Embodiments according to a first and second aspect of the present invention are based on the core idea of flying along the object for detecting a feature of an object and detecting at least a part of the object with a capturing unit with a first resolution and providing, for those areas of the object that comprise the feature, images with the second resolution that is higher than the first resolution.

The invention discloses an intelligent detection method for multiple types of faults for near-water bridges and an unmanned surface vehicle. The method includes an infrastructure fault target detection network CenWholeNet and a bionics-based parallel attention module PAM. CenWholeNet is a deep learning-based Anchor-free target detection network, which mainly comprises a primary network and a detector, used to automatically detect faults in acquired images with high precision. Wherein, the PAM introduces an attention mechanism into the neural network, including spatial attention and channel attention, which is used to enhance the expressive power of the neural network. The unmanned surface vehicle includes hull module, video acquisition module, lidar navigation module and ground station module, which supports lidar navigation without GPS information, long-range real-time video transmission and highly robust real-time control, used for automated acquisition of information from bridge underside.

The present invention relates to a apparatus for determining at least one a bending strength of a substrate and peel strength of a joint between a structure and the substrate. The apparatus includes a fixture configured to support the structure and a plurality of support beams positioned on either sides of the fixture and configured to support the substrate. Further, the apparatus includes a plurality of load applying members, which are configured to apply load onto the substrate to deform the substrate relative to the plurality of support beams. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a sensor, which is configured to determine parameters such as axial load induced in the structure, peel stress in the joint between the substrate and the structure and bending moments on the substrate during application of load onto the substrate, to determine at least one of the bending strength and the peel strength.

A method of retrieving a mobile platform from a tank having a hatch and at least partially filled with a non-conductive, energetic substance includes configuring the mobile platform to include at least a retrieval system disposed at least partially on an enclosure. The retrieval system includes at least: a primary tether connected to a buoyant body and to the enclosure, and a secondary tether connected to the buoyant body and to the enclosure. The method further includes: predetermining a buoyant body retrieval zone within the tank, and positioning a released buoyant body within the buoyant body retrieval zone by using the primary tether. The method also includes retrieving the primary tether by using the buoyant body; using the primary tether to release the secondary tether; and inserting a retrieval member through the hatch to retrieve the buoyant body, the primary tether, and/or the secondary tether.

A process for automated component inspection includes the steps of calibrating an imaging device mounted on a table; calibrating a coordinate measuring machine mounted on the table, the coordinate measuring machine comprising a fixture coupled to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine; coupling a component to the fixture; acquiring an image of said component with said imaging device; registering a baseline dimensioned image to the component image; applying the baseline dimensioned image to a damage detection algorithm; and determining component damage by the damage detection algorithm.

A non-destructive testing device includes a tubular housing including a proximal end and a distal end. A conduit section is arranged at the proximal end, and a bendable articulation section secured to the conduit section and arranged at the distal end. A plurality of actuation systems each includes a control cable extending along the tubular housing and arranged at a respective circumferential position within the bendable articulation section, and an actuator disposed at the proximal end of the tubular housing and secured to the control cable.

Automated apparatus for performing maintenance functions on airfoil-shaped bodies having short chord lengths, the apparatus being movable in a spanwise direction along the airfoil-shaped body. In accordance with various embodiments, the apparatus comprises a blade crawler capable of supporting any one of a plurality of end effectors for performing a set of maintenance functions on an airfoil-shaped body, such as a blade component. Included in these functions are multiple options for nondestructive inspection, drilling, grinding, fastening, appliqué application, scarfing, ply mapping, depainting, cleaning, and painting devices that are attached as the end effector for the blade crawler. As a whole, the blade crawler reduces maintenance time, labor hours and human errors when robotic maintenance functions are performed on blade components.

A measurement device is configured to set an observation surface on a surface of a structure as a measurement surface to measure a change of the measurement surface as a measurement surface change vector. An estimator is configured to generate an estimation model based on a shape model obtained by modeling a shape of the structure. The estimator is configured to acquire a coefficient vector by solving a norm minimization problem by setting, as parameters, a measurement surface change vector and a part of the estimation model. The coefficient vector forms a sparse solution. The estimator is configured to estimate a change of a crack occurrence surface by determining a candidate surface, which is inside the structure and assumed to have a crack, as the crack occurrence surface, based on the coefficient vector and another part of the estimation model.

A method for testing a rotor blade component of a rotor blade for a wind power installation, comprising: dividing a rotor blade component of a rotor blade for a wind power installation into two, three or more rotor blade component segments, forming cutouts in a connection interface at a connection end of one of the rotor blade component segments. A rotor blade component segment of a rotor blade for a wind power installation, the rotor blade component segment comprising a connection end which has been formed by dividing a rotor blade component of a rotor blade for a wind power installation into two, three or more rotor blade component segments, a connection interface at the connection end of the rotor blade component segment, and cutouts which are formed in the connection interface and serve for connection of the rotor blade component segment to a test stand.

A non-destructive testing device includes a tubular housing including a proximal end and a distal end. A conduit section is arranged at the proximal end, and a bendable articulation section secured to the conduit section and arranged at the distal end. A plurality of actuation systems each includes a control cable extending along the tubular housing and arranged at a respective circumferential position within the bendable articulation section, and an actuator disposed at the proximal end of the tubular housing and secured to the control cable.