Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device that is capable of assessing and monitoring health of overpass structures and other concrete or reinforced infrastructures. Most specifically, the proposed device aims to enable efficient, real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated repairs, reducing manual inspections, ensuring the longevity of structural components, and enhancing public safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Overpass structures, like bridges and other elevated roadways, are critical components of modern transportation infrastructure. They facilitate the movement of people and goods, contributing significantly to economic activity and public safety. However, these structures are exposed to various environmental and traffic-related stresses that can lead to wear and tear, degradation, and potential failure. Regular monitoring and maintenance can significantly extend the life of an overpass. By identifying areas that need repair or strengthening early, proactive maintenance can prevent costly and extensive damage.

[0003] In the early days of overpass monitoring, visual inspection and manual techniques were the primary methods used. Engineers would physically inspect overpasses and bridges, often using scaffolding, ropes, and ladders to reach difficult areas. These methods required significant human labor and were time-consuming, especially for large overpasses. As technology advanced, non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques became more widely used for structural health monitoring. These techniques allowed for deeper inspections without causing damage to the structure. These methods often focused on localized areas of the structure rather than providing a holistic view of the entire overpass. Despite the advancements in structural health monitoring and maintenance technology, several challenges remain with the currently used devices and methods.

[0004] US20170168021A1 discloses a composite structure health monitoring (SHM) systems that incorporate aspects of both a passive SHM system and an active SHM system. Systems provide a route for continuous monitoring to recognize potentially damaging events as well as to determine the location and intensity of damage in those instances in which the event does cause damage to the structure. Systems can provide improved monitoring with a low space and weight requirement, for instance when utilized for SHM of aircraft.

[0005] US20120203474A1 relates to a structural health monitoring system, for example a system used in the non-destructive evaluation of an aircraft structure. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for evaluating one or more anomalies within a structure using a structural health monitoring system that includes at least three transducers arranged in operative contact with the structure such that no two transducers are aligned to be parallel. A transducer excites an elastic wave that propagates through the structure, and reflections from any anomalies within the structure are collected by the three transducers. These collected signals are analyzed to identify an anomaly within the structure. Time of flight techniques are used to determine the location of the anomaly.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices used for overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance has evolved significantly from manual, visual inspections to sophisticated systems leveraging AI, robotics, and remote sensing techniques. However, despite advancements, several challenges persist. High costs, limited sensor capabilities, data overload, and environmental factors continue to pose obstacles to achieving reliable, real-time, and comprehensive monitoring solutions.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a device that requires to incorporate a range of ideal features that ensure accuracy, reliability, cost-efficiency, and ease of use. In addition, the developed device needs to be capable of ensuring that the overpass monitoring and maintenance is effective, efficient, and adaptable, ensuring that the overpass remains safe, functional, and well-maintained over its lifetime.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an autonomous device capable of performing continuous and accurate structural health monitoring of overpasses and concrete structures, ensuring timely identification of potential issues such as corrosion, structural degradation, and vibrations caused by heavy traffic.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that automatically scrubs rust from exposed structural rods and apply targeted chemical treatments to mitigate corrosion, reducing human labor and intervention.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device that enhances ability to predict the structural life and detect subtle, early-stage issues through continuous monitoring, ensuring safety and preventing unforeseen failures in reinforced structures.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to an overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device that provides an autonomous and real-time monitoring capabilities, offering an efficient solution for assessing the health of reinforced concrete and steel structures without the need for manual inspection.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device, comprising a cuboidal body developed to be positioned over an overpass or concrete reinforced structure surface by means of multiple motorized wheels, a laser sensor installed over the body that monitors level of the surface, a telescopically operated link installed in between each of the wheels and body to provide stability to the body over the surface, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit mounted on the body to capture multiple images in vicinity of the body for observing the surroundings present in proximity to the body, an extendable rod installed over the body and having a plate as an end effector with the help of a primary motorized ball-and-socket joint to position the plate on the underpass surface and a vibration sensor that monitors vibrations on concrete surface such as vibrations caused by passage of heavy vehicles at the same time.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises of a box with a hinged lid, housing with multiple cutting units designed to precisely cut through the overpass or concrete structure at designated threshold areas via extendable bars with secondary motorized ball-and-socket joints, a corrosion sensor is embedded within the device's body and synchronized with the imaging unit to detect signs of corrosion or damage including rust, cracks and material deterioration, an extendable pole installed with the body and configured with a panel by means of a tertiary motorized ball-and-socket joint and having multiple pneumatic sharp bristles are assembled with the panel to scrub the rust surface, a vessel installed within the body, containing multiple types of chemicals stored in separate sections, an electronic nozzle attached to the corresponding chemical section and dispenses the selected chemical solution to the affected area and a battery is associated with the device to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of an overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to an overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device that is capable of performing structural health monitoring of overpasses and concrete structures, ensuring timely identification of potential issues such as corrosion, structural degradation, and vibrations caused by heavy traffic.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1, an isometric view of an overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device is illustrated, comprising a cuboidal body 101 configured with multiple motorized wheels 102, a telescopically operated link 103 attached in between each of the wheels 102, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 104 installed on the body 101, an extendable rod 105 with a plate 106 is attached to the body 101, a box 107 with hinged lid 108 mounted on the body 101, multiple cutting units 109 are provided with the box 107 via extendable bars 110, a panel 112 equipped with multiple pneumatic sharp bristles 113 attached to the body 101 through an extendable pole 114, the body 101 is installed with a vessel 111 and an electronic nozzle 115 attached with the vessel 111.

