Cell tower installation and maintenance systems and methods using robotic devices

• US 10,384,804 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: Priest, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Lett, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US15/205,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20160320775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 455424
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/022 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method for installation and maintenance of cell site components on a cell tower with a robotic device includes causing the robotic device to traverse the cell tower to a desired location proximate to the cell site components; at the desired location and stabilized to the cell tower, causing manipulation components to perform one or more of installation and maintenance of the cell site components; and, subsequent to the one or more of installation and maintenance of the cell site components, causing the robotic device to scale down the cell tower.

Claims

1. A method for installation and maintenance of cell site components on a cell tower with a robotic device, the method comprising:

causing the robotic device to traverse up the cell tower to a desired location proximate to the cell site components, wherein the robotic device traverses up and down the cell tower via climbing components associated with the robotic device, wherein the climbing components are attached to a body and comprise a plurality of wheels connected to the body and a wheel connected to a member that is connected to the body such that the wheel and the plurality of wheels are configured to traverse the cell tower and stabilize the robotic device to the cell tower, and wherein the robotic device remains in physical contact with the cell tower while the robotic device traverses up and down the cell tower, wherein the robotic device is utilized to bring a cable up the cell tower and to connect the cable to the cell site components;

once at the desired location and stabilized to the cell tower, causing manipulation components disposed to the robotic device to perform one or more of installation and maintenance of the cable to the cell site components; and

subsequent to the one or more of installation and maintenance of the cell site components, causing the robotic device to traverse down the cell tower.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell tower comprises one of a self-support tower, a monopole tower, and a guyed tower, and climbing components for the robotic device are configured based on a type of the cell tower.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation components comprise one or more members with robotic arms coupled thereto.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the robotic device comprises:

a body comprising a processor and wireless components;

climbing components disposed to the body; and

the manipulation components moveably disposed to the body.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing is performed by one of a mobile device and a controller wirelessly coupled to the robotic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing is performed by one of a Heads Up Display and a Virtual Reality controller wirelessly coupled to the robotic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell site components are installed by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

8. An apparatus for installation and maintenance of cell site components on a cell tower with a robotic device, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless interface; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

cause the robotic device to traverse up the cell tower to a desired location proximate to the cell site components, wherein the robotic device is utilized to bring a cable up the cell tower and to connect the cable to the cell site components;

once at the desired location and stabilized to the cell tower, cause manipulation components disposed to the robotic device to perform one or more of installation and maintenance of the cable to the cell site components; and

subsequent to the one or more of installation and maintenance of the cell site components, cause the robotic device to traverse down the cell tower,

wherein the robotic device traverses up and down the cell tower via climbing components associated with the robotic device, wherein the climbing components are attached to a body and comprise a plurality of wheels connected to the body and a wheel connected to a member that is connected to the body such that the wheel and the plurality of wheels are configured to traverse the cell tower and stabilize the robotic device to the cell tower, and wherein the robotic device remains in physical contact with the cell tower while the robotic device traverses up and down the cell tower.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cell tower comprises one of a self-support tower, a monopole tower, and a guyed tower, and climbing components for the robotic device are configured based on a type of the cell tower.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the manipulation components comprise one or more members with robotic arms coupled thereto.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the robotic device comprises:

a body comprising a processor and wireless components;

climbing components disposed to the body; and

the manipulation components moveably disposed to the body.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is one of a mobile device and a controller wirelessly coupled to the robotic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is one of a Heads Up Display and a Virtual Reality controller wirelessly coupled to the robotic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cell site components are installed by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).