Apparatus for measurement of vertical obstructions
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a ground station comprising a user interface;
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in communication with the ground station wherein the UAV comprises a distance measuring module, a location module, an angle measuring module, and an optics module;
image data wherein the optics module captures the image data and wherein the UAV transmits the image data to the ground station for presentation to a user;
control commands wherein the user manipulates the user interface to thereby cause the ground station to transmit the control commands to the UAV, wherein the control commands comprise imaging commands that control the optics module;
an obstruction distance wherein the user commands the optics module to point at an obstruction, wherein the user observes the image data and selects a target on the obstruction, wherein the distance measuring module determines the distance between the UAV and the target, and wherein the obstruction is a hazard to aviation;
an elevation angle wherein the angle measuring module determines the elevation angle between the UAV and the target;
an analysis module that produces target data based on data from data sources wherein the target data comprises a target altitude, wherein the data sources comprise the location module, the angle measuring module, and the distance measuring module, and wherein the target altitude is the target altitude above sea level; and
a database entry for submission to an aviation database as an aviation obstruction wherein the aviation database stores aviation flight planning data, and wherein the database entry comprises the target altitude and the target location.
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Abstract
Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a ground station comprising a user interface; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in communication with the ground station wherein the UAV comprises a distance measuring module, a location module, an angle measuring module, and an optics module; image data wherein the optics module captures the image data and wherein the UAV transmits the image data to the ground station for presentation to a user; control commands wherein the user manipulates the user interface to thereby cause the ground station to transmit the control commands to the UAV, wherein the control commands comprise imaging commands that control the optics module; an obstruction distance wherein the user commands the optics module to point at an obstruction, wherein the user observes the image data and selects a target on the obstruction, wherein the distance measuring module determines the distance between the UAV and the target, and wherein the obstruction is a hazard to aviation; an elevation angle wherein the angle measuring module determines the elevation angle between the UAV and the target; an analysis module that produces target data based on data from data sources wherein the target data comprises a target altitude, wherein the data sources comprise the location module, the angle measuring module, and the distance measuring module, and wherein the target altitude is the target altitude above sea level; and a database entry for submission to an aviation database as an aviation obstruction wherein the aviation database stores aviation flight planning data, and wherein the database entry comprises the target altitude and the target location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a ground station comprising a user interface; an unmanned vehicle in communication with the ground station wherein the unmanned vehicle comprises a distance measuring module, a location module, an angle measuring module, and an optics module; image data wherein the optics module captures the image data and wherein the unmanned vehicle transmits the image data to the ground station for presentation to a user; control commands wherein the user manipulates the user interface to thereby cause the ground station to transmit the control commands to the unmanned vehicle, and wherein the control commands comprise imaging commands that control the optics module; an obstruction distance wherein the user commands the optics module to point at an obstruction, wherein the user observes the image data and selects a target on the obstruction, wherein the distance measuring module determines the distance between the unmanned vehicle and the target; an analysis module that produces target data based on data from data sources wherein the target data comprises a target latitude and a target longitude, and wherein the data sources comprise the location module, the angle measuring module, and the distance measuring module; and a database entry for submission to a navigation database as an obstruction wherein the navigation database stores route planning data, and wherein the database entry comprises the target data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification