one or more structural parameters is detected.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more images are captured by activating at least one camera disposed on the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more structural parameters comprise at least one of a break, a misalignment, a breach, a bend, and a buckle of the static object.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, optical inspection of the static object; and
estimating the one or more structural parameters based on the optical inspection.
5 . (canceled)
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, impedance check of the static object; and
estimating the one or more structural parameters based on the impedance check on the static object.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, interferometric inspection on the static object; and
estimating the one or more structural parameters based on the interferometric inspection.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more stereoscopic images are generated based on the interferometric inspection.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, an inspection of the static object and surrounding of the static object by using at least one of a sonar system and a radar system; and
estimating the one or more structural parameters based on the inspection performed on the static object.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inspection of the static object is conducted in at least one of a fully unmanned mode, a semi-unmanned mode, or a manual mode.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the inspection report to an analysis platform.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
repairing the one or more detected structural parameters using the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle.
13 . An unmanned or optionally manned vehicle for inspecting a static object, the unmanned or optionally manned vehicle comprising:
a data collection unit that is configured to:
capture, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, one or more images of the static object, wherein the one or more images are combined to generate one or more stereoscopic images; and
compare the one or more stereoscopic images with one or more pre-stored images for detecting one or more structural parameters of the static object, each of the one or more structural parameters being a structural change to the static object itself;
a location unit that is configured to determine location data of a location of the structural change at which the one or more structural parameters is detected; and
a report generation unit that is configured to generate an inspection report of the static object based on the one or more structural parameters detected in the comparison of the one or more stereoscopic images and the location data indicating the location of the structural change at which the one or more structural parameters is detected.
14 . The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the one or more images are captured by activating at least one camera disposed on the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle.
15 . The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a detection unit that is configured to:
perform, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, optical inspection on the static object; and
estimate one or more structural parameters based on the optical inspection performed on the static object.
16 . The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the detection unit that is further configured to:
perform, by the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle, inspection on the static object by using at least one of a sonar system, and a radar system; and
estimate one or more structural parameters based on the inspection performed on the static object.
17 . The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a transmitting unit that is configured to:
transmit the inspection report to an analysis platform.
18 . The unmanned or optionally manned vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a repairing unit that is configured to:
repair the one or more detected structural parameters using the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle.
19 . A system for inspecting a static object, the system comprising:
a plurality of unmanned or optionally manned vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of unmanned or optionally manned vehicles includes:
a data collection unit that is configured to:
capture, by at least one of the unmanned or optionally manned vehicles, one or more images of the static object, wherein the one or more images are combined to generate one or more stereoscopic images; and
compare the one or more stereoscopic images with one or more pre-stored images for detecting one or more structural parameters, each of the one or more structural parameters being a structural change to the static object itself;
a location unit that is configured to determine location data of a location of the structural change at which the one or more structural parameters is detected;
a report generation unit that is configured to generate a local inspection report of the static object based on the one or more structural parameters detected in the comparison of the one or more images and the location data indicating the location of the structural change at which the one or more structural parameters is detected; and
a communication unit that is in communication with each of the other plurality of unmanned or optionally manned vehicles for receiving a corresponding local inspection report and generating a global inspection report based on the received local inspection report.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of unmanned or optionally manned vehicles includes a repairing unit that is configured to:
repair the one or more detected structural parameters, wherein the at least one unmanned or optionally manned vehicle comprises a repairing tool.