The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 19, 2020

Filed:

Apr. 26, 2012
Applicants:

Michael Naderhirn, Linz, AT;

Peter Langthaler, Linz, AT;

Inventors:

Michael Naderhirn, Linz, AT;

Peter Langthaler, Linz, AT;

Assignee:

EADS Deutschland GmbH, Ottobrunn, DE;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/88 (2006.01); G01M 5/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G01C 11/02 (2006.01); F03D 17/00 (2016.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.01); G01N 25/72 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/88 (2013.01); F03D 17/00 (2016.05); F03D 80/50 (2016.05); G01C 11/02 (2013.01); G01M 5/0016 (2013.01); G01M 5/0033 (2013.01); G01M 5/0075 (2013.01); G01M 5/0091 (2013.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); B64C 2201/123 (2013.01); B64C 2201/127 (2013.01); B64C 2201/141 (2013.01); G01N 25/72 (2013.01); Y02B 10/30 (2013.01); Y02E 10/72 (2013.01);
Abstract

A camera assembly arranged on an unmanned and autonomously navigating aerial vehicle is employed to inspect a surface area of for material defects. The vehicle is automatically flown to the surface area from a launch site, wherein it can fly around obstacles using automatic obstacle detection and avoidance methods. A relative position of the aerial vehicle with respect to the surface area with the aid of a position sensor is continuously measured and a sequence of images of the surface area is recorded. Between the individual images, the aerial vehicle is moved along a flight path overlapping image details of the surface area. The images of the sequence are composed into an overall image of the surface area to allow for the surface area to be inspected for defects and the location of defects to be ascertained on the basis of the overall image.


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