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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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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Series: | Sensors |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:27:23Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-b0f6ff77f91d4614816b9a92a45260c3 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1424-8220 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:27:23Z |
publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Sensors |
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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