Property inspection devices, methods, and systems

• US 10,129,508 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Hillman, James P., Blasing, Cynthia D., Brunet, Damien J., Cable, Dan D., Fernandez, Adolfo J., Kreth, Jeffrey A., Osborne, Shane C., Pacheco, Robert A., Sokolowski, Renee A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holder, Anner N
• Application Number:
  US15/091,365
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The present disclosure describes structural inspection devices, methods, and systems. One inspection device includes a pole, a sensor coupled to an end of the pole and configured to capture a multispectral image of a roof, and a number of attachments coupled to the pole and configured to stabilize the pole on or within the structure.

Claims

1. A method for performing an inspection of a structure using a remotely located multispectral sensor device comprising:

positioning a multispectral sensor within the structure, wherein the multispectral sensor includes an audio sensor and an image capture sensor;

capturing, by the multispectral sensor, data relating to a structure, the data including audio data and image data;

remotely causing the multispectral sensor to move within the structure while capturing the data;

electronically transmitting the data to a computer server and electronically receiving the data in the computer server;

analyzing the captured data in the computer server to determine a condition of the structure, wherein analyzing the data includes overlaying the audio data and the image data from a common location to determine the condition of the structure; and

electronically transmitting the condition of the structure to an operator of the multispectral sensor device.

2. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 1 wherein the image data and the audio data describe a roof portion of the structure.

3. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of remotely causing occurs in accordance with a schedule.

4. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of remotely causing occurs on an ad hoc basis.

5. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 1 wherein the multispectral sensor includes an infrared sensor.

6. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 1 wherein capturing, by the multispectral sensor device, data relating to the structure includes:

extending a pole having a sensor mount coupled to an end thereof;

stabilizing the extended pole on a portion of the structure using a bipod attachment coupled to the pole; and

capturing a portion of the image data or the audio data while the extended pole is stabilized on the portion of the structure using the multispectral sensor coupled to the sensor mount,

wherein positioning the multispectral sensor within the structure is accomplished using the pole, and

wherein the multispectral sensor is released from the sensor mount before moving within the structure while capturing the image data or the audio data.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the multispectral sensor further includes a mechanical testing device that hammers or creates friction with the structure.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio sensor includes a stethoscope.

7. A method for performing an inspection of an insured property using a remotely located sensor device comprising:

positioning a multispectral sensor within the insured property, wherein the multispectral sensor includes an audio sensor and an image capture sensor;

capturing, by the multispectral sensor, image data and audio data;

remotely causing the multispectral sensor to move within the insured property while capturing the image data and the audio data;

electronically transmitting the image data and audio data to a computer server located remotely from the sensor device and electronically receiving the image data and audio data in the computer server;

analyzing the image data and audio data in the computer server to determine a type and condition of material present, wherein analyzing the data includes overlaying the audio data and the image data from a common location to determine the type and condition; and

determine in the computer server if the determined type of material is suitable for continued use on the insured property based on the condition.

8. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 7 wherein the condition includes structural integrity of the determined type of material.

9. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 8 wherein the condition includes suitability of use for the determined type of material in reference to a geographic location the insured property is located.

10. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 7 wherein the image data and audio data are of a roof portion of the insured property.

11. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 7 wherein capturing by a sensor device the captured image of the insured property includes:

extending a pole having a sensor mount coupled to an end thereof;

stabilizing the extended pole on a portion of the insured property using a bipod attachment coupled to the pole; and

capturing a portion of the image data or the audio data while the extended pole is stabilized on the portion of the insured property using the sensor device coupled to the sensor mount,

wherein positioning the multispectral sensor within the insured property is accomplished using the pole, and

wherein the multispectral sensor is released from the sensor mount before moving within the insured property while capturing the data.

12. An inspection system, comprising:

an extendable pole;

an adjustable sensor mount coupled to an end of the extendable pole;

a releasable sensor device coupled to the adjustable sensor mount;

an extendable bipod attachment coupled to the extendable pole and configured to stabilize within a structure; and

a mobile device configured to instruct the releasable sensor device to;

release the releasable sensor device from the adjustable sensor mount;

capture image data and audio data of the structure;

remotely cause the sensor device to move within the structure while capturing the image data and audio data; and

send the image data and audio data to the mobile device wherein the mobile device electronically transmits the data; and

a computer server located remotely from the mobile device configured to electronically receiving the image data and audio data from the mobile device and analyze the image data and audio data to perform an inspection process of the structure, wherein analyzing the data includes overlaying the audio data and the image data from a common location to determine a condition of the structure.

13. An inspection system as recited in claim 12 wherein the computer server is further configured to electronically transmit instructions to an operator of the releasable sensor device regarding an action based on the inspection of a roof of the structure.

14. The inspection system of claim 13, wherein analyzing the image data and audio data in the computer server determines structural integrity of material at the common location.

15. The inspection system of claim 14, wherein the structural integrity of the material is determined by the computer server.

16. The inspection system of claim 13, wherein the action includes instructions for acquiring additional multispectral imagery of the structure.

17. The inspection system of claim 12, wherein the releasable sensor device includes one or more of wheels or a propeller configured to move the sensor device within the structure.

18. The inspection system of claim 12, further comprising:

a fiber optic visual sensor extendable from the extendable pole, wherein the fiber optic visual sensor collects at least a portion of the image data.