False Ceiling Deterioration Detection and Mapping Using a Deep Learning Framework and the Teleoperated Reconfigurable ‘Falcon’ Robot

Periodic inspection of false ceilings is mandatory to ensure building and human safety. Generally, false ceiling inspection includes identifying structural defects, degradation in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, electrical wire damage, and pest infestation. Human-assisted false ceiling inspection is a laborious and risky task. This work presents a false ceiling deterioration detection and mapping framework using a deep-neural-network-based object detection algorithm and the teleoperated `Falcon’ robot. The object detection algorithm was trained with our custom false ceiling deterioration image dataset composed of four classes: structural defects (spalling, cracks, pitted surfaces, and water damage), degradation in HVAC systems (corrosion, molding, and pipe damage), electrical damage (frayed wires), and infestation (termites and rodents). The efficiency of the trained CNN algorithm and deterioration mapping was evaluated through various experiments and real-time field trials. The experimental results indicate that the deterioration detection and mapping results were accurate in a real false-ceiling environment and achieved an 89.53% detection accuracy.

Robot-Inclusive False Ceiling Design Guidelines

False ceilings are often utilised in residential and commercial spaces as a way to contain and conceal necessary but unattractive building infrastructure, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services. Concealing such elements has made it difficult to perform periodic inspection safely for maintenance. To complement this, there have been increasing research interests in mobile robots in recent years that are capable of accessing hard-to-reach locations, thus allowing workers to perform inspections remotely. However, current initiatives are met with challenges arising from unstructured site conditions that hamper the robot’s productivity for false ceiling inspection. The paper adopts a top-down approach known as “Design for Robots”, taking into account four robot-inclusive design principles: activity, accessibility, safety, observability. Falcon, a class of inspection robots, was used as a benchmark to identify spatial constraints according to the four principles. Following this, a list of false ceiling design guidelines for each category are proposed.

A Development Strategy for SHM Applications

Permanently installed SHM systems are now a viable alternative to traditional periodic inspection (NDT). However, their industrial use is limited and this paper reviews the steps required in developing practical SHM systems. The transducers used in SHM are fixed in location, whereas in NDT they are generally scanned. The aim is to reach similar performance with high temporal frequency, low spatial frequency SHM data to that achievable with conventional high spatial frequency, low temporal frequency NDT inspections. It is shown that this can be done via change tracking algorithms such as the Generalized Likelihood Ratio (GLR) but this depends on the input data being normally distributed, which can only be achieved if signal changes due to variations in the operating conditions are satisfactorily compensated; there has been much recent progress on this topic and this is reviewed. Since SHM systems can generate large volumes of data, it is essential to convert the data to actionable information, and this step must be addressed in SHM system design. It is also essential to validate the performance of installed SHM systems, and a methodology analogous to the model assisted POD (MAPOD) scheme used in NDT has been proposed. This uses measurements obtained from the SHM system installed on a typical undamaged structure to capture signal changes due to environmental and other effects, and to superpose the signal due to damage growth obtained from finite element predictions. There is a substantial research agenda to support the wider adoption of SHM and this is discussed.

The effect of training of food handlers in hospitals kitchen in Khartoum State, Sudan

An interventional research was conducted in the kitchens of Khartoum state hospitals 2021 on the impact of training of food handlers in (12) hospitals with (56) food handlers to identify food hygiene requirement. Training was done before and interventions training after. Questionnaires were filled out with food handlers and interview with nutrition supervisor about kitchens. The data was statistically analyzed by using the Statistic Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 25; the Paired Samples T Test and Chi-Square Test was used and there is an improvement at the level of indication 0.000 at the level (0.05). The results showed that the majority of food handlers were females (75%), the lack of quality of kitchens in buildings, equipment, utensils, hand facilities, no periodic inspection for raw materials and no any training about food safety and hygiene for all food services staff. The study concluded that training has an effective impact on kitchen quality. The study recommended that the ministry of health and hospitals to design kitchens with standardization and provide training to all workers periodically.

Safe Local Aerial Manipulation for the Installation of Devices on Power Lines: AERIAL-CORE First Year Results and Designs

The power grid is an essential infrastructure in any country, comprising thousands of kilometers of power lines that require periodic inspection and maintenance, carried out nowadays by human operators in risky conditions. To increase safety and reduce time and cost with respect to conventional solutions involving manned helicopters and heavy vehicles, the AERIAL-CORE project proposes the development of aerial robots capable of performing aerial manipulation operations to assist human operators in power lines inspection and maintenance, allowing the installation of devices, such as bird flight diverters or electrical spacers, and the fast delivery and retrieval of tools. This manuscript describes the goals and functionalities to be developed for safe local aerial manipulation, presenting the preliminary designs and experimental results obtained in the first year of the project.

HISTORICAL APPROACH TO RE-EXAMINATION OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR RESCUE FROM HEIGHT IN FIRE SERVICE UNITS

В статье рассмотрена историческая перспектива изменения нормативного подхода к периодическому освидетельствованию средств спасения с высоты. Глубина обзора не превышает 37 лет. Область обзора ограничена ведомственной принадлежностью к пожарной охране. The article discusses the historical perspective of changing the normative approach to periodic inspection of equipment for rescue from height. The depth of survey does not exceed 37 years. The scope of survey is limited by the departmental affiliation to fire service.

Quality of self-propelled sprayers through periodic inspection

The inspection of agricultural sprayers is a vital tool for the increment of quality of spray technology for phytosanitary products. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance conditions of self-propelled sprayers on-farm, using the periodical inspection methodology for sprays and analyzing the climatic conditions during the spraying. The evaluations were carried on farms visited randomly. A questionnaire was filled out by the operator or farmers and the inspection itself of the sprayers. The items evaluated were the condition and location of hoses, presence of leaks, monitor performance, spacing between nozzles, spray nozzles, in-line filter, primary filter, the performance of anti-dripping gauges, and limiting environmental conditions. Most interviewed operators and farmers did not know the methodology for inspecting agricultural sprayers, demonstrating the need to create specific training programs in the region. Self-propelled sprayers have a few technical problems when they were new, however, spraying beyond the ideal weather conditions can reduce the spraying quality.