Unmanned aerial vehicle-based systems and methods associated with cell sites and cell towers with robotic arms for performing operations
First Claim
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1. A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site, the method comprising:
- causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight;
physically connecting the UAV to a structure comprising a portion of a cell tower at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV, wherein the physically connecting comprises connecting the UAV to an arm extending substantially horizontally from the structure which is connectable to an extendible grappling arm from the UAV and the physically connection is via a connection which horizontally bears weight of the UAV with the arm, enabling movement of the one or more manipulable arms horizontally to the cell tower without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight;
performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms to manipulate objects on or attach objects to the cell tower while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move horizontally to the cell tower while the UAV is physically connected to the structure and subsequent to the UAV disengaging the flight components such that the UAV is stationary and fixed to the structure while performing the one or more functions; and
utilizing the one or more manipulable arms to provide payload to a cell tower at the cell site and to perform operations at the cell tower at the cell site, wherein the payload is stationary in the one or more manipulable arms during flight.
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Abstract
A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight; physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV; and performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site, the method comprising:
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causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight; physically connecting the UAV to a structure comprising a portion of a cell tower at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV, wherein the physically connecting comprises connecting the UAV to an arm extending substantially horizontally from the structure which is connectable to an extendible grappling arm from the UAV and the physically connection is via a connection which horizontally bears weight of the UAV with the arm, enabling movement of the one or more manipulable arms horizontally to the cell tower without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight; performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms to manipulate objects on or attach objects to the cell tower while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move horizontally to the cell tower while the UAV is physically connected to the structure and subsequent to the UAV disengaging the flight components such that the UAV is stationary and fixed to the structure while performing the one or more functions; and utilizing the one or more manipulable arms to provide payload to a cell tower at the cell site and to perform operations at the cell tower at the cell site, wherein the payload is stationary in the one or more manipulable arms during flight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site, the UAV comprising:
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one or more rotors disposed to a body; one or more manipulable arms disposed to the body; a camera associated with the body; wireless interfaces; a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces and the camera; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to; process commands to cause the one or more rotors to fly the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the one or more manipulable arms are stationary during flight; process commands to cause the UAV to physically connect to a structure comprising a portion of a cell tower at the cell site and to disengage the one or more rotors, wherein, to physically connect the UAV, an arm extends substantially horizontally from the structure which is connectable to an extendible grappling arm from the UAV, and wherein, to physically connect the UAV, a connection horizontally bears weight of the UAV with the arm, enabling movement horizontally to the cell tower of the one or more manipulable arms without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight; perform one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms to manipulate objects on or attach objects to the cell tower while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move horizontally to the cell tower while the UAV is physically connected to the structure and subsequent to the UAV disengaging flight components associated with the UAV such that the UAV is stationary and fixed to the structure while performing the one or more functions; and process commands to cause the one or more manipulable arms to provide payload to a cell tower at the cell site and to perform operations at the cell tower at the cell site, wherein the payload is stationary in the one or more manipulable arms during flight. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification