A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry

Frequent and accurate inspections of industrial components and equipment are essential because failures can cause unscheduled downtimes, massive material, and financial losses or even endanger workers. In the mining industry, belt idlers or rollers are examples of such critical components. Although...

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Main Authors: Regivaldo Carvalho, Richardson Nascimento, Thiago D’Angelo, Saul Delabrida, Andrea G. C. Bianchi, Ricardo A. R. Oliveira, Héctor Azpúrua, Luis G. Uzeda Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/8/2243
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author Regivaldo Carvalho
Richardson Nascimento
Thiago D’Angelo
Saul Delabrida
Andrea G. C. Bianchi
Ricardo A. R. Oliveira
Héctor Azpúrua
Luis G. Uzeda Garcia
author_facet Regivaldo Carvalho
Richardson Nascimento
Thiago D’Angelo
Saul Delabrida
Andrea G. C. Bianchi
Ricardo A. R. Oliveira
Héctor Azpúrua
Luis G. Uzeda Garcia
author_sort Regivaldo Carvalho
collection DOAJ
description Frequent and accurate inspections of industrial components and equipment are essential because failures can cause unscheduled downtimes, massive material, and financial losses or even endanger workers. In the mining industry, belt idlers or rollers are examples of such critical components. Although there are many precise laboratory techniques to assess the condition of a roller, companies still have trouble implementing a reliable and scalable procedure to inspect their field assets. This article enumerates and discusses the existing roller inspection techniques and presents a novel approach based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) integrated with a thermal imaging camera. Our preliminary results indicate that using a signal processing technique, we are able to identify roller failures automatically. We also proposed and implemented a back-end platform that enables field and cloud connectivity with enterprise systems. Finally, we have also cataloged the anomalies detected during the extensive field tests in order to build a structured dataset that will allow for future experimentation.
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spelling doaj.art-b0f6ff77f91d4614816b9a92a45260c32023-11-19T21:44:05ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202020-04-01208224310.3390/s20082243A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining IndustryRegivaldo Carvalho0Richardson Nascimento1Thiago D’Angelo2Saul Delabrida3Andrea G. C. Bianchi4Ricardo A. R. Oliveira5Héctor Azpúrua6Luis G. Uzeda Garcia7Instituto Tecnológico Vale (ITV), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilInstituto Tecnológico Vale (ITV), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilComputing Department (DECOM), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilComputing Department (DECOM), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilComputing Department (DECOM), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilComputing Department (DECOM), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilInstituto Tecnológico Vale (ITV), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilInstituto Tecnológico Vale (ITV), Ouro Preto 35.400-000, MG, BrazilFrequent and accurate inspections of industrial components and equipment are essential because failures can cause unscheduled downtimes, massive material, and financial losses or even endanger workers. In the mining industry, belt idlers or rollers are examples of such critical components. Although there are many precise laboratory techniques to assess the condition of a roller, companies still have trouble implementing a reliable and scalable procedure to inspect their field assets. This article enumerates and discusses the existing roller inspection techniques and presents a novel approach based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) integrated with a thermal imaging camera. Our preliminary results indicate that using a signal processing technique, we are able to identify roller failures automatically. We also proposed and implemented a back-end platform that enables field and cloud connectivity with enterprise systems. Finally, we have also cataloged the anomalies detected during the extensive field tests in order to build a structured dataset that will allow for future experimentation.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/8/2243conveyor beltidler rollersthermographyUAV inspectioncomputer visionmaintenance
spellingShingle Regivaldo Carvalho
Richardson Nascimento
Thiago D’Angelo
Saul Delabrida
Andrea G. C. Bianchi
Ricardo A. R. Oliveira
Héctor Azpúrua
Luis G. Uzeda Garcia
A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry
Sensors
conveyor belt
idler rollers
thermography
UAV inspection
computer vision
maintenance
title A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry
title_full A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry
title_fullStr A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry
title_full_unstemmed A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry
title_short A UAV-Based Framework for Semi-Automated Thermographic Inspection of Belt Conveyors in the Mining Industry
title_sort uav based framework for semi automated thermographic inspection of belt conveyors in the mining industry
topic conveyor belt
idler rollers
thermography
UAV inspection
computer vision
maintenance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/8/2243
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