Bi-stable spring mechanism for drone latching and inspection of round surfaces

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating attachment of a drone to a curved surface of an object of interest comprises a bi-stable spring surface latch having two semi-stable states including a coiled state in which the bi-stable spring surface is able to conform to the curved surface and an uncoiled state, the bi-stable spring surface including sensor modules on an inner side that attach to the curved surface, a fixture coupled on one side to the drone and on another side to the bi-stable spring surface and a motor coupled to the fixture and also coupled to the bi-stable spring surface via threads or cables, the motor being operative to apply tension to the bi-stable spring surface so as to induce a change in a state of the bi-stable spring surface which causes the bi-stable spring surface to either couple to or uncouple from the curved surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.