ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING WITH AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20130292512A1
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Erben, Erik, Habing, Robert, Tubbeh, Nader
• Granted Patent: US 8,820,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/294 Rotors arranged in the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2279 high altitude, e.g. rockets, balloons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2285 Details of probe structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/245 Fans

Abstract

Environmental samples are collected and analyzed using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In some examples, the sample is drawn into engagement with a sensor onboard a UAV by the existing fluid flow generated by a rotor fan through a duct of a ducted fan of the UAV. The quality characteristics of the fluid sample may be physically or wirelessly delivered to a remote location. In some examples, samples are drawn into engagement with the sensor by a flexible tube that is attached to an outer surface of the UAV. The flexible tube may allow the UAV to precisely target and collect samples of dust and moisture and other materials from the ground over which the UAV operates.

Claims

1. A ducted fan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the ducted fan comprising:

a rotor fan;

an engine operatively connected to and configured to cause rotation of the rotor fan;

an annular duct surrounding the fan, wherein rotation of the rotor fan causes a working fluid to be drawn through the duct to generate thrust to propel the VTOL;

an avionics pod attached to an outer section of the annular duct;

a fluid sample device attached to the avionics pod,

wherein the fluid sample device comprises a sensor configured to detect a quality characteristic of a fluid that engages the sensor, and

wherein the fluid sample device is arranged such that a working fluid drawn by the rotor fan through the duct engages the sensor.

2. The ducted fan of claim 1, wherein the fluid sample device comprises an inlet door on a first side of the fluid sample device and an outlet door on a second side of the fluid sample device opposing the first side, and wherein the inlet door and outlet door are configured to be adjusted to control a fluid flow to an interior section of the fluid sample device.

3. The ducted fan of claim 2, wherein the inlet door and outlet door are configured to be actuated autonomously.

4. The ducted fan of claim 2, wherein the inlet door and outlet door are both actuated by a motor that is located within the interior section of the fluid sample device.

5. The ducted fan of claim 4, further comprising avionics that are contained within the avionics pod, wherein the avionics comprise a digital processor, and wherein the digital processor is configured to control the motor and to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the quality characteristic of the fluid sample.

6. The ducted fan of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive sensor.

7. The ducted fan of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a collection membrane.

8. The ducted fan of claim 7, wherein the collection membrane is chemically coated, and wherein the chemical coating is configured to generate a visible indication based on the quality characteristic detected by the collection membrane.

9. The ducted fan of claim 7, wherein the collection membrane is a cassette that is configured to be removable.

10. The ducted fan of claim 9, wherein the cassette is attached to the fluid sample device with a hook-and-loop fastening system.

11. The ducted fan of claim 1, further comprising a flexible tube configured to be attached to an outer surface of the avionics pod, wherein the tube is connected to an inlet of the fluid sampling device and configured such that the working fluid drawn by the rotor fan through the duct generates a pressure differential that causes a fluid to be drawn from a distal end of the tube into the fluid sampling device through the inlet and engage the sensor.

12. The ducted fan of claim 11, wherein the tube is rubber or plastic.

13. The ducted fan of claim 1, wherein the avionics pod comprises a battery and avionics, and wherein the fluid sampling device is arranged between the battery and the avionics.

14. The ducted fan of claim 1, further comprising a radio transceiver, and wherein the fluid sample device is configured to analyze the quality characteristic and wirelessly communicate results of the analysis to a remote computing device via the radio transceiver.

15. The ducted fan of claim 1, wherein the quality characteristic comprises at least one of sulphur dioxide, any oxide of nitrogen, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, non-methane hydrocarbon, benzene, toluene, xylene, lead, ammonia, methane, solar radiation, suspended particulate matter, or any respirable particulate matter.

16. A method comprising:

flying a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle to a location, wherein the VTOL comprises a rotor fan, an engine operatively connected to and configured to cause rotation of the rotor fan, an annular duct surrounding the fan, and an avionics pod attached to an outer section of the annular duct, wherein the rotation of the rotor fan causes a working fluid to be drawn through the duct to generate thrust to propel the VTOL;

collecting a sample of working fluid on a fluid sample device that is attached to the avionics pod, wherein the fluid sample device comprises a sensor that is configured to detect a quality characteristic of the fluid that engages the sensor, and wherein the fluid sample device is arranged such that the working fluid drawn by the rotor fan through the duct engages the sensor; and

flying the VTOL vehicle to another location.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising actuating an inlet door that is operatively connected to the VTOL vehicle so that the inlet door opens;

actuating an outlet door that is operatively connected to the VTOL vehicle so that the outlet door opens;

actuating the inlet door so that the inlet door closes; and

actuating the outlet door so that the outlet door closes.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor is configured to analyze the quality characteristic and wirelessly communicate the results.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising flying the VTOL vehicle adjacent the ground;

operating the VTOL vehicle such that the working fluid flowing through the duct agitates a ground material; and

collecting a sample of the ground material on the sensor through a flexible tube attached to an outer surface of the avionics pod, wherein the tube is connected to an inlet of the fluid sampling device and configured such that the working fluid drawn by the rotor fan through the duct generates a pressure differential that causes the ground material to be drawn from a distal end of the tube into the fluid sampling device through the inlet and engage the sensor.

20. A method comprising:

flying a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle to a location, wherein the VTOL comprises a rotor fan, an engine operatively connected to and configured to cause rotation of the rotor fan, an annular duct surrounding the fan, an avionics pod attached to an outer section of the annular duct, and a fluid sample device that is attached to the avionics pod, wherein the rotation of the rotor fan causes a working fluid to be drawn through the duct to generate thrust to propel the VTOL, and wherein the fluid sample device comprises a sensor that is configured to detect a quality characteristic of a ground material that engages the sensor;

flying the VTOL vehicle adjacent the ground;

operating the VTOL vehicle such that the working fluid flowing through the duct agitates the ground material;

collecting a sample of the ground material on the sensor through a flexible tube attached to an outer surface of the avionics pod, wherein the tube is connected to an inlet of the fluid sampling device and configured such that the working fluid drawn by the rotor fan through the duct generates a pressure differential that causes the ground material to be drawn from a distal end of the tube into the fluid sampling device through the inlet and engage the sensor; and

flying the VTOL vehicle to another location.