Patent · US Active

Method and system for determining a geographical location of an unmanned aerial vehicle flown in proximity to a power grid

US10983223B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 25, 2018
Grant dateApr 20, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 17, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S2205/03
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for determining geolocation of a UAV near a power grid includes detecting, via a transceiver, a carrier signal transmitted from a first grid node to identify the node's fixed geolocation. A response signal may be transmitted from a second grid node in response to the carrier signal to identify a fixed geolocation of the second grid node, or the UAV may process the carrier signal. A processor determines time-of-flight of the carrier signal, e.g., using the response signal, and derives the UAV's geolocation using the time-of-flight. Determining time-of-flight may include referencing a lookup table indexed by time-of-arrival at the transceiver of the modulated carrier and response signals. A timestamp may indicate time-of-transmission of the carrier and response signals, respectively. Deriving geolocation may include subtracting time-of-transmission of the response signal from that of the carrier signal. A system includes the processor and transceiver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.