Symbiotic unmanned aerial vehicle and unmanned surface vehicle system

US9464902B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Regents of the University of Minnesota · US

Inventors

• Volkan Isler · Saint Paul, US
• David Mulla · Minneapolis, US
• Pratap Rajkumar Tokekar · Minneapolis, US
• Joshua Vander Hook · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 2014
• Grant date: Oct 11, 2016
• Expiry date: Aug 11, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2001/021
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned surface vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle has a memory storing a plurality of collection points and at least one sensor for collecting sensor data from each of the collection points. The unmanned surface vehicle is capable of moving to a plurality of locations. The unmanned aerial vehicle travels through the air between at least two collection points stored in the memory and the unmanned aerial vehicle is carried between at least two collection points stored in the memory by the unmanned surface vehicle.