Monitoring system for power lines and right-of-way using remotely piloted drone
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring physical and/or environmental features and abnormal conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electric power conductor extending along a power corridor, said system comprising:
- (a) a remotely piloted drone adapted for flight in close proximity to said power conductor and for hovering to detect abnormal conditions along said power conductor;
(b) said drone including means responsive to control signals from a source outside said drone for guidance thereof along said power corridor;
(c) at least one piece of equipment mounted upon said drone and adapted to observe and/or record data commensurate with at least one of said features and conditions in a first location along said power corridor; and
(d) a ground-based control station including means for retrieving said data at a second location, remote from said drone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system using a unique remotely piloted drone with dual counter rotating propellers and carrying electric field sensing, thermal infra-red imaging, video imaging, acoustic and corona discharge sensing equipment. The compact remotely piloted drone flies along a power corridor and is maintained at a fixed distance from an outer phase conductor using on board electric field detection circuitry, video/infra-red imagery and an RF/laser altimeter.
The counter rotating, twin-turbo driven configuration for the propellers mounted on coaxial vertical shafts provides a highly stable platform, unlike conventional manned helicopters presently used for routine right-of-way patrols. Dual, counter-rotating saucer-shaped auxiliary propellers provide a degree of stability far superior to a conventional helicopter, particularly in gusty winds. On board sensors and video cameras would permit electric utilities an economic approach to right-of-way monitoring, inspection of frayed conductors or deteriorated splices through infra-red sensing, detection of cracked insulators through acoustic/corona sensors, monitoring of critical, thermally limiting spans and other monitoring functions.
462 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring physical and/or environmental features and abnormal conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electric power conductor extending along a power corridor, said system comprising:
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(a) a remotely piloted drone adapted for flight in close proximity to said power conductor and for hovering to detect abnormal conditions along said power conductor; (b) said drone including means responsive to control signals from a source outside said drone for guidance thereof along said power corridor; (c) at least one piece of equipment mounted upon said drone and adapted to observe and/or record data commensurate with at least one of said features and conditions in a first location along said power corridor; and (d) a ground-based control station including means for retrieving said data at a second location, remote from said drone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of monitoring physical and/or environmental features and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electric power conductor extending along a power corridor, said method comprising:
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(a) mounting at least one piece of equipment adapted to perform a monitoring function upon a remotely piloted drone having motive means for flight along said power corridor; (b) mounting altitude, directional and velocity control equipment for said drone thereupon, said control equipment being adapted for operation from a ground-based control station; (c) causing said drone to fly in a desired path extending in general proximity to said power conductor; (d) generating data commensurate with said monitoring function representative of at least one of said features and conditions in a first location along said power corridor; and (e) retrieving said data at said ground-based control station. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification