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Structural displacement measurement using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with lasers

  • US 10,641,898 B1
  • Filed: 04/03/2017
  • Issued: 05/05/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method to measure displacements of structures using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with laser generators, the method comprising:

  • flying a UAV equipped with a laser generator proximal to a structure;

    during said flying the UAV, directing a laser generated by the laser generator at the structure;

    during said flying the UAV, receiving, at the UAV, reflected laser light which is reflected off of the structure;

    during said receiving reflected laser light, measuring individual movement of the UAV with an onboard vehicle motion sensor;

    analyzing Doppler shifts in the reflected laser light in order to calculate relative movement of the UAV and the structure; and

    subtracting at least one component of the individual movement of the UAV, measured by the onboard vehicle motion sensor, from at least one component of the relative movement of the UAV and the structure, in order to calculate at least one displacement of the structure.

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