Counterbalancing unmanned aerial vehicles during operations associated with cell towers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016375984-A1
Application number	US-201615259451-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site, the method comprising:
flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more counterbalancing techniques comprise an extendible arm which selectively moves back and forth in an opposite direction as the one or more manipulable members move to continually balance the weight distribution.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the selective movement of the extendible arm is controlled by a processor in the UAV which receives sensor measurements related to the weight distribution during the moving.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more counterbalancing techniques comprise a second set of one or more manipulable members on an opposite side of the UAV as the one or more manipulable members, and wherein the second set performs opposing movement as the one or more manipulable members during the moving.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more counterbalancing techniques comprise moveable weights located on the UAV, and wherein the moveable weights are selectively rebalanced to adjust to changes in the weight distribution during the moving.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the selective rebalancing of the moveable weights is controlled by a processor in the UAV which receives sensor measurements related to the weight distribution during the moving.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more manipulable members physically connect to the cell tower for stability of the UAV and the UAV ends the flying subsequent to the connection.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more manipulable members comprise payload attached thereto.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the payload comprises any of wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, and combinations thereof.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving comprises performing operations at the location on the cell tower.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise any of
installing wireless components, installing cables, installing nuts/bolts, installing antennas, installing supports, installing braces, installing lighting rods, installing lighting, installing electronics, and combinations thereof.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise attaching equipment to one or more horizontal support structures on the cell tower.

13 . An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adapted to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site, the UAV comprising:
one or more rotors disposed to a body; one or more manipulable members disposed to the body; a counterbalance mechanism associated with the body; a camera associated with the body; wireless interfaces; a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces and the camera; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
process commands to cause the one or more rotors to fly the UAV at or near the cell site,
process commands to cause the one or more manipulable members to move when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and
utilize the counterbalance mechanism during movement of the one or more manipulable members to ensure a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

14 . The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the counterbalance mechanism comprises an extendible arm which selectively moves back and forth in an opposite direction as the one or more manipulable members move to continually balance the weight distribution.

15 . The UAV of claim 14 , wherein the selective movement of the extendible arm is controlled by the processor in the UAV which receives sensor measurements related to the weight distribution during the movement.

16 . The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the counterbalance mechanism comprises a second set of one or more manipulable members on an opposite side of the UAV as the one or more manipulable members, and wherein the second set performs opposing movement as the one or more manipulable members during the moving.

17 . The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the counterbalance mechanism comprises moveable weights located on the UAV, and wherein the moveable weights are selectively rebalanced to adjust to changes in the weight distribution during the moving.

18 . The UAV of claim 17 , wherein the selective rebalancing of the moveable weights is controlled by the processor in the UAV which receives sensor measurements related to the weight distribution during the movement.

19 . The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the one or more manipulable members physically connect to the cell tower for stability of the UAV and the UAV ends flying subsequent to the connection.

20 . The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the one or more manipulable members comprise payload attached thereto.

Assignees

• Priest Lee
• Etak Systems Llc

Inventors

• Priest Lee

Classifications

• B64U2201/202

  using tethers for connecting to ground station · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• G05D1/0094

  involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target · CPC title

• B64D47/08

  Arrangements of cameras · CPC title

• G05D1/101

  specially adapted for aircraft · CPC title