IP Library Granted Patent US 11,135,721
Granted Patent B2
US 11,135,721 · App. 17/097,422 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map

Inventors: Edward A. Bryner (Pittsburgh, PA); Kevin Y. Low (Pittsburgh, PA); Joshua D. Moore (Pittsburgh, PA); Dillon R. Jourde (Pittsburgh, PA); Benjamin A. Guise (Pittsburgh, PA); Alexander C. Watt (North Huntingdon, PA)
Assignee: Gecko Robotics, Inc.
B25J9/1669B25J5/007B25J9/0009B25J9/0015B25J9/102B25J9/162B25J9/1602B25J9/1617B25J9/1633B25J9/1664B25J9/1666B25J9/1679B25J9/1697B25J13/088B25J19/0029B25J19/02G01B11/0616G01B11/24G01B11/303G01B17/025G01B17/06G01B17/08G01J3/50G01K13/00G05D1/0016G05D1/0094G05D1/0272G05D1/0274G05D2201/0207
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,135,721
App. No.
17/097,422
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map are disclosed. An example apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface may include an inspection visualization circuit to provide an inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to an inspection robot traversing the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface. The apparatus may further include a user interaction circuit to interpret a user focus value from the user device, and an action request circuit to determine an action in response to the user focus value. The inspection visualization circuit may further update the inspection map in response to the determined action.

Claims (80)

1. An apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface inspected by an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection visualization circuit structured to provide the inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to the inspection robot operating on the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface;

a user interaction circuit structured to interpret a user focus value from the user device; and

an action request circuit structured to determine an action in response to the user focus value;

wherein the inspection visualization circuit is further structured to update the inspection map in response to the determined action,

wherein the user focus value further comprises a time value,

wherein the inspection visualization circuit is further structured to update the inspection map in response to the time value, and

wherein the time value is a trajectory of an inspection dimension over time, and wherein the inspection dimension over time is representative of at least one of: a previous inspection run, a predicted inspection run, or an interpolation between two inspection runs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inspection map further comprises position-based inspection data corresponding to the portion of the inspection surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inspection map further comprises a distinct visualization property for each of at least two inspection dimensions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least two inspection dimensions includes at least two of:

a temperature of the inspection surface;

a coating type of the inspection surface;

a color of the inspection surface;

a smoothness of the inspection surface;

an obstacle density of the inspection surface;

a radius of curvature of the inspection surface; and

a thickness of the inspection surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 ,

wherein each distinct visualization property includes at least one of:

numeric values;

shading values;

transparency values;

pattern values;

a tool-tip value;

color values; and

hatching values.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the time value is selected from a list of time values consisting of:

a specified time value;

a specified time range;

a specified inspection event identifier;

a trajectory of an inspection dimension over time; and

a specified inspection identifier.

7. An apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface inspected by an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection visualization circuit structured to provide the inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to the inspection robot operating on the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface;

a user interaction circuit structured to interpret a user focus value from the user device; and

an action request circuit structured to determine an action in response to the user focus value;

wherein the user focus value further comprises a time value,

wherein the inspection visualization circuit is further structured to update the inspection map in response to the determined action and in response to the time value, and

wherein the inspection visualization circuit is further structured to update the inspection map by providing a plurality of display frames of the inspection map, each of the plurality of display frames corresponding to at least one period of the time value.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the inspection map further comprises position-based inspection data corresponding to the portion of the inspection surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the inspection map further comprises a distinct visualization property for each of at least two inspection dimensions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the at least two inspection dimensions includes at least two of:

a temperature of the inspection surface;

a coating type of the inspection surface;

a color of the inspection surface;

a smoothness of the inspection surface;

an obstacle density of the inspection surface;

a radius of curvature of the inspection surface; and

a thickness of the inspection surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 ,

wherein each distinct visualization property includes at least one of:

numeric values;

shading values;

transparency values;

pattern values;

a tool-tip value;

color values; and

hatching values.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the time value is selected from a list of time values consisting of:

a specified time value;

a specified time range;

a specified inspection event identifier;

a trajectory of an inspection dimension over time; and

a specified inspection identifier.

13. An apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface inspected by an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection visualization circuit structured to provide the inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to the inspection robot operating on the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface;

a user interaction circuit structured to interpret a user focus value from the user device; and

an action request circuit structured to determine an action in response to the user focus value;

wherein the inspection map includes a plurality of display layers, and

wherein the inspection visualization circuit is further structured to update the inspection map in response to the determined action and to update the inspection map by setting an activation state value of at least one of the plurality of display layers in response to the user focus value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of display layers is selected from a list of layers consisting of:

an inspection dimension layer;

a coating layer;

a part overlay layer;

a remaining life layer;

a scheduled maintenance layer; and

a planned downtime layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of display layers comprises a planned downtime layer, and wherein the planned downtime layer comprises a time based depiction of downtime values.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of display layers comprises a planned downtime layer, and wherein the planned downtime layer comprises a spatial depiction of downtime values.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2021
From: BRYNER, EDWARD A.; LOW, KEVIN Y.; MOORE, JOSHUA D.; JOURDE, DILLON R.; WATT, ALEXANDER C.
To: GECKO ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056777/0753 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2021
From: GUISE, BENJAMIN A.
To: GECKO ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056777/0950 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16869640 · May 8, 2020
Continuation 16863594 · Apr 30, 2020
Continuation PCTUS2020021779 · Mar 9, 2020
Continuation In Part 15853391 · Dec 22, 2017
Provisional Application 62438788 · Dec 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62596737 · Dec 8, 2017
Provisional Application 62815724 · Mar 8, 2019
Related Publication 20210060782A1 · Mar 4, 2021
Cited By (19)
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