Property inspection devices, methods, and systems

• US 10,462,429 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• 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:
  US16/139,834
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• 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.

Claims

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

positioning a multispectral sensor including an audio sensor and an image capture sensor;

capturing, by the multispectral sensor, data relating to the structure, the data including audio data and image 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 at least one of the positioning or the capturing occurs in accordance with a schedule.

4. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the positioning or the capturing 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; 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.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the multispectral sensor further includes a mechanical testing device.

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

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

positioning a multispectral sensor including an audio sensor and an image capture sensor;

capturing, by the multispectral sensor, image data and 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.

10. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 9, wherein the condition includes a structural integrity of the determined type of material.

11. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 10, wherein the condition includes suitability of use for the determined type of material in reference to a geographic location the insured property is located.

12. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 9, wherein the image data and audio data are of a roof portion of the insured property.

13. The method for performing the inspection as recited in claim 9, 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.

14. An inspection system, comprising:

a sensor device;

a mobile device configured to instruct the sensor device to;

capture image data and audio data of a structure, 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.

15. An inspection system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

an extendable pole; and

a sensor mount coupled to an end of the extendable pole,

wherein the sensor device is coupled to the sensor mount.

16. The inspection system of claim 15, wherein analyzing the image data and audio data in the computer server determines structural integrity of material at the common location.

17. The inspection system of claim 16, wherein the structural integrity of the material is determined by the computer server.

18. The inspection system of claim 14, wherein the sensor device includes a mechanical testing device.

19. The inspection system of claim 15, 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.

20. The inspection system of claim 14, wherein the image data and audio data are of a roof portion of the structure.