UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE-BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS ASSOCIATED WITH CELL SITES AND CELL TOWERS WITH ROBOTIC ARMS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS

• US 20160309346A1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: PRIEST, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,764,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net

Abstract

A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight; physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV; and performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.

Claims

1. A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site, the method comprising:

causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight;

physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV; and

performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the one or more manipulable arms to provide payload to a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the payload is stationary in the one or more manipulable arms during flight.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the payload comprises any of wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the one or more manipulable arms to perform operations at on a cell tower at the cell site.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the operations comprise any of

installing wireless components, installing cables, installing nuts/bolts, installing antennas, installing supports, installing braces, installing lighting rods, installing lighting, installing electronics, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the physically connecting comprises extending a grappling arm from the UAV to attach to the structure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the physically connecting comprises connecting the UAV to an arm extending from the structure which is connectable to the UAV.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the physically connecting is via a connection which bears weight of the UAV, enabling movement of the one or more manipulable arms without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a tether connection is adapted to provide power to the UAV.

10. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site, the UAV comprising:

one or more rotors disposed to a body;

one or more manipulable arms disposed to the body;

a camera associated with the body;

wireless interfaces;

a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces and the camera; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

process commands to cause the one or more rotors to fly the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the one or more manipulable arms are stationary during flight;

process commands to cause the UAV to physically connect to a structure at the cell site and to disengage the one or more rotors; and

perform one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.

11. The UAV of claim 10, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:

process commands to cause the one or more manipulable arms to provide payload to a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the payload is stationary in the one or more manipulable arms during flight.

12. The UAV of claim 11, wherein the payload comprises any of wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, and combinations thereof.

13. The UAV of claim 10, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:

process commands to cause the one or more manipulable arms to perform operations at a cell tower at the cell site.

14. The UAV of claim 13, wherein the operations comprise any of

installing wireless components, installing cables, installing nuts/bolts, installing antennas, installing supports, installing braces, installing lighting rods, installing lighting, installing electronics, and combinations thereof.

15. The UAV of claim 10, wherein, to physically connect the UAV, a grappling arm extends from the UAV to attach to the structure.

16. The UAV of claim 10, wherein, to physically connect the UAV, an arm extends from the structure which is connectable to the UAV.

17. The UAV of claim 10, wherein, to physically connect the UAV, a connection bears weight of the UAV, enabling movement of the one or more manipulable arms without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight.

18. The UAV of claim 10, wherein a tether connection is adapted to provide power to the UAV.

19. A cell site, comprising:

a cell tower with cell site components associated therewith;

a housing at the cell site storing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms;

wherein the UAV is configured to fly at or near the cell site responsive to a command while the one or more manipulable arms are stationary; and

wherein the UAV is configured to physically connect to a structure at the cell site and to disengage flight and to subsequently perform one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.

20. The cell site of claim 19, wherein, to physically connect the UAV, a connection bears weight of the UAV, enabling movement of the one or more manipulable arms without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight.