SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING ACCURATE 3D MODELING DATA USING UAVS FOR CELL SITES

• US 20170046873A1
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: BATES, Jordan, LOMBADU, Alan, GODWIN, Josh, MURPHY, Richard, TERRY, Charlie, PRIEST, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 10,192,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2101/61 for transporting passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

Systems and methods for developing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain photos and/or video include preparing the UAV for flight and programming an autonomous flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the autonomous flight path comprises a substantially circular flight path about the cell tower with one or more cameras on the UAV facing the cell tower; flying the UAV around the cell tower in a plurality of orbits comprising at least four orbits each with a different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle, wherein the flying comprises of at least four orbits for a monopole cell tower and at least five orbits for a self-support/guyed cell tower; obtaining photos and/or video of the cell tower, the cell site, and cell site components during each of the plurality of orbits; and using the photos and/or video to develop the point cloud three-dimensional (3D) model of the cell site.

Claims

1. A method for developing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain photos and/or video, the method comprising:

preparing the UAV for flight and programming an autonomous flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the autonomous flight path comprises a substantially circular flight path about the cell tower with one or more cameras on the UAV facing the cell tower;

flying the UAV around the cell tower in a plurality of orbits comprising at least four orbits each with a different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle, wherein the flying comprises four orbits for a monopole cell tower and at least five orbits for a self-support/guyed cell tower;

obtaining photos and/or video of the cell tower, the cell site, and cell site components during each of the plurality of orbits; and

using the photos and/or video to develop the three-dimensional (3D) model of the cell site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a total number of photos comprises around 300-400 for the monopole cell tower and 500-600 for the self-support cell tower.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous flight is set based on setting a point of interest in a view of the UAV from a communication device and the UAV and the mobile device automatically set the circular flight path based on the point of interest comprising the cell tower.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the photos are taken with about 80% overlap for processing to create the three-dimensional (3D) model.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the preparing comprises cleaning a lens of the camera and setting a focus of the camera and assuring that a Kp Index is at a level that has minimal geomagnetic interference for accuracy of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the altitude of the UAV for most of the plurality of orbits is set slightly above the cell tower with the camera angled down.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed of the UAV for the plurality of orbits is between 2.6 ft/second and 4 ft/second with a frequency of photos of about one photo every two seconds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of orbits are for

(i) capturing the entire cell tower and surrounding compounds in frames of the photos and/or video;

(ii) capturing radiation centers of the cell tower;

(iii) capturing all of the cell site components; and

(iv) capturing all of surroundings of the cell site.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of orbits the different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle based on the capturing of the associated orbit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a first orbit performs (i) and is at a radius of about 100 to 150 ft for the self-support cell tower and of about 200 ft for a self-support cell tower, has a speed of about 4 ft/second, and has an altitude slightly above the cell tower with the camera angled downward.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a second orbit performs (ii) and is at a radius of about 30 to 50 ft, has a speed of about 2.6 ft/second, and has an altitude slightly above the cell tower with the camera angled downward.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a third orbit performs (iii) and is at a radius of about 30 to 50 ft, has a speed of about 2.6 ft/second, and has an altitude at a midpoint of the cell tower with the camera angled slightly downward.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a fourth orbit performs (iv) and is at a radius of about 60 to 80 ft, has a speed of about 3.5 ft/second, and has an altitude at a midpoint of the cell tower with the camera angled downward to capture surroundings of the cell site.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of orbits for the self-support cell tower further (v) capture details of the self-support cell tower structure, and wherein a fifth orbit performs (v) and is at a radius of about 50 to 60 ft, has a speed of about 3 ft/second, and has an altitude at a midpoint of the cell tower with the camera angled to capture the self-support cell tower structure.

15. A system for developing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain photos and/or video, the system comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

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

prepare the UAV for flight and program an autonomous flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the autonomous flight path comprises a substantially circular flight path about the cell tower with one or more cameras on the UAV facing the cell tower;

cause the UAV to fly around the cell tower in a plurality of orbits comprising at least four orbits each with a different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle, wherein the UAV flies four orbits for a monopole cell tower and at least five orbits for a self-support/guyed cell tower;

obtain photos and/or video of the cell tower, the cell site, and cell site components during each of the plurality of orbits; and

use the photos and/or video to develop the three-dimensional (3D) model of the cell site.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a total number of photos comprises around 300-400 for the monopole cell tower and 500-600 for the self-support cell tower.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the autonomous flight is set based on setting a point of interest in a view of the UAV from a communication device and the UAV and the communication device automatically set the circular flight path based on the point of interest comprising the cell tower.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the photos are taken with about 80% overlap for processing to create the three-dimensional (3D) model.

19. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site, the UAV comprising:

one or more rotors disposed to a 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 prepare the UAV for flight and program an autonomous flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the autonomous flight path comprises a substantially circular flight path about the cell tower with one or more cameras on the UAV facing the cell tower;

process commands to cause the UAV to fly around the cell tower in a plurality of orbits comprising at least four orbits each with a different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle, wherein the UAV flies at least four orbits for a monopole cell tower and at least five orbits for a self-support/guyed cell tower;

obtain photos and/or video of the cell tower, the cell site, and cell site components during each of the plurality of orbits; and

provide the photos and/or video to develop the three-dimensional (3D) model of the cell site.

20. The UAV of claim 19, wherein a total number of photos comprises around 300-400 for the monopole cell tower and 500-600 for the self-support cell tower.