AUSE-V1 Search and Rescue Flight Simulator

AUSE-V1 Search and Rescue Flight Simulator

1、Purpose and Significance 

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Petroleum is a very important resource in nowaday society, and the stability of large equipment in petrochemical plants and oil and gas pipelines is very important. the equipment and facilities in chemical plant are huge and complex, working under high temperature and high pressure conditions. They are exposed to the air for a long time and suffer the rain and wind, which is easy to have serious leakage accidents due to aging, corrosion and other problems. In order to ensure the normal operation of the chemical plant, it is necessary to conduct the routine inspections of the chemical plant and pipeline facilities to eliminate the hidden dangers of the equipment and pipelines in time. UAV patrol inspection is the new inspection technology that uses drones to carry other auxiliary equipment to inspect chemical plants. It can effectively supplement the patrol inspection areas that manual patrol inspection is difficult or difficult to reach by manual inspection. It greatly improves the inspection efficiency and ensures the normal operation of the installation equipment.

3、Project Development Content and Implementation Plan

3.1 3D Scene Modeling of Petrochemical Plant

1）Scene Oblique Photography Modeling of Chemical Plant 

Analyze and use the data of UAV application scene in the real chemical plant, and use the oblique photography technology to perform 3D modeling of the whole plant area to truly restore the full picture of the chemical equipment and layout of the large petrochemical plant. Import the constructed 3D modeling into the 3D engine UE.

3.2 UAV and Modeling of Patrol Inspection Equipment 

1）Modeling of Flight Platform 

The platform supports many mainstream UAV models. At the same time, in cooperation with UAV manufacturers and by using the UAV sizes, CAD drawings, and prototype photo method with 3dMax tools provided by them, the platform can conduct real modeling and make equal-scale 3D models for special-purpose UAV such as explosion-proof UAV in chemical plants to realize the details restoration of the UAV.

2）Modeling of Patrol Inspection Equipment

Really restore the UAV equipped with mission equipment: infrared thermal imaging camera, telephoto zoom camera, megaphone, explosion test instrument (gas leak test), equipped with mold (mission equipment expansion module). Realize the real restoration of mission equipment details and application methods.

3.3 Petrochemical UAV Patrol Inspection Process and Subject Development

1）Patrol Inspection of High-rise Reaction Device 

The system conducts refined modeling of important high-rise reaction devices, such as simulating faults and defects of high-rise equipment and the corrosion and shedding of building exterior coatings; simulating UAV to patrol key equipment of torch facilities above 80 meters, such as torch high-altitude igniters and permanent light thermocouples. And the system correspondingly sets the faults and defects of related equipment.

2) Oil and Gas Leak Detection and Leak Location

Conduct leak detection of important equipment and facilities in the plant area  by simulating visible light day and night and infrared scenes. Restore the leak patrol inspection of UAV daily inspection equipped with a gas detector in the plant area. Under emergency conditions, it is equipped with visible light and infrared equipment to quickly confirm and locate the leak source of devices.

3)Plant Power Patrol Inspection

Conduct refined modeling of power supply line facilities and parts in the plant area, and develop power supply inspection module in the UAV plant area. The UAV conducts simulated patrol inspections on the overhead power supply lines and equipment in the plant area, and develops corresponding defect modules. Train the ability of fast recognition and handling of operators to ensure the safety of power usage in the plant area.

4) Basic Flight Skills Training

Design basic flight skills training for UAV such as take off, landing, hovering, figure eight flight and four-sided flight route according to relevant forensics and flight operation requirements of key skill points for flight operations to exercise basic flight skills of operators. 

3.4 Environmental Impact Factors Research and Unexpected Situation Response Development

Research and develop the impact of unexpected accidents such as electromagnetic interference, meteorological change, and sudden change in wind direction between high-rise buildings in the chemical plant area on UAV and the response strategies and skills of operators. Add the influencing factors (icing, cloudy, sunny, temperature, wind, cloud, rain, snow, fog, GPS failure, collision, etc.) to the patrol inspection scene. Train the response ability of operators in emergency. Study the procedures and elements of chemical plant patrol inspection. Formulate a quality evaluation plan of simulating operation shooting data. So that the staff can master the UAV patrol inspection skills in the training, and comprehensively train the operators from the three aspects of patrol inspection business logic, safety awareness and operation skills to allow them to improve the accident handling ability and business level through practice and ensure the stable and safe operation of chemical plants.
 

3.5 Key Technology

1) Real-time Simulation of UAV Flight Characteristics Based on Airsim+pixhawk

In view of the complex environment characteristics during the flight of real UAV patrol inspection, study the flight characteristics of different types of common UAV under different environmental conditions and the effects of these factors on the flight characteristics and handling of the UAV. Use Pixhawk+Airsim to realize the simulation of aircraft characteristics. Build an aircraft driving environment in a real scene based on Microsoft AirSim to provide a realistic environment and simulate the power and sensing of the UAV and give users the most realistic operating experience.

2) High-precision 3D Scene Modeling

Use data from real chemical plant patrol inspection scenes to construct 3D models of UAV, equipment modules, scenes, chemical equipment and pipelines in the simulation system, and perform refined modeling based on the drawing data, and import the constructed 3D modules into the 3D engine UE. The three-dimensional scene has the friendly visual interface, complete model base effects, clear model details, high-quality particles and realistic effects.

3) Interactive Integration of VR and Simulation

Develop head-mounted devices as the main input tool to enable learners to be completely surrounded by virtual scenes and synchronize real-time spatial positioning. It no longer uses traditional input methods such as button handles and consoles, and integrates real UAV handles and flight control to achieve the same operation mode as the actual UAV operation.

4)Simulation of Natural Influence Factors

Study the impact of complex factors (icing, cloudy, sunny, temperature, wind, cloud, rain, snow, fog, GPS failure, collision, etc.) on the performance and handling of UAV. In view of the complex terrain and environment characteristics of chemical plants, study the flight characteristics of different types of common UAV in  chemical plant reaction devices and complex terrain environment conditions between high-rise buildings and the effects of these unfavorable factors on the flight characteristics and handling of the UAV. Integrate these factors into the simulation system to restore the UAV line patrol operation in the real and complex environment, and train the response ability of operators in emergency.