Drone for inspection of enclosed space and method thereof

• US 9,382,002 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Dynamics Advanced Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Dynamics Advanced Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Cavote, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaud, Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US14/520,442
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/11, 701/28, 701/31.4, 701/36, 901/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/06 actuated automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/65 Composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/30 detachable from the body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 21/00 Water-tube boilers of vertical or steeply-inclined type, i.e. the water-tube sets being arranged vertically or substantially vertically
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 37/00 Component parts or details of steam boilers venting devices F16K24/00; steam traps or like apparatus F16T
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Embodiments of a drone for inspection and a method of use are depicted wherein the drone is utilized in an enclosed space and is capable of being controlled with or without line of sight to the aircraft. The drone may hover or land on surfaces within the enclosed space for the inspection.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting an enclosed space with an unmanned remote control aircraft with at least one camera, comprising:

establishing a control area for flying said aircraft;

flying said aircraft into a first inspection area within said enclosed space;

capturing images of a condition of said first inspection area during said flight with said at least one camera; and

,

recording said images of said first inspection area at one of on-board said aircraft and at said control area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said control area is disposed outside of said enclosed space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said control area is disposed within said enclosed space.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said flying is by line of sight.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising hovering said aircraft at said first inspection area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said images of a condition of said first inspection area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said images are in the form of video.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said images are in the form of one of video or still photos.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said images to said control area.

10. A method of inspecting an enclosed space with an unmanned remote control aircraft with at least one camera, comprising:

flying said aircraft to a first inspection area within said enclosed space;

hovering said aircraft near said first inspection area within said enclosed space;

capturing images of said first inspection area with said at least one camera; and

,

recording said images of said first inspection area at one of memory on-board said aircraft and at said control area.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising establishing a control area to fly said aircraft which is one of inside or outside said enclosed space.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting images to said control area when said control area is outside of said enclosed space.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising flying said aircraft to a second inspection area.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising creating a report for said first inspection area.

15. A method of inspecting an enclosed space with an unmanned remote control aircraft with at least one camera, comprising:

flying said aircraft within an enclosed space for inspecting an inspection area within said enclosed space;

capturing images of said inspection area with said at least one camera on-board said aircraft wherein said images are one of video or still images; and

,

recording said images of said inspection area at one of on-board said aircraft and at a control area.

16. The method of claim 15, said flying being by line of sight.

17. The method of claim 15, said flying being by video transmission.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising transmitting said images from said aircraft to said control area.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising hovering said aircraft in said first inspection area for said capturing images.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising attaching said aircraft to a vertical surface adjacent to said first inspection area.