Autonomous infrastructure element survey systems and methods using UAV fleet deployment
First Claim
1. A method of surveying an area of interest with a fleet of UAVs deployed to a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, the method comprising:
- programming each of the plurality of UAVs with a survey mission comprising survey mission parameters and a flight path, wherein the area of interest is divided into a plurality of sectors that are smaller than the area of interest, and the programming comprises programming each UAV of the plurality of UAVs to follow a flight path to survey a first sector of the area of interest that is different from the sectors surveyed by the other UAVs of the plurality of UAVs;
each of the plurality of UAVs performing its programmed survey mission for its respective first sector, the programmed survey mission for each UAV comprising;
the UAV departing from a first docking station;
the UAV following its programmed flight path along its first sector of the area of interest;
the UAV using sensors to gather sensor data along the UAV'"'"'s programmed flight path;
the UAV landing at a terminating docking station, wherein the terminating docking station is not the first docking station; and
the UAV transferring sensor data gathered during the mission;
wherein, as a result of the plurality of UAVs each surveying a different sector of the area of interest, the area of interest is surveyed by the combined operations of the plurality of UAVs;
wherein, in deploying the UAVs to the plurality of docking stations and prior to performing the programmed survey mission of the first sector, the plurality of UAVs are delivered to a docking station configured as a system entry point that is capable of holding the plurality of UAVs, and the plurality of UAVs are distributed to their respective first docking stations by flying each of the plurality of UAVs from the system entry point to its respective first docking station.
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Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey system and methods for surveying an area of interest are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, each docking station comprising a platform to support a UAV while docked at the docking station; a battery charger; and a communications interface; a plurality of UAVs distributed among the plurality of docking stations, each UAV comprising a communications interface; and a system controller comprising a processor and transmitter communicatively coupled to the plurality of UAVs.
54 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of surveying an area of interest with a fleet of UAVs deployed to a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, the method comprising:
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programming each of the plurality of UAVs with a survey mission comprising survey mission parameters and a flight path, wherein the area of interest is divided into a plurality of sectors that are smaller than the area of interest, and the programming comprises programming each UAV of the plurality of UAVs to follow a flight path to survey a first sector of the area of interest that is different from the sectors surveyed by the other UAVs of the plurality of UAVs; each of the plurality of UAVs performing its programmed survey mission for its respective first sector, the programmed survey mission for each UAV comprising; the UAV departing from a first docking station; the UAV following its programmed flight path along its first sector of the area of interest; the UAV using sensors to gather sensor data along the UAV'"'"'s programmed flight path; the UAV landing at a terminating docking station, wherein the terminating docking station is not the first docking station; and the UAV transferring sensor data gathered during the mission; wherein, as a result of the plurality of UAVs each surveying a different sector of the area of interest, the area of interest is surveyed by the combined operations of the plurality of UAVs; wherein, in deploying the UAVs to the plurality of docking stations and prior to performing the programmed survey mission of the first sector, the plurality of UAVs are delivered to a docking station configured as a system entry point that is capable of holding the plurality of UAVs, and the plurality of UAVs are distributed to their respective first docking stations by flying each of the plurality of UAVs from the system entry point to its respective first docking station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of surveying an area of interest with a fleet of UAVs, the method comprising:
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deploying a plurality of UAVs to a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest; programming each of the plurality of UAVs with a survey mission, the survey mission including mission parameters; each UAV of the plurality of UAVs departing a respective first docking station at which it is deployed, following a flight path defined by the mission parameters, gathering sensor data along the flight path and landing at a respective terminating docking station, wherein the terminating docking station of each UAV is not the first docking station of the respective UAV; and the UAV transferring sensor data gathered during the mission; wherein deploying the plurality of UAVs to the plurality of docking stations comprises, prior to performing the survey mission in an area of interest, delivering the plurality of UAVs to a docking station configured as a system entry point that is capable of holding the plurality of UAVs, and distributing the plurality of UAVs to their respective first docking stations by flying each of the plurality of UAVs from the system entry point to its respective first docking station.
