Aware Vehicles, Inc. — Department of Transportation SBIR Phase I: 180FH2

Description

High-Spatial and Hyperspectral-Resolution Imaging for Bridge Inspection 3/12/2018 Four out of 10 national bridges have been in service for 50 or more years which have undergone different levels of structural deficiency; other relatively newer bridges are constantly exposed to natural and artificial hazards and are likely structurally deficient in their life cycles. This SBIR project aims to develop an aerial-ground vehicle high-throughput (high resolution and hyperspectral) imaging system with three systematically integrated features that may ultimately result in a lost-cost and high-sensitivity tool for non-invasive condition assessment and damage detection of bridges. First, the system relies on the use of high spatial-resolution imaging (via a ground vehicle mounted camera array) to monitor structural response. Such high-definition structural response will then be used as a basis for structural integrity monitoring and finite element based damage localization. Second, by carrying an integrative imaging payload including hyperspectral and stereo imagers in an aerial unmanned vehicle (UAV), level-of-detail structural damage detection will be realized. Lastly, the ground and the aerial vehicles are integrated through an innovative smart docking system. Combing the three innovative features, the system realizes noninvasive bridge assessment with significant flexibility, economic efficiency, and high-sensitivity.