Robot and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems for cell sites and towers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570401-B2
Application number	US-202217860436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2022
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

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 system for performing audit tasks of cell towers. The robot system includes an Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) adapted to transport a robot to the cell tower; and a robot including 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, 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 system for performing audit tasks of cell towers, the robot system comprising:
an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adapted to transport a robot to the cell tower, the UAV comprising at least one hardware component structured to releasably couple the UAV to the cell tower; and a robot, wherein the robot comprises
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;
wireless interfaces adapted to allow wireless control of the robot; and
a continuous track disposed on the body portion, the continuous track including a plurality of selectively enabled magnets positioned within the continuous track, the magnets configured to conform to a surface of the cell tower and to selectively secure the robot to the cell tower while the continuous track facilitates movement along the cell tower.

2 . The robot system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV comprises a tether for transporting the robot to the cell tower.

3 . The robot system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more arms are configured to secure the robot to the UAV during flight.

4 . The robot system of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the robot further comprises elongated compartments, and wherein the one or more arms are adapted to stow away in the elongated compartments during flight.

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

6 . The robot system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous track includes the plurality of selectively enabled magnets positioned within a tread of the continuous track, the magnets being configured to be energized while contacting the cell tower and de-energized while not contacting the cell tower.

7 . The robot system of claim 6 , wherein the magnets are configured to secure the robot to the UAV during transport and release the robot from the UAV when it has reached a desired location.

8 . The robot system 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 programming, wherein the user controls the robot via a wearable control component.

9 . A robot system for performing audit tasks of cell towers, the robot system comprising:
an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adapted to transport a robot to the cell tower, the UAV comprising at least one hardware component structured to releasably couple the UAV to the cell tower; and a robot, wherein the robot comprises
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;
a continuous track disposed on the body portion, the continuous track including a plurality of selectively enabled magnets positioned within the continuous track, the magnets configured to conform to a surface of the cell tower and to selectively secure the robot to the cell tower while the continuous track facilitates movement along the cell tower;
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; and
process commands to perform the audit task.

10 . The robot system of claim 9 , wherein the UAV comprises a tether for transporting the robot to the cell tower, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to utilize the tether for positioning the robot on the cell tower.

11 . The robot system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more arms are configured to secure the robot to the UAV during flight, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to release the robot from the UAV when a desired position has been reached.

12 . The robot system of claim 9 , wherein the body portion of the robot further comprises elongated compartments, and wherein the one or more arms are adapted to stow away in the elongated compartments during flight.

13 . The robot system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more arms of the robot further comprise claws adapted to grip tools and components of the cell tower.

14 . The robot system of claim 9 , wherein the continuous track includes the plurality of selectively enabled magnets positioned within a tread of the continuous track, the magnets being configured to be energized while contacting the cell tower and de-energized while not contacting the cell tower.

15 . The robot system of claim 14 , wherein the magnets are configured to secure the robot to the UAV during transport and release the robot from the UAV when it has reached a desired location.

16 . The robot system of claim 9 , 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.

17 . A method performed with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a robot, the method comprising steps of:
positioning a robot on a cell tower via a hardware item disposed on the UAV configured to releasably couple the UAV to the cell tower to perform an audit task chosen from a plurality of operations to the cell tower; maneuvering the robot along the cell tower via a continuous track disposed on a body portion of the robot, the continuous track including a plurality of selectively enabled magnets positioned within the continuous track, the magnets configured to conform to a surface of the cell tower and to selectively secure the robot to the cell tower while facilitating movement of the robot; and causing 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.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising utilizing a tether of the UAV to position the robot on the cell tower.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising utilizing magnets for securing the robot to the UAV and releasing the robot from the UAV once a desired position has been reached.

Assignees

• Etak Systems Llc

Inventors

• Priest Lee

Classifications

• B25J9/1689

  Teleoperation · CPC title

• B25J9/0087

  Dual arms (double SCARA arms B25J9/043) · CPC title

• B25J15/0052

  multiple gripper units or multiple end effectors · CPC title

• B64U2101/26

  for manufacturing, inspections or repairs · CPC title

• B64U2101/67

  the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods · CPC title