Anomaly detection via self-lifting detector attachment member of unmanned aerial drone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12030677-B2
Application number	US-202217814915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2022
Priority date	Jul 26, 2022
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A system includes a detector attachment member and a communication system. The detector attachment member includes a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle; a second end configured to be coupled to a detector; and a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold. The detector attachment member also includes a lift system coupled to the body. The communication system is coupled to the detector attachment member and is configured to provide communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a detector attachment member comprising:
a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle;
a second end configured to be coupled to a detector;
a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold;
a lift system coupled to the body, wherein:
the lift system comprises an inflatable member proximate the second end and configured to generate lift via buoyancy relative to an operating environment of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
the inflatable member comprises a light-absorbing region configured to heat a gas within the inflatable member when exposed to a focused light beam in order to generate at least a portion of the lift; and

a communication system coupled to the detector attachment member, the communication system configured to provide communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a telescoping member, the telescoping member configured to extend from a first position to a second position, wherein the length is the length of the body in the second position.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising an extension system configured to extend the telescoping member from the first position to the second position in response to a control command.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first end is configured to be rotationally coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lift system further comprises:
an air outlet proximate the second end;
an air inlet proximate the first end; and
wherein the body is substantially hollow and configured to allow an air flow between the air inlet and the air outlet.

6. A system comprising:
a detector attachment member comprising:
a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle;
a second end configured to be coupled to a detector;
a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold;
a lift system coupled to the body, wherein:
the lift system comprises an inflatable member proximate the second end and configured to generate lift via buoyancy relative to an operating environment of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
the body is substantially hollow; and
the lift system further comprises a gas delivery system configured to supply a gas to the inflatable member via the body; and

a communication system coupled to the detector attachment member, the communication system configured to provide communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lift system comprises:
a motor;
a propulsion mechanism coupled to the motor;
a control circuit communicatively coupled to the motor; and
a power supply circuit, the power supply circuit coupled to provide power to the motor and the control circuit.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a photoelectric panel coupled to the power supply circuit and configured to generate power when exposed to a light source.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light source comprises a focused light beam.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the body is substantially hollow; and
the photoelectric panel is configured to receive the focused light beam via the body.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light source comprises solar radiation.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication system comprises a transmitter configured to generate a wireless communication signal modulated to provide data from the detector.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interference threshold is based on a detection limit of the detector.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is a magnetic anomaly detector, an acoustic detector, or a radiation detector.

15. A method comprising:
deploying a detector attachment member, the detector attachment member comprising:
a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle;
a second end configured to be coupled to a detector;
a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold;
a lift system coupled to the body, wherein:
the lift system comprises an inflatable member proximate the second end and configured to generate lift via buoyancy relative to an operating environment of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
the inflatable member comprises a light-absorbing region configured to heat a gas within the inflatable member when exposed to a focused light beam in order to generate at least a portion of the lift; and

communicatively coupling a communication system to the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector, the communication system coupled to the detector attachment member.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein communicatively coupling the communication system to the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector comprises generating, in response to a control signal, a wireless communication signal at the detector for providing data from the detector to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication signal comprises an optical signal or an acoustic signal.

18. A non-transient, computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
deploying a detector attachment member, the detector attachment member comprising:
a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle;
a second end configured to be coupled to a detector;
a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold;
a lift system coupled to the body, wherein:
the lift system comprises an inflatable member proximate the second end and configured to generate lift via buoyancy relative to an operating environment of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
the inflatable member comprises a light-absorbing region configured to heat a gas within the inflatable member when exposed to a focused light beam in order to generate at least a portion of the lift; and

communicatively coupling a communication system to the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector, the communication system coupled to the detector attachment member.

19. A system comprising:
a detector attachment member comprising:
a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle;
a second end configured to be coupled to a detector;
a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold;
a lift system coupled to the body, wherein the lift system comprises:
a motor;
a propulsion mechanism coupled to the motor;
a control circuit communicatively coupled to the motor; and
a power supply circuit, the power supply circuit coupled to provide power to the motor and the control circuit;

a photoelectric panel coupled to the power supply circuit and configured to generate power when exposed to a light source, wherein the light source comprises a focused light beam; an

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hiller Nathan D
• Newman Daniel I
• Torrez Raymundo B

Classifications

• B64D1/22

  Taking-up articles from earth's surface · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64U70/80

  Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets (rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20) · CPC title

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title

• G01T7/00

  Details of radiation-measuring instruments · CPC title