Design and Development of an Autonomous Drone for Light Bulb
Replacement Using Image Processing and Robotics
Background of the Study
Lighting system maintenance is an important but difficult duty that many different
enterprises, homes, and public buildings must perform, especially in high or difficult-to-
reach regions. Specialized tools like ladders, scaffolding, or bucket trucks are frequently
needed for tasks like changing light bulbs in high ceilings, outdoor lamp posts, or
dangerous areas. Despite their effectiveness, these techniques are labor-intensive, time-
consuming, and dangerous for employees' safety.
Drone technology has completely changed sectors including logistics, agriculture, and
surveillance. Unmatched mobility, accessibility, and the capacity to function in difficult
circumstances are all provided by drones. They still have a lot of unrealized promise for
autonomous maintenance duties like changing lightbulbs. This gap offers a chance to
investigate creative solutions that combine robotic manipulation and image processing
with drones.
Image processing technologies have advanced significantly in recent years, enabling
systems to recognize objects, map environments, and make intelligent decisions. When
combined with the agility of drones, these technologies can be harnessed to identify light
bulb sockets, avoid obstacles, and perform precise movements required for light bulb
replacement. The use of a robotic arm further enhances the drone's capabilities, allowing
it to grip, unscrew, and replace bulbs safely and efficiently.
This study aims to address the challenges associated with light bulb replacement by
developing an autonomous drone equipped with image processing and robotic systems.
Such a solution not only minimizes risks and improves efficiency but also enables
maintenance in areas that are otherwise inaccessible or dangerous for human workers.
This innovation has the potential to revolutionize maintenance practices in industries,
public facilities, and even residential settings, paving the way for safer and more efficient
operations.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The replacement of light bulbs in hard-to-reach areas poses significant challenges for
individuals and maintenance teams. Traditional methods often rely on manual labor and
tools such as ladders, scaffolding, or specialized vehicles, which are not only time-
consuming and labor-intensive but also expose workers to safety risks. Falls, electrical
hazards, and accidents are common concerns, especially when performing maintenance
in elevated, confined, or hazardous spaces. Furthermore, accessing light bulbs in high
ceilings, tight corners, or industrial settings can be inefficient and logistically challenging.
Despite advancements in technology, there is a noticeable lack of automated systems
capable of safely and accurately performing light bulb replacement tasks without direct
human intervention. These issues highlight the need for an innovative solution that
prioritizes safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency. This study seeks to address
these challenges by developing an autonomous drone equipped with image processing
and robotic manipulation capabilities, offering a safer and more efficient alternative for
light bulb maintenance in various environments.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study aims to address a safer and efficient method in replacing light bulbs, especially in high
ceiling or elevated areas. By developing an autonomous drone that can replace light bulbs using
image processing and robotics, the study aims to contribute to the continuously advancing
technology.
One of the purposes of this study is the enhancement of safety in maintenance tasks, since
workers in industrial facilities and tall buildings are using a traditional way in replacing light bulbs
and are often exposed to significant risk. This drone-based solution minimizes the need for human
intervention in dangerous scenarios, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Additionally, the study offers a more efficient alternative to traditional maintenance methods. By
automating the process, the drone reduces the time and labor required for bulb replacement,
allowing for quicker and more cost-effective operations. This is particularly valuable in large-scale
facilities, such as factories, warehouses, and public spaces, where frequent maintenance is
required.
The study also contributes to the field of automation and robotics by exploring the integration of
drones with advanced image processing and robotic systems. This innovation can serve as a
foundation for future research and development in autonomous maintenance technologies,
expanding its applications beyond light bulb replacement to other complex tasks.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Image Processing
YOLO is a single stage detection method proposed by Redmon, J. [Link]. It tackles the object
detection problem into a single regression problem in which region detection and classification
occur simultaneously in its network. Currently, YOLOv3 is the state of art for single stage object
detection. YOLOv3 can basically achieve its real-time performance on a standard computer with
graphics processing unit (GPU). However, in the small-scale embedded devices, the algorithm
operates slowly. On the contrary, YOLOv3 tiny network can satisfy real-time requirements in
limited hardware resource. YOLOv3 tiny is a simplified version of YOLOv3 with relatively lighter
model size. Besides, YOLOv3 tiny implements only two scales of detection on feature maps of
two different sizes at two distinct places in the network. Previous works show that YOLOv3 tiny
can significantly improve the detection speed due to the extremely less convolution layers and
fewer filters in the layers [30, 38, 39]. However, the shallow architecture leads to a reduction in its
detection accuracy.
OPTIMIZATION OF THE ANCHOR BOX
Anchor boxes are a set of initial candidate boxes with a fixed height and width. The fixed
parameters provided by the anchors may not be suitable for specific dataset. Consequently, the
initialization of these anchor boxes will influence the detection model performance in terms of
accuracy and speed. Thus, it is crucial to assign appropriate anchor boxes suitable for the palm
dataset. Instead of manually mapping the coordinates of the anchor boxes, YOLOv3 implemented
K-means clustering algorithm on the dataset to calculate the optimal size and number of anchor
boxes automatically. The clusters developed by K-means indicate the distribution of the samples
in the dataset, which helps the network to learn easily and achieve better predictions. Average
IoU was adopted as the objective function to analyze the clustered box. (Junos et al., 2021, p. 30-
32).
METHODOLOGY
This study will develop an autonomous drone that is capable of replacing bulbs by integrating
image processing and robotics manipulation.
SYSTEM DESIGN
The researcher will choose a drone that is suited for the project and integrate robotic arms
in the drone that is capable of handling the light bulb and. The drone will also be installed
with a high-definition camera for identifying sockets, light bulbs and obstacles.
ROBOTIC ARM FUNCTIONALITY
Design a robotic mechanism that able to twist and turn the light bulb. This will be used in
replacing the bulbs. The mechanism also mush be build using lightweight materials for the
drone to carry.
OBJECT RECOGNITION
The YOLO neural network integrates the candidate boxes extraction, feature extraction
and objects classification methods into a neural network. The YOLO neural network
directly extracts candidate boxes from images and objects are detected through the entire
image features. Cameras will be mounted on the drone to provide real-time visual input.
Object detection algorithms will be implemented to identify light bulbs, sockets, and
obstacles.
GANTT CHART
Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Planning
Analysis
Design
Development
Implementation
Testing
Deployment
