System, apparatus, and method for the measurement, collection, and analysis of radio signals utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 9,681,320 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PCTEL, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PC-TEL Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Brandon, Zik, James, Satoh, Atsushi, Blake, Buchanan, Singer, Martin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, MAJDI A
• Application Number:
  US14/689,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 3
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/15 for conventional or electronic warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/17 for detecting, disrupting or countering communications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for the measurement, collection, and analysis of radio signals are provided. A transport host device, including an unmanned aerial vehicle, can transport a scanning device into desired locations for autonomously collecting radio data for a wireless network, thereby enabling the rapid interrogation and optimization the wireless network, including in locations and spatial areas where previously known systems and methods have been impractical or impossible.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a transport host device; and

a scanning device connected to the transport host device,

wherein the scanning device autonomously collects radio data from at least one wireless network,

wherein the transport host device, autonomously or via remote control, transports the scanning device to target locations that enable the scanning device to collect the radio data from the at least one wireless network,

wherein the scanning device dynamically generates a flight path or a secondary flight path for the transport host device based on the radio data and an analysis thereof,

wherein the analysis of the radio data includes generating an RF three-dimensional model representing the radio data and identifying at least one gap in the three-dimensional model, and

wherein dynamically generating the secondary flight path includes identifying the target locations corresponding to the at least one gap and instructing the transport host device to return to the target locations corresponding to the at least one gap for the scanning device to re-collect the radio data until the at least one gap is reconciled.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transport host device includes at least one of an unmanned aerial vehicle, drone, and an autonomous transportation vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanning device analyzes the radio data in real time.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis of the radio data includes identifying interference signals and directionalities thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanning device stores the radio data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanning device wirelessly transmits the radio data, in real time, to a remote location.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power source carried by the scanning device, wherein the power source provides power to both the scanning device and the transport host device.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an altimeter connected to or integral with the scanning device, wherein the altimeter transmits elevation data to the scanning device, and wherein the scanning device dynamically generates the flight path or the secondary flight path for the transport host device based on the radio data, the elevation data, and the analysis thereof or wirelessly transmits the radio data and the elevation data, in real time, to a remote location.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an antenna system for simulating ground coverage, wherein the antenna system is connected to the transport host device or to the scanning device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transport host device installs the antenna system on a point of interest, and wherein the scanning device tests the installed antenna system for successful installation.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the antenna system is connected to the transport host device or the scanning device via antenna tilt arms that move the antenna system and the scanning device independent of motion of the transport host device.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one RF sensor;

at least one connection mechanism;

a programmable processor; and

executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium,

wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software instruct the at least one RF sensor to collect radio data from at least one wireless network,

wherein the at least one connection mechanism connects with a transport host device for, autonomously or via remote control, transporting the at least one RF sensor to target locations that enable the at least one RF sensor to collect the radio data from the at least one wireless network,

wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software dynamically generate a flight path or a secondary flight path for the transport host device based on the radio data and an analysis thereof,

wherein the analysis of the radio data includes generating an RF three-dimensional model representing the radio data and identifying at least one gap in the three-dimensional model, and

wherein dynamically generating the secondary flight path includes identifying the target locations corresponding to the at least one gap and instructing the transport host device to return to the target locations corresponding to the at least one gap for the at least one RF sensor to re-collect the radio data until the at least one gap is reconciled.

13. The apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software analyze the radio data in real time.

14. The apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the analysis of the radio data includes identifying interference signals and directionalities thereof.

15. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a storage device, wherein the storage device stores the radio data.

16. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a transceiver, wherein the transceiver wirelessly transmits the radio data, in real time, to a remote location.

17. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a power source, wherein the power source provides power to the at least one RF sensor, the programmable processor, and the transport host device.

18. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising an altimeter for identifying elevation data, wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software dynamically generate the flight path or the secondary flight path for the transport host device based on the radio data, the elevation data, and the analysis thereof.

19. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising an antenna system for simulating ground coverage.

20. The apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the transport host device installs the antenna system on a point of interest, and wherein the RF sensor, the programmable processor, and the executable control software test the installed antenna system for successful installation.

21. The apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising antenna tilt arms, wherein the antenna tilt arms move the antenna system independently of motion of the transport host device.

22. A method comprising:

a transport host device, autonomously or via remote control, transporting a scanning device to a plurality of target locations;

the scanning device autonomously collecting radio data from at least one wireless network at at least some of the plurality of target locations; and

the scanning device dynamically generating a flight path or a secondary flight path for the transport host device based on the radio data and an analysis thereof,

wherein the analysis of the radio data includes the scanning device generating an RF three-dimensional model representing the radio data and identifying at least one gap in the three-dimensional model, and

wherein dynamically generating the secondary flight path includes the scanning device identifying the target locations corresponding to the at least one gap and instructing the transport host device to return to the target locations corresponding to the at least one gap for the scanning device to re-collect the radio data until the at least one gap is reconciled.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the scanning device analyzing the radio data in real time.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the scanning device analyzing the radio data includes the scanning device identifying interference signals and directionalities thereof.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the scanning device storing the radio data.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising the scanning device wirelessly transmitting the radio data, in real time, to a remote location.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

the scanning device carrying a power source; and

the power source providing power to both the scanning device and the transport host device.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

an altimeter identifying elevation data;

the altimeter transmitting the elevation data to the scanning device; and

the scanning device dynamically generating the flight path or the secondary flight path for the transport host device based on the radio data, the elevation data, and the analysis thereof, or, the scanning device wirelessly transmitting the radio data and the elevation data, in real time, to a remote location.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprising an antenna system simulating ground coverage.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

the transport host device installing the antenna system on a point of interest; and

the scanning device testing the installed antenna system for successful installation.

31. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

connecting the antenna system to the transport host device or the scanning device via antenna tilt arms; and

moving the antenna system and the scanning device independently of motion of the transport host device.