Radar cross-section measurement system for analysis of electrically insulative structures
AssigneeHot/Shot Radar Inspections, LLC
InventorsGilbert F Miceli, Michael Parisi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for identifying an anomaly in an electrically insulative component of a structure, such as an insulator on a utility or telecommunications pole, are provided. Locations for the structure and electrically insulative component are identified. A radar signal is propagated towards the electrically insulative component with a radar antenna while the radar antenna is motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the structure. A reflected radar signal is received from the electrically insulative component, from which a determination is made whether the electrically insulative component contains the anomaly.
Claims39
A method for identifying an anomaly in an electrically insulative component of a structure, the method comprising:
- identifying a location for the structure;
- identifying a position for the electrically insulative component;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the electrically insulative component with a radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the structure;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the electrically insulative component;
- and
- determining whether the electrically insulative component contains the anomaly from the reflected radar signal.
A method for identifying an anomaly in an electrically insulative component of a utility pole, the method comprising:
- imaging the utility pole to determine a location for the utility pole;
- imaging the electrically insulative component to determine a position for the electrically insulative component;
- steering a radar antenna in a direction towards the determined position for the electrically insulative component;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the electrically insulative component with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the utility pole, wherein the first radar signal has a frequency between 360 MHz and 2 GHz;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the electrically insulative component;
- and
- determining whether the electrically insulative component contains the anomaly from the reflected radar signal.
A system for identifying an anomaly in an electrically insulative component of a structure, the system comprising:
- a target-recognition device configurable for connection with a vehicle;
- a rotatable radar antenna configurable for connection with the vehicle;
- 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 structure with the target recognition device;
- identifying a position for the electrically insulative component with the target recognition device;
- propagating a first radar signal towards the electrically insulative component with the radar antenna while the radar antenna is in motion along a navigation path in the vicinity of the structure;
- receiving a reflected radar signal from the electrically insulative component;
- and
- determining whether the electrically insulative component contains the anomaly from the reflected radar signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.