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18. A method of surveying an area of interest with a fleet of UAVs deployed to a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, the method comprising:
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programming each of the plurality of UAVs with a survey mission comprising survey mission parameters and a flight path, wherein the area of interest is divided into a plurality of sectors that are smaller than the area of interest, and the programming comprises programming each UAV of the plurality of UAVs to follow a flight path to survey a first sector of the area of interest that is different from the sectors surveyed by the other UAVs of the plurality of UAVs; each of the plurality of UAVs performing its programmed survey mission for its respective first sector, the programmed survey mission for each UAV comprising; the UAV departing from a first docking station; the UAV following its programmed flight path along its first sector of the area of interest; the UAV using sensors to gather sensor data along the UAV'"'"'s programmed flight path; the UAV landing at a terminating docking station; and the UAV transferring sensor data gathered during the mission; wherein, as a result of the plurality of UAVs each surveying a different sector of the area of interest, the area of interest is surveyed by the combined operations of the plurality of UAVs; wherein the method further comprises a process for replacing a UAV of the fleet, the process for replacing a UAV of the fleet comprising; a system controller identifying a UAV of the fleet of UAVs that is lost, damaged or otherwise required to be replaced; the system controller determining a current docking station for the identified UAV of the fleet; the system controller determining a replacement path, wherein the replacement path comprises a series of docking stations between a system entry point and the determined docking station; and the system controller initiating one or more flights of operational UAVs in the fleet to shift existing operational UAVs along the replacement path to provide an operational UAV at the determined docking station. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of surveying an area of interest with a fleet of UAVs deployed to a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, the method comprising:
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programming each of the plurality of UAVs with a survey mission comprising survey mission parameters and a flight path, wherein the area of interest is divided into a plurality of sectors that are smaller than the area of interest, and the programming comprises programming each UAV of the plurality of UAVs to follow a flight path to survey a first sector of the area of interest that is different from the sectors surveyed by the other UAVs of the plurality of UAVs; each of the plurality of UAVs performing its programmed survey mission for its respective first sector, the programmed survey mission for each UAV comprising; the UAV departing from a first docking station; the UAV following its programmed flight path along its first sector of the area of interest; the UAV using sensors to gather sensor data along the UAV'"'"'s programmed flight path; the UAV landing at a terminating docking station; and the UAV transferring sensor data gathered during the mission; wherein, as a result of the plurality of UAVs each surveying a different sector of the area of interest, the area of interest is surveyed by the combined operations of the plurality of UAVs; wherein the method further comprises a process for replacing a UAV of the fleet, the process for replacing a UAV of the fleet comprising; a system controller identifying a UAV of the fleet of UAVs that is lost, damaged or otherwise required to be replaced; the system controller determining a current docking station for the identified UAV of the fleet; and the system controller initiating one or more flights of operational UAVs in the fleet to shift existing operational UAVs along a replacement path to provide an operational UAV at the determined docking station; wherein a docking station at the beginning of the replacement path houses a plurality of UAVs and shifting existing operational UAVs along the replacement path comprises shifting one of the plurality of UAVs at the docking station at the beginning of the replacement path to a next docking station in the replacement path such that there is a remaining operational UAV at the docking station at the beginning of the replacement path. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of surveying an area of interest with a fleet of UAVs deployed to a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, the method comprising:
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programming each of the plurality of UAVs with a survey mission comprising survey mission parameters and a flight path, wherein the area of interest is divided into a plurality of sectors that are smaller than the area of interest, and the programming comprises programming each UAV of the plurality of UAVs to follow a flight path to survey a first sector of the area of interest that is different from the sectors surveyed by the other UAVs of the plurality of UAVs; each of the plurality of UAVs performing its programmed survey mission for its respective first sector, the programmed survey mission for each UAV comprising; the UAV departing from a first docking station; the UAV following its programmed flight path along its first sector of the area of interest; the UAV using sensors to gather sensor data along the UAV'"'"'s programmed flight path; the UAV landing at a terminating docking station; and the UAV transferring sensor data gathered during the mission; wherein, as a result of the plurality of UAVs each surveying a different sector of the area of interest, the area of interest is surveyed by the combined operations of the plurality of UAVs; wherein the method further comprises a process for replacing a UAV of the fleet, the process for replacing a UAV of the fleet comprising; a system controller identifying a UAV of the fleet of UAVs that is lost, damaged or otherwise required to be replaced; the system controller determining a current docking station for the identified UAV of the fleet; the system controller determining a replacement path, wherein the replacement path is a path determined within a matrix of docking stations and its determination is based on an initial docking station having a source of operational UAVs and a minimum path length between that initial docking station and the determined docking station; and the system controller initiating one or more flights of operational UAVs in the fleet to shift existing operational UAVs along the replacement path to provide an operational UAV at the determined docking station. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification