Automatic Change Detection System

• US 20180348760A1
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Published: 12/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Peverill, Joel Michael Pedlikin, Justin McClellan
• Original Assignee: James Peverill, Joel Michael Pedlikin, Justin McClellan
• Inventors: Peverill, James, Pedlikin, Joel Michael, McClellan, Justin
• Application Number:
  US15/609,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20180348760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0098 Plants or trees wood G01N33/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/246 for water content for control of watering A01G25/167
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

A system for tracking and reporting changes to a parcel of land comprising one or more stationary or mobile sensors mounted to fixed positions and/or unmanned vehicles, and sophisticated distributed network software for controlling the sensors and vehicles, analyzing the sensor data, and storing the data. The network software controls the sensor data gathering, the route any vehicles travel, and all the timing for data gathering. If unmanned vehicles are used, the routes and starting times can factor in weather, people and vehicle traffic, air traffic control information, and the previously data obtained sensor data from vehicle sensors on previous trips. Fixed sensors are environmentally protected and connected via wireless or wired signals. Vehicles can be stored in environmentally protective enclosures which can recharge or refuel the vehicles, and/or download any sensor data they obtained on previous surveys. Sensors carried can be imagers tuned to various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, chemical detectors, radiation detectors, or magnetometers, and can be swapped out within the enclosure. The distributed network software processes and stores whatever data is obtained by the sensors and compares data to that obtained from previous sensor readings, identifying changes and reporting on those changes to users via a local display or any form of electronic communication relayed to another electronic device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

multiple unmanned vehicles with sensors onboard, multiple fixed sensors, and network based software, wherein the software is used to automatically control the vehicles, their onboard sensors, and the fixed sensors so as to obtain data on a parcel of land, and the network software stores and processes data from the sensors to detect, identify, and automatically report changes to that land.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors are mounted on poles, vehicles, or other stationary or mobile equipment

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors are mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles or unmanned underwater vehicles

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors are visible, multi spectral, or infrared imaging cameras

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors include chemical detectors

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors include magnetometers

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors include radiation detectors

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors include 3D scanning sensors such as Lidar, Radar, or acoustic sensors.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the data from the sensors is transmitted to the network software using wireless or wired networks.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein one or more of the unmanned vehicles are permanently stored in one or more enclosures which may protect the vehicle from environmental damage

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the network software controls how frequently and/or where the sensors gather data

12. The system of claim 1 wherein ground traffic, local sensor data, local weather conditions measured via sensors or communicated. via a network, or Air Traffic Controlinformation is used by the network software to automatically determine which vehicles should be deployed and/or at what times

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the parcel of land is a golf course, farm, sports field, park, or construction site

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors and vehicles are controlled so as to take data at the exact same times of day, each day.

15. The system of claim 4 wherein the cameras are used to measure plant canopy temperature

16. The system of claim 4 wherein the cameras are used to detect the presence of disease or pests in plants on the land parcel

17. The system of claim 4 wherein the sensors measure soil moisture

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the enclosure(s) automatically refuel or recharge the vehicle propulsion systems

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the enclosure(s) download sensor data for processing after each vehicle has entered the enclosure

20. The system of claim 10 wherein each vehicle'"'"'s sensors can be automatically swapped while the vehicle is inside the enclosure

21. The system of claim 10 where data is processed, analyzed and stored on distributed processing units in each enclosure

22. The system of claim 21 where the processing units are connected via a network