Unmanned aircraft structure evaluation system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10032078-B2
Application number	US-201715803291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Jan 10, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed including a computerized system, comprising: a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors, and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to: display on the display unit one or more images, from an image database, depicting a structure; receive a validation from the input unit indicating a validation of a location of the structure depicted in the one or more images; generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path; receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computerized system, comprising:
a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:
display, on the display unit, one or more images depicting a structure;
receive a validation from the input unit indicating validation of a location of the structure depicted in the one or more images;
generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path;
receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and
generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

2. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

3. The computerized system of claim 2 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

4. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

5. A computerized system, comprising:
a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:
display on the display unit a first graphical representation of a structure to be inspected, the first graphical representation comprising one or more images describing an aerial view of the structure;
generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path, the flight path having first instructions to navigate the unmanned aircraft at a first altitude above the structure during a first portion of the flight path and second instructions to navigate the unmanned aircraft at a second altitude above the structure during a second portion of the flight path;
receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and
generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

6. The computerized system of claim 5 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

7. The computerized system of claim 6 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

8. The computerized system of claim 5 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

9. A computerized system, comprising:
a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:
display on the display unit a first graphical representation of a structure to be inspected and an object incident and above at least a portion of the structure such that a first flight path above or around the structure would go through the object, the first graphical representation comprising one or more images describing an aerial view of the structure and the object;
determine a location of the object from the first graphical representation;
generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a second flight path above the structure and to avoid the object, and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the second flight path;
receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and
generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

10. The computerized system of claim 9 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

11. The computerized system of claim 10 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

12. The computerized system of claim 9 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

13. A computerized system, comprising:
a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:
display on the display unit a first graphical representation of a structure to be inspected, the first graphical representation comprising one or more images describing an aerial view of the structure;
generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure, and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path, the flight path information including instructions to direct a roll, pitch or yaw of the unmanned aircraft to aim the camera at the structure;
receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and
generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

14. The computerized system of claim 13 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

15. The computerized system of claim 14 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

16. The computerized system of claim 13 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

Assignees

• Pictometry Int Corp

Inventors

• Schultz Stephen L
• Monaco John

Classifications

• G01S19/39 Primary

  the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO · CPC title

• G06V20/176

  Urban or other man-made structures · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title