Systems and methods for drone marking of airborne materials
US10086938B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/20
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle may be used to mark airborne material in a plume. The unmanned aerial vehicle may store a macroscopic and/or microscopic tracer material. A sensor and/or control unit may detect a substance of interest in a plume. The sensor may be configured to detect multiple different substances sharing a particular characteristic. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be piloted along a gradient of increasing concentration of the substance of interest. The tracer material may be ejected into the plume. The tracer material may be configured to react and/or interact with the substance of interest. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be piloted a predetermined distance from the plume after the tracer material has been ejected. Additional and/or different tracer material may be ejected into the plume if it is determined from measurements that ejecting additional tracer material would be beneficial.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.