Unmanned Apparatus Traversal And Inspection System
First Claim
1. An unmanned apparatus for use in traversing and inspecting at least a portion of an elongated structure, the unmanned apparatus comprisingat least one structural member defining a recess sized and configured to receive the portion of the elongated structure;
- attachment means for attaching the unmanned apparatus to the elongated structure, the attachment means comprising traversal means for traversing at least the portion of the elongated structure; and
a plurality of cameras coupled to at least a portion of the unmanned apparatus, the cameras being configured so that the cameras are collectively capable of providing one or more images of the entire surface area of at least the portion of the elongated structure.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned apparatus for use in traversing and inspecting at least a portion of an elongated structure. The unmanned apparatus includes at least one structural member defining a recess sized and configured to receive the portion of the elongated structure. In one aspect, the unmanned apparatus includes a clamping mechanism coupled to the structural member, wherein the clamping mechanism is capable of detachably attaching the unmanned apparatus to the elongated structure. A locomotion system is actuated while the unmanned apparatus is attached to the elongated structure causing the unmanned apparatus to traverse at least a portion of the elongated structure. The unmanned apparatus includes a plurality of cameras and/or at least one sensor capable of providing information regarding the structural integrity of the interior and/or exterior of the elongated structure. A method of inspecting and traversing at least a portion of the elongated structure is also described.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. An unmanned apparatus for use in traversing and inspecting at least a portion of an elongated structure, the unmanned apparatus comprising
at least one structural member defining a recess sized and configured to receive the portion of the elongated structure; -
attachment means for attaching the unmanned apparatus to the elongated structure, the attachment means comprising traversal means for traversing at least the portion of the elongated structure; and a plurality of cameras coupled to at least a portion of the unmanned apparatus, the cameras being configured so that the cameras are collectively capable of providing one or more images of the entire surface area of at least the portion of the elongated structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of traversing and inspecting at least a portion of an elongated structure using an unmanned apparatus, the method comprising
disposing a portion of the elongated structure within a recess defined by a structural member of the unmanned apparatus, the recess sized and configured to receive the portion of the elongated structure and the unmanned apparatus comprising (i) attachment means for attaching the unmanned apparatus to the elongated structure when the elongated structure is disposed within the recess, the attachment means comprising traversal means for moving the unmanned apparatus relative to at least the portion of the elongated structure, and (ii) a plurality of cameras coupled to at least one portion of the unmanned apparatus, the cameras being configured so that the cameras are collectively capable of providing one or more images of the entire surface area of at least the portion of the elongated structure; -
biasing at least a portion of the traversal means into contact with the portion of the elongated structure; actuating the traversal means so that the unmanned apparatus traverses at least the portion of the elongated structure; and capturing with the cameras one or more images of at least the portion of the elongated structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of inspecting the internal structural integrity of at least a portion of an elongated structure, the method comprising
coupling a sensor to an unmanned apparatus, wherein the sensor comprises a transmitter proximate a receiver; -
transmitting at least one wave form having a pre-determined frequency from the transmitter to the elongated structure; and receiving the wave form from the elongated structure with the receiver, such that information regarding the internal structural integrity of the elongated structure may be discerned from the received wave form. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. An unmanned apparatus for use in traversing and inspecting at least a portion of an elongated structure, the unmanned apparatus comprising
at least one structural member defining a recess sized and configured to receive the portion of the elongated structure; -
attachment means for attaching the unmanned apparatus to the elongated structure, the attachment means comprising traversal means for traversing at least the portion of the elongated structure; and at least one sensor coupled to a portion of the unmanned apparatus, the sensor comprising a transmitter proximate a receiver, wherein at least one wave form is transmitted from the transmitter to the elongated structure and thereafter received by the receiver, such that information regarding the elongated structure may be recovered from the wave form. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method of traversing and inspecting at least a portion of an elongated structure using an unmanned apparatus, the method comprising
disposing a portion of the elongated structure within a recess defined by a structural member of the unmanned apparatus, the recess sized and configured to receive the portion of the elongated structure and the unmanned apparatus comprising (i) attachment means for attaching the unmanned apparatus to the elongated structure when the elongated structure is disposed within the recess, the attachment means comprising traversal means for moving the unmanned apparatus relative to at least the portion of the elongated structure, and (ii) at least one sensor comprising a transmitter proximate a receiver, wherein at least one wave form is transmitted from the transmitter to the elongated structure and thereafter received by the receiver, such that information regarding the internal portion of the elongated structure may be recovered from the wave form; -
biasing at least a portion of the traversal means into contact with the portion of the elongated structure; actuating the traversal means so that the unmanned apparatus traverses at least the portion of the elongated structure; and detecting with the sensor information regarding the internal portion of the elongated structure. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
-
Specification