Robot with embedded systems for flight for cell sites and towers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12491643-B2
Application number	US-202217860460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2022
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to robot systems configured to operate on a cell tower to inspect, install, reconfigure, and repair cellular equipment. The present disclosure provides a robot for performing audit tasks of cell towers. The robot includes a body portion configured to hold various electronic components of the robot including monitoring equipment disposed thereon, one or more arms extending from the body portion adapted to manipulate components of a cell tower and to facilitate movement of the robot on the cell tower, embedded systems for flight, and wireless interfaces adapted to allow wireless control of the robot. The robot is configured to be controlled by one of a user in a remote location, a user at the cell tower site, and autonomously via direct programing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A robot for performing audit tasks of cell towers, the robot comprising:
a body portion configured to hold various electronic components of the robot comprising monitoring equipment disposed thereon and a multiplicity of magnets disposed on the body portion, wherein the magnets are one of permanent magnets and selectively enabled magnets adapted to secure the robot to the cell tower; one or more arms extending from the body portion adapted to manipulate components of a cell tower and to facilitate movement of the robot on the cell tower;
embedded systems for flight; and
wireless interfaces adapted to allow wireless control of the robot.

2 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the embedded systems for flight are adapted to allow the robot to fly to any location on the cell tower or cell site.

3 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the one or more arms further comprise claws adapted to grip tools and components of the cell tower.

4 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises storage compartments configured to hold tools and equipment.

5 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the robot is adapted to operate in adverse weather conditions.

6 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises elongated compartments, and wherein the one or more arms are configured to stow within the elongated compartments during flight.

7 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the robot is configured to be controlled by one of a user in a remote location, a user at the cell tower site, and autonomously via direct programing.

8 . A robot for performing audit tasks of cell towers, the robot comprising:
a body portion configured to hold various electronic components of the robot comprising monitoring equipment disposed thereon; one or more arms extending from the body portion adapted to manipulate components of a cell tower and to facilitate movement of the robot on the cell tower;
embedded systems for flight;
wireless interfaces adapted to allow wireless control of the robot;
a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
process commands to position the robot on the cell tower to perform an audit task chosen from a plurality of operations to the cell tower;
process commands to capture data associated with components being audited based on the audit being performed; and
process the data collected to verify whether the component being audited is in a predetermined condition the instructions further cause the processor to utilize a Machine Learning (ML) model to learn and improve the robot's ability to work on the cell tower over time.

9 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the embedded systems for flight are adapted to allow the robot to fly to any location on the cell tower or cell site.

10 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the commands to position the robot on the cell tower cause the robot to fly and land on the cell tower.

11 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operations include any of inspecting and monitoring a component of the cell tower, performing repair, and installing components of the cell tower.

12 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the robot is configured to be controlled by one of a user in a remote location, a user at the cell tower site, and autonomously via direct programing.

13 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the one or more arms further comprise claws adapted to grip tools and components of the cell tower.

14 . The robot of claim 8 , further comprising magnets disposed on the body portion, wherein the magnets are one of permanent magnets and selectively enabled magnets adapted to secure the robot to the cell tower, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to control the selectively enabled magnets.

15 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the body portion further comprises storage compartments configured to hold tools and equipment.

16 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the body portion further comprises elongated compartments, and wherein the one or more arms are configured to stow within the elongated compartments.

17 . A method comprising the steps of:
positioning a robot on a cell tower utilizing embedded systems for flight of the robot to perform an audit task chosen from a plurality of operations to the cell tower, the positioning is accomplished via a multiplicity of magnets disposed on a body portion, wherein the magnets are one of permanent magnets and selectively enabled magnets adapted to secure the robot to the cell tower; capturing data associated with components being audited based on the audit being performed; and processing the data collected to verify whether the component being audited is in a predetermined condition.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of operations include any of inspecting and monitoring a component of the cell tower, performing repair, and installing components of the cell tower.

Assignees

• Etak Systems Llc

Inventors

• Priest Lee

Classifications

• G05D1/46

  Control of position or course in three dimensions [3D] · CPC title

• B64U10/14

  with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title

• B64U2101/67

  the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title