Counterbalancing unmanned aerial vehicles during operations associated with cell towers

• US 9,988,140 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• 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): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US15/259,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 17/02 by gravity or inertia-actuated apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/06 with single rotor
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/022 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• 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 2201/202 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 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0858 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 : Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 : Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

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 perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site, the method comprising:

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,

wherein the one or more counterbalancing techniques comprise

a second set of one or more manipulable members on an opposite side of the UAV as the one or more manipulable members which are substantially similar in size and weight as the one or more manipulable members, and wherein the second set performs opposing movement as the one or more manipulable members during the moving to mirror the one or more manipulable members and offset any weight distribution changes; and

moveable weights located on the UAV, and wherein the moveable weights are selectively rebalanced by a rotatable member to adjust to changes in the weight distribution during the moving to offset any weight distribution changes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective rebalancing of the moveable weights is controlled by a processor in the UAV which receives sensor measurements related to the weight distribution during the moving.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more manipulable members physically connect to the cell tower for stability of the UAV and the UAV ends the flying subsequent to the connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more manipulable members comprise payload attached thereto.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the payload comprises any of wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving comprises performing operations at the location on the cell tower.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operations comprise any of

installing wireless components, installing cables, installing nuts/bolts, installing antennas, installing supports, installing braces, installing lighting rods, installing lighting, installing electronics, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the operations comprise attaching equipment to one or more horizontal support structures on the cell tower.

9. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adapted to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site, the UAV comprising:

one or more rotors disposed to a body;

one or more manipulable members disposed to the body;

a counterbalance mechanism associated with 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,

process commands to cause the one or more manipulable members to move when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and

utilize the counterbalance mechanism during movement of the one or more manipulable members to ensure a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same, wherein the counterbalance mechanism comprises one or more of

a second set of one or more manipulable members on an opposite side of the UAV as the one or more manipulable members which are substantially similar in size and weight as the one or more manipulable members, and wherein the second set performs opposing movement as the one or more manipulable members during movement to mirror the one or more manipulable members and offset any weight distribution changes; and

moveable weights located on the UAV, and wherein the moveable weights are selectively rebalanced by a rotatable member to adjust to changes in the weight distribution during movement to offset any weight distribution changes.

10. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the selective rebalancing of the moveable weights is controlled by the processor in the UAV which receives sensor measurements related to the weight distribution during the movement.

11. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the one or more manipulable members physically connect to the cell tower for stability of the UAV and the UAV ends flying subsequent to the connection.

12. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the one or more manipulable members comprise payload attached thereto.