# US 10,769,684 B1 · Property assessment system with buoyancy adjust device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,684 B1 - Document ID: US10769684B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/723,827 - Filed: 2017-10-03 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-03 - Assignees: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. - Applicants: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. - Inventors: Kristine Ing Kushner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769684B1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0278: {Product appraisal} - F01D 15/00: Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby - F03B 17/061: {with rotation axis substantially in flow direction} - F16L 55/28: Constructional aspects - G05D 1/04: Control of altitude or depth - G05D 1/0607: {specially adapted for aircraft} - G05D 1/0692: {specially adapted for under-water vehicles} - G06Q 50/16: Real estate - F05B 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes - F16L 55/26: Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means - F16L 2101/30: Inspecting, measuring or testing - Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A property assessment system is provided to assess a property for various purposes. The system includes a property assessment apparatus configured to be inserted into any space of a property and retrieved therefrom once necessary information is collected from the space. The property assessment apparatus operates to monitor various conditions in the space, which is used to assess the property. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for assessing a space in a property, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a processor mounted to the housing; a data collector mounted to the housing and controlled by the processor, the data collector configured to collect data within the space in the property, the data being related to one or more conditions of the property; a container of lifting gas received within the housing; an actuator mounted to the housing and controlled by the processor, the actuator configured to actuate the apparatus to move within the space in the property, the actuator including a buoyancy adjust device configured to adjust a buoyancy of the housing, the buoyancy adjust device including a valve controlling a volume of lifting gas within the housing from the container; and a power supply unit received within the housing to power the apparatus, wherein the power supply unit is configured to receive power through wireless power transfer from a device external to the apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy adjust device is configured to maintain the apparatus to be neutrally buoyant within the space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator further includes a self-propelling device, the self-propelling device including one or more propellers mounted to the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator further includes a self-propelling device, the self-propelling device including a container of propellant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator further includes a self-propelling device, the self-propelling device including a turbine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective cage at least partially surrounding the housing and configured to protect the housing from damage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of mounting devices configured to mount the data collector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data collector includes at least one of a subject space content detector, a temperature sensor, a sound detector, an image capture device, a lighting device, a particle collector, a density sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a gyroscope sensor, and a shock detector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be spherical. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a transaction instrument. ### Claim 11 A system for assessing a conduit in a property, the system comprising: a property assessment apparatus comprising: a housing; a processing unit mounted to the housing; a data collector mounted to the housing and controlled by the processing unit, the data collector configured to collect data within the conduit in the property, the data being related to one or more conditions of the property; an actuator mounted to the housing and controlled by the processing unit, the actuator configured to actuate the apparatus to move within the conduit in the property, the actuator including a buoyancy adjust device configured to adjust a buoyancy of the housing, the buoyancy adjust device including: a container received within the housing, the container being in fluid communication with the buoyancy adjust device to act as a source of lifting gas; and a valve to control a volume of the lifting gas from the container within the housing of the property assessment apparatus; an interrogation device configured to externally power the apparatus and communicate with the apparatus to receive the data from the apparatus; a power supply unit received within the housing to power the apparatus, wherein the power supply unit is configured to receive power through wireless power transfer from the interrogation device external to the apparatus; and a property data management system configured to receive the data from the interrogation device and assess the property based on the data.