A Virtual-Reality-Based Training and Assessment System for Bridge Inspectors With an Assistant Drone
A Virtual-Reality-Based Training and Assessment System for Bridge Inspectors With an Assistant Drone
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DOI：
10.1109/thms.2022.3155373
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发表时间：
2022-03-25
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Qin, Ruwen
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Li, Yu;Karim, Muhammad Monjurul;Qin, Ruwen
在美国，超过60万座桥梁必须每两年进行一次检查，以确定可能需要后续维护的缺陷、缺陷或潜在问题。桥梁检查采用了无人驾驶飞行器（或无人机），以提高安全性，效率和成本效益。虽然无人机可以在自主模式下运行，但让检查员保持在循环中对于桥梁检查中的复杂任务至关重要。因此，检查人员需要培养在工作中操作无人机的技能和信心。本文介绍了一种基于虚拟现实技术的无人机辅助桥梁检测人员培训与考核系统的设计与开发。该系统由四个集成模块组成：在Unity中开发的模拟桥梁检查，允许学员使用遥控器在模拟中操作无人机的界面，数据监控和分析，为学员提供实时任务反馈，以帮助他们学习，以及支持个性化培训的学习后评估。本文还进行了概念验证试点研究，以说明该系统的功能。该研究表明，作为早期培训的工具，辅助无人机进行桥梁检测的培训和评估系统可以客观地详细识别个人的培训需求，并进一步帮助他们培养与无人机合作进行桥梁检测的技能和信心。该系统为探索民用基础设施人机协同检测的先进解决方案搭建了建模和分析平台。
Over 600 000 bridges in the U.S. must be inspected every two years to identify flaws, defects, or potential problems that may need follow-up maintenance. Bridge inspection has adopted unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones) for improving safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Although drones can operate in an autonomous mode, keeping inspectors in the loop is critical for complex tasks in bridge inspection. Therefore, inspectors need to develop the skill and confidence to operate drones in their jobs. This article presents the design and development of a virtual-reality-based training and assessment system for inspectors assisted by a drone in bridge inspection. The system is composed of four integrated modules: a simulated bridge inspection developed in Unity, an interface that allows a trainee to operate the drone in simulation using a remote controller, data monitoring and analysis to provide real-time in-task feedback to trainees to assist their learning, and a post-study assessment supporting personalized training. This article also conducts a proof-of-concept pilot study to illustrate the functionality of this system. The study demonstrated that the training and assessment system for bridge inspection with an assistant drone, as a tool for the early-stage training, can objectively identify the training needs of individuals in detail and, further, help them develop the skill and confidence in collaborating with a drone in bridge inspection. The system has built a modeling and analysis platform for exploring advanced solutions to the human-drone cooperative inspection of civil infrastructure.