UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20120262708A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cyberhawk Innovations Limited
• Original Assignee: Cyberhawk Innovations Limited
• Inventors: Connolly, Malcolm Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/511,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262708A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/237.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0075 by means of external apparatus, e.g. test benches or portable test systems G01M5/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

There is herein described an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of inspecting, identifying, and/or categorising defects on objects to be inspected using visible and/or non-visible wavelengths from infra-red to ultraviolet. More particularly, there is herein described a remotely controlled or autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle capable of inspecting, identifying, and/or categorising defects on objects to be inspected using visible and/or non-visible wavelengths from infra-red to ultraviolet and displaying information relating to said defects.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

inspection means capable of inspecting defects on objects;

categorization means capable of detecting the size and/or geometry and/or type of defects in real time or in post-processing of the data; and

detection and/or comparison means capable of detecting new defects and/or comparing the size and/or category of the defects with previous size and/or category measurements taken of the defects;

wherein by an overall assessment of the defect is capable of being made.

2. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of inspecting potential defects located in difficult to access positions.

3. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of being used to inspect any form of objects potentially containing defects at a raised level.

4. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is remotely controlled by a user from the ground, vehicle or building or which has been pre-programmed with a series of waypoints/actions to carry out a flight/inspection autonomously without control from the ground, vehicle or building.

5. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is a remote controlled helicopter and is capable of hovering in a stationary or substantially stationary position to inspect defects on objects.

6. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the defects are any form of defects including one or more defects selected from the group consisting of cracks;

fractures;

corrosion;

wind damage;

lightning damage;

heat damage;

damage caused by workmen;

distortion;

pitting;

scaling/deposits;

missing items;

leaks;

misalignment;

weld defects;

mechanical damage;

delamination;

gel blisters;

porosity;

manufacturing defects; and

correct operation of equipment.

7. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the visual inspection means are any suitable type of optical camera and/or video camera apparatus capable of inspecting and/or monitoring defects.

8. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises sizing means and is therefore capable of detecting and/or monitoring defects to see if they are progressively getting worse.

9. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle inspects defects on objects but is also capable of categorizing defects which includes determining the size and/or geometry and/or type/definition of any defects found.

10. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle uses a combination of sensors to detect and/or monitor and evaluate defects.

11. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle carries a camera in combination with distance measuring equipment and in conjunction with a software program to size defects from a photograph or in real time on a base station/screen.

12. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle operates by measuring the distance the unmanned aerial vehicle is from an object being monitored.

13. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle comprises detection and/or comparison means capable of comparing the size and/or category of the defects in real time or post-processing with previous size and/or category measurements taken of the defects which allows an overall assessment of the defect to be made and allows a decision to be made if the defect can be continued to be monitored or if immediate maintenance and/or repair is required.

14. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle transmits the collected images to a base station or the unmanned aerial vehicle where any necessary processing of the collected images and/or video footage is performed.

15. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a base station also comprises a display screen capable of displaying images being taken by the unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. A method of inspecting defects on an object using an unmanned aerial vehicle wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is as defined in claim 1.

19. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the defects on objects are inspected using visible means and/or non-visible wavelengths from infra-red to ultraviolet.

20. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 10, wherein stills and/or video footage captured by camera equipment are used to detect and/or monitor and evaluate defects.

21. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the camera is a visual camera, an infrared camera, or a UV camera.

22. An unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle from an object being monitored is measured using an algorithm which calculates the length/breadth of any feature on the object being inspected by correlating the number of pixels, focal length of the camera and distance from the object.

16. A method of inspecting defects on an object using an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising, said method comprising:

providing inspection means capable of inspecting defects on objects;

providing categorization means capable of detecting the size and/or geometry and/or type of defects in real time or in post-processing of the data; and

detection and/or comparison means capable of detecting new defects and/or comparing the size and/or category of the defects in with previous size and/or category measurements taken of the defects;

wherein by an overall assessment of the defect is capable of being made.

18. (canceled)