Robot system with embedded winches for cell sites and towers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12491992-B2
Application number	US-202217860473-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, one or more winches, 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; 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; one or more winches; one or more 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
wireless interfaces adapted to allow wireless control of the robot.

2 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the one or more winches are adapted raise or lower equipment from the cell tower.

3 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the one or more winches are adapted to raise and lower the robot to a point on the cell tower or a cell site.

4 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the one or more winches are removably attached to the robot, and wherein the one or more winches can be selectively fixed to the robot for specific use.

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

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.

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; one or more winches; 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, wherein 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 one or more winches are adapted to raise and lower equipment, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to process commands to raise and lower equipment with the one or more winches.

10 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the one or more winches are adapted to raise and lower the robot to a point on the cell tower or a cell site, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to process commands to position the robot on the cell tower with the one or more winches.

11 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the one or more winches are removably attached to the robot, and wherein the one or more winches can be selectively fixed to the robot for specific use.

12 . 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.

13 . 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.

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

15 . 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.

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:
providing components to a robot of a robot system, wherein the components are received by a winch of the robot and one or more 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; positioning the robot on a cell tower to perform an audit task chosen from a plurality of operations to the cell tower; and utilizing the components provided to the robot to perform the audit task.

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

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U2101/67

  the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U10/14

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

• G08B17/02

  Mechanical actuation of the alarm, e.g. by the breaking of a wire · CPC title