Systems and methods for inspecting a delivery vehicle using a paired inspection drone
US10482418B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Paired drone-based systems and methods are described that inspect a delivery vehicle. For example, a system may include a docking station within the vehicle and a sensor-enabled inspection drone paired to the vehicle and that aerially inspects targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle. In response to an activation command, the inspection drone transitions to an active power state, uncouples from the docking station, identifies the targeted inspection points as corresponding to respective parts of the vehicle, moves to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points, automatically identifies an out of range inspection condition about a targeted inspection point based upon sensor-based inspection information detected from at least one of the aerials positions, and responsively transmits an inspection notification message to a vehicle receiver on the vehicle to indicate the targeted inspection point is outside an acceptable range for operation of the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.