The present invention makes it possible for sounding of an inspection location on an outer wall of a building or the like to be performed using a simple operation. A user interface device accepts an input for designating an inspection location. The mobile robot device flies autonomously and moves to the inspection location, on the basis of the input into the user interface device and the current location of the mobile robot device. The mobile robot device inspects the inspection location using an inspection means such as a sounding means.

A mobile platform uses a charge accumulation control system to control a charge accumulation while the mobile platform is in the tank. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile platform includes a retrieval system having a buoyant body, a primary tether, and a secondary tether. Alternatively or additionally, an electrical cable is used to reduce a voltage difference between the mobile platform and the tank or other structure by electrically connecting to an electrically conductive member on the mobile platform.

An appearance inspection device that can easily determine optimum values of various imaging parameters is provided. An appearance inspection device includes: a moving means which changes relative positions of at least two or more portions within a work-piece, an imaging part, and an illumination part; an imaging processing part which performs, in a state that the illumination part irradiates a light to the work-piece, a processing for changing imaging parameters and taking a plurality of images by the imaging part under a condition that plural types of imaging parameters with mutually different properties are variably set, the plural types of imaging parameters including a change of the relative position between the work-piece and the imaging part caused by the moving means; and a parameter determining part determining a set of optimum values of the plural types of imaging parameters that are set variably based on the plurality of taken images.

A spectroscopic camera according to the present disclosure includes a spectroscopic section configured by a variable wavelength interference filter that selectively transmits light at a predetermined wavelength and changes the light to transmitted light, a receiving section configured to receive sensitivity information indicating a sensitivity curve in a wavelength region of a predetermined color imaged by an RGB camera, a wavelength-table generating section configured to generate, based on the sensitivity information, a wavelength table indicating a relation between the predetermined wavelength and a transmission time, which is a time for transmitting the transmitted light, an imaging section configured to acquire a spectral image formed by the transmitted light transmitted through the spectroscopic section, and a control section configured to control the spectroscopic section and the imaging section based on the wavelength table.

A method for structure inspection includes the steps of: selecting a structure; providing a vehicle having an imaging device; moving the vehicle in proximity of the structure; capturing two-dimensional images of surfaces of the structure with the imaging device; storing the two-dimensional images, wherein each image includes associated position information related to the surface; producing a three-dimensional virtual model from the stored two-dimensional images; displaying the three-dimensional virtual model on a user device; selecting a location on the display of the three-dimensional model; using the selected location to identify a corresponding one of the stored position information associated with at least one of the two-dimensional images; and displaying the at least one two-dimensional image on the user device.

An optical device includes: a substrate having a first surface, and a second surface opposite of the first surface; a plurality of surface emitting laser elements provided on the first surface of the substrate and configured to emit light in a direction intersecting the first surface; a plurality of optical elements disposed on the second surface so as to respectively correspond to the plurality of surface emitting laser elements; and an anti-reflection structure between the substrate and the plurality of optical elements.

An asset inspection system includes a robot and a server. The robot collects inspection data corresponding to an asset. The server, includes a user interface, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the inspection data from the robot, display the inspection data via the user-interface, receive feedback on the inspection data via the user interface, generate a human-assisted inspection based on the received feedback, analyze the inspection data via a trained model, generate an automated inspection based on the analysis by the trained model, combine the automated inspection and the human-assisted inspection to generate an inspection report, and transmit the inspection report for review.

A system and method for inspection and cosmetic grading of objects is provided. Camera and lighting assemblies capture images of an object and create a 2D composite image which is processed by an image processing module with a deep learning machine algorithm to detect surface defects in the object. Detected defects are localized and measured for depth of defect by an advanced optical sensor, providing a 3D representation of defects. A cosmetic grading algorithm determines the cosmetic grade of the object and the optimal path of disposition for the item based on the grade.

A surface damage inspection system for a workpiece, to automate efficient and effective appearance inspection using imaging, includes an illumination unit that emits light to an inspection target surface from four directions including frontward and rearward directions in an X direction and rightward and leftward directions in a Y direction; an imaging unit that captures an image of the inspection target surface; a damage detection unit that detects damage at the inspection target surface using the image of the inspection target surface; a robot to which a damage inspection device including the illumination unit and the damage detection unit is attached; a table on which the workpiece is to be placed; and a controller that controls drive of the robot and the damage inspection device so as to make the damage inspection device inspect the workpiece on the table or the workpiece gripped by the robot.

Provided is a nondestructive inspection (NDI) system that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a body structure and at least one support arm. The support arm includes a first arm portion having a first end coupled to the body structure and a second end coupled to a second arm portion. The second arm portion includes a first end coupled to the second end of the first arm portion and a second end coupled to an NDI scanning device. The support arm also includes a compliant member disposed between the first arm portion and the second arm portion. The NDI scanning device includes one or more NDI sensors.