Efficient Flight Paths for Aerial Corridor Inspection
First Claim
1. An aerial inspection system for a corridor comprising:
- an unmanned aerial vehicle,a power plant that can be stopped and restarted in flight mounted on said vehicle to propel said vehicle,an inspection sensor mounted on said vehicle to inspect said corridor,glide means for movement of said vehicle with said power plant off,power climb means for increasing altitude of said vehicle with said power plant on.
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Accused Products
Abstract
FIG. 1 shows an efficient flight path for airframe 10 with camera 16 flying along a transmission line utility corridor containing towers 40, 42, and 44. Between the towers the airframe is in a fast linear glide 18 to check the right of way for encroachment. Abreast of tower 42, the airframe spirals down 20 with power plant 11 off to take more detailed pictures. When the tower inspection is complete, power plant 11 is turned on to start a power climb 22 back up to prepare for glide 24 to the next tower 44, where the airframe again spirals down 26 for a closer inspection. On the return flight, a close-in conductor inspection is flown in catenary arcs with glides 28, 32 on the downslope and power climb 30, 34 on the upslope.
17 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An aerial inspection system for a corridor comprising:
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an unmanned aerial vehicle, a power plant that can be stopped and restarted in flight mounted on said vehicle to propel said vehicle, an inspection sensor mounted on said vehicle to inspect said corridor, glide means for movement of said vehicle with said power plant off, power climb means for increasing altitude of said vehicle with said power plant on. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for efficiently flying a segment of a flight plan during aerial inspection of a corridor comprising:
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providing an unmanned aerial vehicle, providing a power plant that can be turned on and off during flight mounted on said vehicle, providing an inspection sensor mounted on said vehicle, inspecting said corridor with said inspection sensor, providing an autopilot mounted on said vehicle, calculating glide start altitude on said autopilot, climbing under direction of said autopilot to said altitude with said vehicle with said power plant on, gliding said vehicle under direction of said autopilot with said power plant off. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification