US 7,543,780 B1Granted

Unmanned air vehicle transmission line docking surveillance

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

InventorsPatrick T. Marshall, Douglas M. Abner, Robert Williams

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A small unmanned air vehicle system having autonomous electrical energy transmission line docking capability and especially usable in military or other surveillance situations. Transmission line field sensing by the small unmanned air vehicle is used as an addition to global position system and other navigation methods and is especially applied to vehicle docking maneuvers. A plurality of vehicle carried electromagnetic fields-responsive sensors provides transmission line based signals to the vehicle guidance system in both far field and near field environments. Surveillance sensors are included in the vehicle payload. Vehicle battery charging energy procurement from the transmission line docking is included. Related commonly assigned patent documents are identified.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A small unmanned air vehicle electrical transmission line docking surveillance apparatus comprising the combination of:

a small unmanned air vehicle having a combination closable magnetic circuit and docking support magnetic field energy responsive element received therein;
a plurality of electric and magnetic field sensing elements disposed on dispersed external physical portions of said small unmanned air vehicle;
a small unmanned air vehicle flight control apparatus having an electrical signal input port and a plurality of said small unmanned air vehicle flight surface connected mechanical output signals;
small unmanned air vehicle electrical propulsion apparatus having an electrical energy input port and an electrical control signal input port;
a rechargeable electrical battery received within said small unmanned air vehicle and selectively connected with said closable magnetic circuit, said flight surface control apparatus, and said electrical propulsion apparatus;
and
a programmable electronic computer apparatus energized by said rechargeable electrical battery and having electrical output signals controlling said closable magnetic circuit, said flight surface control apparatus, and said electrical propulsion apparatus;
said programmable electronic computer apparatus including a transmission line catenary shape detection algorithm responsive to signals generated in said electric and magnetic field sensing elements and an unmanned air vehicle guidance algorithm responsive to said vehicle approaching a selected docking location along a vehicle encountered transmission line catenary curve;
and said small unmanned air vehicle is configured to dock and recharge while docked on a transmission line.

6 more elements

A method of collecting surveillance information from an improved geographic area, said method comprising the steps of:

guiding an electrically propelled small unmanned air vehicle along a selected flight course in said improved geographic area with aid of electric and magnetic field signals emitted by a ground-based electrical transmission line located in said geographic area;
electromagnetic field signal sensing by electric and magnetic field responding transducer elements disposed on selected portions of said air vehicle and sensed signal processing in a digital computer disposed within said small unmanned air vehicle enabling said guiding step;
said guiding step also including converting received transmission line electric and magnetic field electromagnetic signals into aircraft control surface moving signals using an algorithm disposed within said digital computer located in said small unmanned air vehicle;
said digital computer algorithm including a transmission line conductor catenary curve responding portion having a selected catenary curve segment identifying portion therein;
controlling said small unmanned air vehicle in speed, altitude, attitude and course of travel into a state of captivity suspended engaging with a selected catenary curve segment of a selected conductor of said transmission line using instructions retained within said digital computer;
transferring magnetic induction received electrical energy from said transmission line conductor into charging of an electrical propulsion battery located within said small unmanned air vehicle during said state of captive suspended engaging with said selected catenary curve segment of said selected transmission line conductor;
gathering surveillance information relating to said improved geographic area into said small unmanned air vehicle preceding and during said state of captive suspended engaging with said selected catenary curve segment of said selected transmission line conductor;
communicating said surveillance information to a remote location of information using;
and
disengaging said small unmanned air vehicle from said transmission line conductor upon command from said remote location of information using.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/344,631Filed 13 Jan 2006 · continuation in part
Priority: 4 Oct 2004
Granted: 9 Jun 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H02J 50/10
Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power: using inductive coupling
B64U 50/37
Supply or distribution of electrical power: charging when not in flight
B60L 2200/10
Type of vehicles: air crafts
B64U 10/25
Type of UAV: fixed-wing aircraft