SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTION OF STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS BY SWARM OF REMOTE UNMANNED VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A method for inspecting structures, comprising:
- using a plurality of independent unmanned mobile vehicles;
equipping each of said unmanned mobile vehicles with a control and guidance system for enabling each said unmanned mobile vehicle to operate autonomously;
programming each said unmanned mobile vehicle with an operating program that defines a path of travel for each said unmanned mobile vehicle, relative to a structure to be inspected;
deploying each said unmanned mobile vehicle so that said unmanned mobile vehicles cooperatively form a swarm that travels about said structure; and
using at least one of said unmanned mobile vehicles to obtain inspection data for a portion of said structure as it executes its respective said operating program.
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Abstract
A method for inspecting structures that includes using a plurality of independent unmanned mobile vehicles. The unmanned mobile vehicles are equipped with a control and guidance system for enabling each unmanned mobile vehicle to operate autonomously. Each unmanned mobile vehicle may be programmed with an operating program that defines a path of travel for it, relative to a structure to be inspected. The unmanned mobile vehicles are deployed so that they cooperatively form a swarm that travels about the structure. At least one of said unmanned mobile vehicles is used to obtain inspection data of a portion of the structure as it executes its respective operating program.
85 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting structures, comprising:
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using a plurality of independent unmanned mobile vehicles; equipping each of said unmanned mobile vehicles with a control and guidance system for enabling each said unmanned mobile vehicle to operate autonomously; programming each said unmanned mobile vehicle with an operating program that defines a path of travel for each said unmanned mobile vehicle, relative to a structure to be inspected; deploying each said unmanned mobile vehicle so that said unmanned mobile vehicles cooperatively form a swarm that travels about said structure; and using at least one of said unmanned mobile vehicles to obtain inspection data for a portion of said structure as it executes its respective said operating program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inspecting structures, comprising:
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using a plurality of independent unmanned mobile vehicles; equipping each of said unmanned mobile vehicles with a control and guidance system for enabling each said unmanned mobile vehicle to operate autonomously; programming each said unmanned mobile vehicle with an operating program that defines a unique path of travel for each said unmanned mobile vehicle, relative to a structure to be inspected; deploying each said unmanned mobile vehicle so that said unmanned mobile vehicles cooperatively form a swarm that travels about said structure; using said unmanned mobile vehicles to obtain images of portions of said structure as each said unmanned mobile vehicle executes its respective said operating program; and causing each said unmanned mobile vehicle to wirelessly transmit said images to a remote centralized inspection station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for inspecting structures, comprising:
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a plurality of independent unmanned mobile vehicles; each of said unmanned mobile vehicles having a control and guidance system for enabling each said unmanned mobile vehicle to operate autonomously; each of said unmanned mobile vehicles including an operating program that defines a path of travel for each said unmanned vehicle, relative to a structure to be inspected, so that in operation said unmanned mobile vehicles cooperatively form a swarm that moves about said structure; and at least one of said unmanned mobile vehicles including an imaging device to obtain an image of a portion of said structure as it executes its respective said operating program. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification