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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.

Patent No.:

US 11584458 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Feb. 21, 2023

Filed:

Nov. 25, 2019

Inspection method using a perching uav with a releasable crawler

Applicants:

Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran, SA;

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, SA;

Inventors:

Fadi Abdellatif, Thuwal, SA;

Mohamed Abdelkader, Thuwal, SA;

Jeff S. Shamma, Thuwal, SA;

Assignees:

Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran, SA;

King Abdullah University Of Science And Technology, Thuwal, SA;

Attorney:

Leason Ellis LLP

Primary Examiner:

Jean Paul Cass

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 57/024 (2006.01); B60K 1/02 (2006.01); B62D 21/09 (2006.01); B60G 3/01 (2006.01); B60G 11/00 (2006.01); B62D 61/12 (2006.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01); G01N 29/265 (2006.01); G01N 29/04 (2006.01); B62D 9/00 (2006.01); B64C 25/24 (2006.01); B64C 25/36 (2006.01); B64C 25/40 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2006.01); B64D 1/02 (2006.01); G01B 17/02 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); B64C 25/32 (2006.01); G06T 7/50 (2017.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); H04N 5/222 (2006.01); G06V 20/10 (2022.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 57/024 (2013.01); B60G 3/01 (2013.01); B60G 11/00 (2013.01); B60K 1/02 (2013.01); B60R 11/00 (2013.01); B62D 9/002 (2013.01); B62D 21/09 (2013.01); B62D 61/12 (2013.01); B64C 25/24 (2013.01); B64C 25/32 (2013.01); B64C 25/36 (2013.01); B64C 25/405 (2013.01); B64C 39/02 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/02 (2013.01); G01B 17/02 (2013.01); G01N 29/04 (2013.01); G01N 29/265 (2013.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G05D 1/0088 (2013.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); G06T 7/50 (2017.01); G06V 20/10 (2022.01); H04N 5/2226 (2013.01); B60R 2011/004 (2013.01); B60R 2011/008 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0084 (2013.01); B64C 2201/027 (2013.01); B64C 2201/12 (2013.01); B64C 2201/123 (2013.01); B64C 2201/127 (2013.01); B64C 2201/141 (2013.01); B64C 2201/18 (2013.01); G01N 2291/0289 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02854 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10028 (2013.01);
Abstract

A method of inspection or maintenance of a curved ferromagnetic surface using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a releasable crawler is provided. The method includes: flying the UAV from an initial position to a pre-perching position in a vicinity of the ferromagnetic surface; autonomously perching the UAV on the ferromagnetic surface; maintaining magnetic attachment of the perched UAV to the ferromagnetic surface; releasing the crawler from the magnetically attached UAV onto the ferromagnetic surface; moving the crawler over the curved ferromagnetic surface while maintaining magnetic attachment of the released crawler to the ferromagnetic surface; inspecting or maintaining the ferromagnetic surface using the magnetically attached crawler; and re-docking the released crawler with the perched UAV.

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