[0023] The device disclosed herein, comprises of a cuboidal body 101, which serves as a main structure of the device and developed to be positioned over an overpass or concrete reinforced structure surface by means of multiple motorized wheels 102, wherein the wheels 102 provide movement to the body 101. The wheels 102 move independently on the surface without changing the orientation of the wheels 102. The rollers and smaller wheels 102 create a lateral force that allows the wheel to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The motorized wheel’s design enables it to move on any type of surface with high agility and versatility.

[0024] Herein, after positioning the body 101 on the surface, a laser sensor installed over the body 101 that monitors level of the surface. The laser sensor activates and emits a focused and narrow beam toward the surface. When the laser beam strikes the surface, it gets reflected back towards the sensor. The receiver of the primary laser sensor captures the reflected light and employs a time-of-flight measurement principle to determine the level of the surface.

[0025] The laser sensor precisely measures the time it takes for these laser pulses to travel to the surface and back to the sensor. This measurement is known as time-of-flight and as the laser sensor continues to emit laser pulses and measure their time-of-flight, it creates a dense point cloud of data points. Each data point corresponds to a specific level. By combining the time-of-flight data from multiple laser beams at various angles, the primary laser sensor builds a detailed 3D (three-dimensional) map or point-of-cloud of the mouth portion of the surface. The generated point of the cloud map in then sent to a microcontroller which processes the data and determines the level of the surface.

[0026] After determining the level of the surface, the microcontroller actuates a telescopically operated link 103 installed in between each of the wheels 102 and body 101 to provide stability to the body 101 over the surface. Simultaneously, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 104 mounted on the body 101 to capture multiple images in vicinity of the body 101 for observing the surroundings present in proximity to the body 101.

[0027] The artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 is constructed with a camera lens and a processor, wherein the camera lens is adapted to capture a series of images of the surrounding present in proximity to the body 101. The processor carries out a sequence of image processing operations including pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. The image captured by the imaging unit 104 is real-time images of the body 101’s surrounding. The artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 transmits the captured image signal in the form of digital bits to the microcontroller. The microcontroller upon receiving the image signals compares the received image signal with the pre-fed data stored in a database and constantly observing the surrounding.

[0028] As per the overserved result, the microcontroller provide movement to the body 101 with the help of the wheels 102. An extendable rod 105 installed over the body 101 and having a plate 106 as an end effector with the help of a primary motorized ball-and-socket joint that is actuated by the microcontroller to position the plate 106 on the underpass surface. The primary motorized ball and socket joint consists of a ball-shaped element that fits into a socket, which provides rotational freedom in various directions. The ball is connected to a motor, typically a servo motor which provides the controlled movement. The plate 106 is attached to the socket of the primary motorized ball and socket joint and the motor responds by adjusting the ball and socket joint and rotates the ball in the desired direction, and this motion is transferred to the socket that holds the plate 106. As the ball and socket joint move, it provides the necessary angular movement to the plate 106 in such manner that it gets placed over the surfaced of the underpass.

[0029] The plate 106 configured with a vibration sensor that monitors vibrations on concrete surface such as vibrations caused by passage of heavy vehicles at the same time. The sensor operates in real-time, capturing dynamic data as vehicles traverse the overpass. The vibration data collected by the sensor is transmitted to a microcontroller, which utilizes advanced machine learning modules to analyze the data over time. The machine learning protocols process the vibration signals to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies. By tracking the rate of change in vibration signals, the microcontroller is able to assess the structural integrity and degradation of the overpass or structure.

