Ground survey and obstacle detection system

• US 9,513,371 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Identified Technologies Corp. (Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Identified Technologies Corp. (Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Richard Yang, Wu, Andy, Duncombe-Smith, Kelsey Denelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US13/832,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20160097851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342/58, 342 62- 63, 342/66
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/22 for handling aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/97 Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/10 Simultaneous control of position or course in three dimensions G05D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/00 Traffic control systems for aircraft , e.g. air-traffic control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a ground survey and obstacle detection system using one or multiple detection devices, such as aerial detection devices. Aerial detection devices are sent ahead of the primary vehicle to survey a territory and map out any obstacles. The aerial detection device is equipped with sensors to scan the ground below it and detect obstacles. The aerial detection device is not affected by or prone to triggering dangerous obstacles. The aerial detection device flies above the ground and may be configured to send a signal back alerting the primary vehicle to the existence of obstacles.

Claims

1. A detection device deployed by a primary vehicle for surveillance and threat detection, comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data from the primary vehicle;

a power supply unit configured to receive power from the primary vehicle and supply power for the detection device;

a motor component for controlling aerial movement of the detection device;

a charging unit comprising an electromagnetic power receiver configured to wirelessly receive electromagnetic energy that is sent from the primary vehicle to charge the power supply unit to supply power to the motor component to elevate the detection device;

one or more sensors for detecting a pre-defined object; and

processing circuits configured to process sensor data received from the one or more sensors and determine a threat level based on the sensor data of the detected object.

2. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the detection device and the primary vehicle are connected through a cable, and wherein the cable is used for supplying power to the detection device.

3. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises a battery and a power level detector to detect the power level of the power supply unit, and wherein the power supply unit is configured to determine whether the battery needs recharging.

4. The detection device of claim 1, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) for determining location data of the detected object.

5. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuits are configured to transmit the determined threat level to the primary vehicle through the transceiver.

6. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuits are configured to compare the determined threat level to a threshold and issue a warning message to the primary vehicle only when the determined threat level exceeds the threshold.

7. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the motor component comprises a quad rotor propulsion system.

8. The detection device of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more sensors is a ground penetrating radar.

9. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic power receiver comprises a semi-sphere shape to receive transmission of the electromagnetic energy from the primary vehicle over a wide range of orientations relative to the primary vehicle.

10. A ground survey and obstacle detection system, comprising:

one or more aerial detection devices, each of said one or more aerial detection devices comprising;

one or more sensors for scanning the ground below the aerial detection device and detecting a pre-defined object;

a propulsion system with a motor and a rotor to elevate the aerial detection device above the ground for controlling a movement of the detection device above the ground, the propulsion system configured to elevate the aerial detection device independently from a primary vehicle;

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data;

a power supply system comprising an electromagnetic power receiver to wirelessly receive power from the primary vehicle when spaced away from the primary vehicle and for supplying power to the propulsion system of the aerial detection device to elevate the device; and

processing circuits for controlling and managing the aerial detection device;

the primary vehicle comprising;

a transceiver for communicating data with the one or more aerial detection devices;

a charging unit for remotely and wirelessly re-charging the one or more aerial detection devices, the charging unit comprising a power transmitter that transmits the power to the one or more aerial detection devices to power the propulsion system to elevate the one or more devices; and

a central processing unit for managing and controlling the one or more aerial detection devices;

wherein the one or more aerial detection devices are configured to detect the pre-defined object and calculate a threat level of the detected object based on data from the one or more sensors regarding the detected object; and

wherein the primary vehicle is configured to receive the calculated threat level from the one or more aerial detection devices.

11. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, wherein the propulsion system of one of the one or more aerial detection devices is a quad rotor propulsion system.

12. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, wherein the one or more aerial detection devices is equipped with a ground penetrating radar.

13. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, wherein the primary vehicle is configured to issue a command to direct the one or more aerial detection devices to dismantle the detected object after determining the calculated threat level received from the one or more aerial detection devices exceeds a threshold.

14. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, wherein the primary vehicle receives sensor data from the one or more aerial detection devices and calculates the threat level based on the received sensor data.

15. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, each of the one or more aerial detection devices are configured to return to the primary vehicle for re-charging in response to the corresponding power supply system detecting that the power supply is below a predetermined threshold.

16. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, wherein the one or more aerial detection devices are configured to send to the primary vehicle a power level status that is detected by the power supply system.

17. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 10, further comprising the primary vehicle configured to receive location data from the aerial detection devices to orient and position the devices during wireless charging.

18. The ground survey and obstacle detection system of claim 17, wherein the electromagnetic power receiver comprises a semi-sphere shape to receive transmission of the power from the primary vehicle over a wide range of orientations relative to the primary vehicle.