Unmanned aerial vehicle-based systems and methods associated with cell sites and cell towers with robotic arms for performing operations

• US 9,764,838 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• 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:
  US15/131,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• 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 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• 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

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payload comprises any of wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, 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.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a tether connection is adapted to provide power to the UAV.

5. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site, the UAV comprising:

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.

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

7. The UAV of claim 5, 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 UAV of claim 5, wherein a tether connection is adapted to provide power to the UAV.