Obtaining 3D modeling data using UAVs for cell sites

• US 9,881,416 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: Priest, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A
• Application Number:
  US15/283,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20170024929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 345427
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 17/02 by gravity or inertia-actuated apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/61 for transporting passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30184 Infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/75 : involving models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 : Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 : Satellite images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 : taken from planes or by drones
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/06 : Recognition of objects for industrial automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Abstract

Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

Claims

1. A method using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain data capture at a cell site for developing a three dimensional (3D) model thereof, the method comprising:

causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site;

obtaining data capture during the flight path about the cell tower, wherein the data capture comprises a plurality of photos or video, wherein the flight path is subjected to a plurality of constraints for the obtaining, and wherein the data capture comprises one or more location identifiers; and

subsequent to the obtaining, processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the data capture,

wherein at least two flights are performed for the 3D model and wherein a launch location and launch orientation is defined for the UAV to take off and land at the cell site such that each flight at the cell site of the at least two flights has the same launch location and launch orientation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, one or more buildings, and interiors thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more location identifiers comprise at least two location identifiers comprising Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of constraints comprises each flight of the UAV having a similar lighting condition and at about a same time of day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data capture comprises a plurality of photographs each with at least 10 megapixels and wherein the plurality of constraints comprises each photograph having at least 75% overlap with another photograph.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data capture comprises a video with at least 4 k high definition and wherein the plurality of constraints comprises capturing a screen from the video as a photograph having at least 75% overlap with another photograph captured from the video.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of constraints comprises a plurality of flight paths around the cell tower with each of the plurality of flight paths at one or more of different elevations, different camera angles, and different focal lengths for a camera.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of flight paths are one of:

a first flight path at a first height and a camera angle and a second flight path at a second height and the camera angle; and

a first flight path at the first height and a first camera angle and a second flight path at the first height and a second camera angle.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of flight paths are substantially circular around the cell tower.

10. An apparatus adapted to obtain data capture at a cell site for developing a three dimensional (3D) model thereof, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to cause the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site;

cause data capture during the flight path about the cell tower, wherein the data capture comprises a plurality of photos or video, wherein the flight path is subjected to a plurality of constraints for the data capture, and wherein the data capture comprises one or more location identifiers; and

subsequent to the data capture, process the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the data capture,

wherein at least two flights are performed for the 3D model and wherein a launch location and launch orientation is defined for the UAV to take off and land at the cell site such that each flight at the cell site of the at least two flights has the same launch location and launch orientation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to

remotely perform a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, one or more buildings, and interiors thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more location identifiers comprise at least two location identifiers comprising Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of constraints comprises each flight of the UAV having a similar lighting condition and at about a same time of day.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the data capture comprises a plurality of photographs each with at least 10 megapixels and wherein the plurality of constraints comprises each photograph having at least 75% overlap with another photograph.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the data capture comprises a video with at least 4 k high definition and wherein the plurality of constraints comprises capturing a screen from the video as a photograph having at least 75% overlap with another photograph captured from the video.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of constraints comprises a plurality of flight paths around the cell tower with each of the plurality of flight paths at one or more of different elevations, different camera angles, and different focal lengths for a camera.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of flight paths are one of:

a first flight path at a first height and a camera angle and a second flight path at a second height and the camera angle; and

a first flight path at the first height and a first camera angle and a second flight path at the first height and a second camera angle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of flight paths are substantially circular around the cell tower.