[0030] The machine learning-based analysis enables the device to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of the overpass or structure. By monitoring the changes in vibration patterns, the microcontroller is able to detect early signs of structural degradation, such as fatigue, cracks, or material deterioration. This predictive capability allows for proactive maintenance scheduling, ensuring timely repairs or replacements to prevent catastrophic failures.

[0031] The body 101 features a box 107 with a hinged lid 108, housing with multiple cutting units 109 designed to precisely cut through the overpass or concrete structure at designated threshold areas. Each cutting unit is connected to the body 101 via extendable bars 110 with secondary motorized ball-and-socket joints, allowing for flexible and accurate positioning. This enables the cutting units 109 to access and expose structural rods for further inspection.

[0032] The cutting unit is equipped with a sharp cutting tool, such as a blade or a rotary cutter, which is driven by an electric motor. The microcontroller actuates the motor inside the motorized cutting unit to rotate which in turn drives the motorized cutting unit. The cutting unit makes a precise and controlled cut of structural rods.

[0033] A corrosion sensor is embedded within the device's body 101 and synchronized with the imaging unit 104 to detect signs of corrosion or damage including rust, cracks and material deterioration. The corrosion sensor is integrated which detects the presence of rust. The corrosion detection sensor operates on a combination of electronic and chemical properties to detect rust or corrosion.

[0034] The corrosion sensor is designed to come into direct contact with the surface. This ensures accurate detection by evaluating the state. The corrosion sensor comes in direct contact with the surface and initiates an electrochemical reaction. The corrosion sensor has ion-selective electrodes that selectively detects the presence of specified ions associated with rust such as iron ions. The sensor measures the voltage potential generated by the electrochemical reaction. The presence of rust increases the voltage potential due to the flow of ions and electrodes during the corrosion process.

[0035] An extendable pole 114 installed with the body 101 and configured with a panel 112 by means of a tertiary motorized ball-and-socket joint, wherein multiple pneumatic sharp bristles 113 are assembled with the panel 112. In case the detected corrosion recedes a threshold value, then the microcontroller actuates the pole 114 to get extend and position the panel 112 in proximity to the surface of exposed rod. The extensions of the pole 114 is powered by a pneumatic unit that utilizes the compressed air to extend and retract the pole 114 for positioning the panel 112 near to the exposed rod.

[0036] After positioning the pole 114, the microcontroller actuates the bristles 113 to get extend and scrub the rust surface. The extension of the bristles 113 are powered by a pneumatic unit that utilizes the compressed air to extend and retract the bristles 113. After extending and retracting the bristles 113, the microcontroller actuates the tertiary motorized ball-and-socket joint for moving the panel 112 for scrubbing the rust surface.

[0037] The device features a vessel 111 installed within the body 101, containing multiple types of chemicals stored in separate sections, which enables targeted treatment of rust and corrosion on the overpass or concrete structure and allows for the effective remediation of corrosion, extending the lifespan of the structure and reducing maintenance costs. Based on the type and intensity of rust detected by the corrosion sensor, the microcontroller identifies the most effective chemical solution for treatment and then activates an electronic nozzle 115 attached to the corresponding chemical section and dispenses the selected chemical solution to the affected area.

[0038] The electronic nozzle 115 works by utilizing electrical energy to automize the flow solution in a controlled flow pattern by converting the pressure energy of a fluid into kinetic energy, which increases the fluid's velocity. Upon actuation of nozzle 115 by the microcontroller, the electric motor or the pump pressurizes the incoming solution, increasing its pressure significantly. High pressure enables the solution to be sprayed out with a high force. This automated process minimizes human intervention and ensures precise application.

[0039] When the microcontroller detects changes in the structural health, such as corrosion, cracks, or other forms of degradation, it automatically generates an alert. The alert is transmitted wirelessly to designated authorities via wireless communication module, including maintenance teams, engineers, or emergency services. This rapid communication enables timely actions to be taken, preventing potential catastrophes and ensuring public safety. The device allows for customizable alert parameters, enabling authorities to define specific thresholds for structural health conditions. This flexibility ensures that alerts are relevant and prioritized, reducing false alarms and minimizing unnecessary interventions.

[0040] The device employs a sophisticated image processing and color sensing module, enabled by the microcontroller, to detect structural damage and degradation, which allows for precise identification of corrosion, cracks, and other forms of material deterioration on the overpass or concrete structure. The device's imaging unit 104 captures high-resolution images of the structure, which are then transmitted to the microcontroller for analysis.

[0041] The microcontroller utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning protocols to process the images, detecting even subtle changes in color variations, texture changes, and patterns of damage or deterioration. It compares the captured images to a comprehensive database of previously recorded data, including baseline images of the structure in pristine condition, images of known damage patterns, and historical data on environmental and structural changes.

[0042] By analyzing deviations between the current and baseline images, the microcontroller identifies potential issues, including corrosion or rust formation, cracks or material degradation, and delamination or spalling. The color sensing module enhances the image processing capabilities by detecting subtle color changes indicative of corrosion or material degradation.

[0043] A battery is associated with the device to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein. The battery is comprised of a pair of electrode named as a cathode and an anode. The battery uses a chemical reaction of oxidation/reduction to do work on charge and produce a voltage between their anode and cathode and thus produces electrical energy that is used to do work in the device.

[0044] The present invention works best in the following manner, where the cuboidal body 101 as disclosed in the invention is developed to be positioned over the overpass or concrete reinforced structure surface, the laser sensor monitors level of the surface and the telescopically operated link 103 provide stability to the body 101 over the surface, the artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 104 captures multiple images in vicinity of the body 101 for observing the surroundings present in proximity to the body 101, the extendable rod 105 having the plate 106 as the end effector with the help of the primary motorized ball-and-socket joint to position the plate 106 on the underpass surface. Further, the vibration sensor monitors vibrations on concrete surface such as vibrations caused by passage of heavy vehicles at the same time, the box 107 with the hinged lid 108 and multiple cutting units 109, which precisely cut through the overpass or concrete structure at designated threshold areas, the corrosion sensor synchronized with the imaging unit 104 to detect signs of corrosion or damage including rust, cracks and material deterioration, the extendable pole 114 position the panel 112 and multiple pneumatic sharp bristles 113 scrub the rust surface, the vessel 111 containing multiple types of chemicals stored in separate sections, the electronic nozzle 115 dispenses the selected chemical solution to the affected area and the battery to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein.

[0045] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) An overpass structural health monitoring and maintenance assistive device, comprising:

i) a cuboidal body 101 configured with multiple motorized wheels 102 to maneuver said body 101 over an overpass or concrete reinforced structure, wherein a laser sensor is installed over said body 101 to determine level of said surface and sends acquired data to a microcontroller linked with said laser sensor that in turn activates a telescopically operated link 103 attached in between each of said wheels 102 and body 101 to stabilize said body 101 over said surface;
ii) an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 104 installed on said body 101 and paired with a processor for capturing and processing multiple images of surroundings, respectively, to observe nearby surroundings, and provide autonomous movement to said body 101, wherein an extendable rod 105 with a plate 106 is attached to said body 101 via a primary motorized ball-and-socket joint, said ball-and-socket joint provides flexibility in positioning of plate 106 on surface of said underpass;
iii) a vibrating sensor embedded within said plate 106, which detects vibrations on concrete surface, specifically vibrations caused by passage of heavy vehicles in real-time, wherein said microcontroller utilizes machine learning modules to analyze vibration data over time to track rate of change in vibration signals, enabling prediction of remaining useful life of overpass/ structure;
iv) a box 107 with hinged lid 108 mounted on said body 101, multiple cutting units 109 are provided inside said box 107, each mounted and connected to said body 101 via extendable bars 110 with secondary motorized ball-and-socket joints, enabling precise cutting of said overpass/ structure at a designated threshold area to expose structural rods for further inspection, wherein a corrosion sensor is embedded with said body 101 and synced with said imaging unit 104 to detect signs of corrosion or damage such as rust, cracks, or other deterioration; and
v) a panel 112 equipped with multiple pneumatic sharp bristles 113 attached to said body 101 through an extendable pole 114 with a tertiary motorized ball-and-socket joint, enabling said bristles 113 to scrub and remove rust from surface of exposed rods, only in case said detected level of corrosion recedes a threshold value.

2) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body 101 is installed with a vessel 111 containing multiple types of chemicals, each stored in separate sections, and based on type and intensity of rust detected, said microcontroller activates an electronic nozzle 115 attached with said sections to apply specific chemical solution to affected area.

3) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is capable of sending real-time alerts to relevant authorities via a wireless communication module, keeping them informed of important events, such as changes in condition of structural health, and enabling timely actions to be taken if necessary.

4) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller utilizes image processing and color sensing modules to detect structural damage, comparing images of overpass/ structure to a database of previously recorded data to identify deviations indicative of corrosion or material degradation.