Methods for maintaining difficult-to-access structures using unmanned aerial vehicles
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJoseph L. Hafenrichter, Gary E. Georgeson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for performing maintenance operations using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The methods are enabled by equipping a UAV with a maintenance tool capable of performing a desired maintenance operation (e.g., nondestructive inspection) on a limited-access surface of a large structure or object (e.g., a wind turbine blade). The UAV uses re-orientation of lifting means (e.g., vertical rotors) to move the maintenance tool continuously or intermittently across the surface of the structure while maintaining contact with the surface of the structure undergoing maintenance.
Claims21
A method for performing a maintenance operation using an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- (a) the unmanned aerial vehicle flies to a first location whereat a plurality of standoff contact elements of the unmanned aerial vehicle contact respective areas on a surface of a structure;
- (b) the unmanned aerial vehicle hovers at the first location with the standoff contact elements in contact with the surface of the structure;
- (c) the unmanned aerial vehicle skims along a path on the surface of the structure along a path that extends from the first location to a second location;
- and
- (d) a maintenance tool on-board the unmanned aerial vehicle performs a maintenance operation while the unmanned aerial vehicle is located along the path with the standoff contact elements in contact with the surface of the structure.
A method for performing a maintenance operation on an airfoil-shaped body using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
- (a) equipping the unmanned aerial vehicle with a maintenance tool and a plurality of standoff contact elements, the plurality of standoff contact elements being arranged to simultaneously contact a surface of the airfoil-shaped body, and the maintenance tool being arranged to confront an area on the surface of the airfoil-shaped body while the plurality of standoff contact elements are in contact with the surface;
- (b) flying the unmanned aerial vehicle to a first location whereat the plurality of standoff contact elements of the unmanned aerial vehicle contact respective areas on a surface of an airfoil-shaped body;
- (c) skimming the unmanned aerial vehicle along a path on the surface of the airfoil-shaped body along a path that extends from the first location to a second location;
- and
- (d) while the plurality of standoff contact elements are in contact with the surface of the airfoil-shaped body, activating the maintenance tool to perform a maintenance operation on the surface of the airfoil-shaped body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.