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US 6,246,355 B1Granted
Radar cross-section measurement system for analysis of wooden structures
AssigneeHot/Shot Radar Inspections, LLC
InventorsGilbert F Miceli, Michael Parisi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for analyzing a wooden structure, such as a utility or telecommunications pole, are provided. A location for the wooden structure is identified. A first radar signal is propagated towards the wooden structure with a radar antenna while the radar antenna is motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the wooden structure. A reflected radar signal is received from the wooden structure, from which a determination is made whether the wooden structure contains a structural anomaly.
Claims47
A method for analyzing a wooden structure, the method comprising:
- identifying a location for the wooden structure;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the wooden structure with a radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the wooden structure;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the wooden structure;
- and
- determining whether the wooden structure contains a structural anomaly from the reflected radar signal.
2 more elements
A method for analyzing a wooden pole, the method comprising:
- imaging the wooden pole to determine a location for the pole;
- steering a radar antenna in a direction towards the determined location of the wooden pole;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the wooden pole with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the pole, wherein the first radar signal has a frequency between 360 MHz and 2 GHz;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the wooden pole;
- calculating a density distribution for the wooden pole from data provided by the reflected radar signal;
- and
- determining whether the wooden pole contains a structural anomaly based on the calculated density distribution.
4 more elements
A method for analyzing a wooden pole, the method comprising:
- imaging the wooden pole to determine a location for the wooden pole;
- reflecting a laser signal from the wooden pole to ascertain a shape and physical dimensions of the wooden pole;
- ascertaining longitude and latitude positions for the wooden pole with a global positioning system (GPS);
- steering a radar antenna in a direction towards the determined location of the wooden pole;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the wooden pole with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the pole, wherein the first radar signal has a frequency between 360 MHz and 2 GHz;
- propagating a second radar signal towards the wooden pole with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along the navigation path, wherein the second radar signal is modulated in accordance with a pulse compression scheme and has a different frequency than the first radar signal;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the wooden pole;
- calculating a density distribution for the wooden pole from data provided by the reflected radar signal;
- and
- determining whether the wooden pole contains a structural anomaly based on the calculated density distribution.
7 more elements
A system for analyzing a wooden structure, the system comprising:
- a target-recognition device configurable for connection with a vehicle;
- a rotatable radar antenna configurable for connection with the vehicle, the rotatable radar antenna being adaptable to emit and receive electromagnetic signals;
- an arrangement of at least one computer system in communication with the target-recognition device and rotatable radar antenna and configured to accept instructions from an operator and to operate the target-recognition device and rotatable radar antenna in accordance with the following:
- identifying a location for the wooden structure with the target recognition device;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the wooden structure with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the wooden structure;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the wooden structure with the radar antenna.
3 more elements
A system for analyzing a wooden pole, the system comprising:
- an imaging device configurable for connection with a vehicle;
- a laser subsystem configurable for connection with the vehicle;
- a global positioning system (GPS) configurable for connection with the vehicle;
- a rotatable radar antenna configurable for connection with the vehicle, the rotatable radar antenna being adapted to emit and receive electromagnetic signals;
- and
- an arrangement of at least one computer system in communication with the imaging device, laser subsystem, GPS, and rotatable radar antenna and configured to accept instructions from an operator and to operate the imaging device, laser subsystem, GPS, and rotatable radar antenna in accordance with the following:
- imaging the wooden pole with the imaging device to determine a location for the wooden pole;
- reflecting a laser signal from the wooden pole to ascertain a shape and physical dimensions of the wooden pole;
- ascertaining longitude and latitude positions for the wooden pole with the GPS;
- steering the radar antenna in a direction towards the determined location of the wooden pole;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the wooden pole with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the wooden pole;
- propagating a second radar signal towards the wooden pole with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along the navigation path, wherein the second radar signal is modulated in accordance with a pulse compression scheme and has a different frequency than the first radar signal;
- and
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the wooded pole with the radar antenna.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.