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:
Sep. 15, 2026

Filed:

Mar. 09, 2023
Applicant:

The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US);

Inventors:

Gary E. Georgeson, Tacoma, WA (US);

Joseph L. Hafenrichter, Seattle, WA (US);

James J. Troy, Issaquah, WA (US);

Gregory J. Sweers, Renton, WA (US);

Assignee:

The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G05D 1/00 (2024.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/92 (2023.01); B64U 101/00 (2023.01); G08G 5/30 (2025.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); B25J 11/005 (2013.01); B25J 15/0616 (2013.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); G08G 5/30 (2025.01); B64U 70/92 (2023.01); B64U 2101/00 (2023.01);
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for performing repair operations using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The methods are enabled by equipping the UAV with tools for rapidly repairing a large structure or object (e.g., an aircraft or a wind turbine blade) that is not easily accessible to maintenance personnel. A plurality of tools are available for robotic selection and placement at the repair site. The tools are designed to perform respective repair operations in sequence in accordance with a specified repair plan, which plan may take into account the results of a previously performed UAV-enabled inspection.


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