System and methods for using drones in dispersed welding environments
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJason Bonnell, Praveen Dandu, Leland Falde, Stephen P. Ivkovich, Adam Pliska, Tret West
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for using drones in dispersed welding applications are disclosed. In some examples, drones may be used in large and/or dispersed welding environments to quickly navigate the large distances and/or reach areas that might be more difficult for a person to reach. In some examples, the drones may use one or more attached devices to locate, identify, and/or collect information from welding equipment, welding workpieces, and/or welds within a (e.g., large and/or dispersed) welding environment.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- maneuvering a drone to an expected equipment location proximate welding equipment via a drone propulsion system or a drone navigation system of the drone;
- communicating welding information from the welding equipment to the drone when the drone is proximate the welding equipment;
- changing, via the drone, a next target piece of welding equipment or a next expected equipment location based on the welding information;
- and
- maneuvering the drone to the next expected equipment location proximate the next target piece of welding equipment via the drone propulsion system or the drone navigation system of the drone.
A welding system, comprising:
- welding equipment;
- a drone comprising:
- a drone propulsion system or a drone navigation system,
- a drone communication device,
- processing circuitry, and
- memory circuitry comprising machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
- maneuver the drone to an expected equipment location proximate the welding equipment via the drone propulsion system or the drone navigation system,
- conduct a communication with the welding equipment via the drone communication device when the drone is proximate the welding equipment, the welding equipment communicating welding information to the drone communication device via the communication,
- change a next target piece of equipment or a next expected equipment location based on the welding information, and
- maneuver the drone to the next expected equipment location proximate the next target piece of welding equipment via the drone propulsion system or the drone navigation system of the drone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.