US 11,939,194 B2
Drone systems and methods for assisting a crane operator
James T. Benzing, Bethlehem, PA (US); William R Haller, Bethlehem, PA (US); Seth T. Slavin, Bethlehem, PA (US); and Marta Kasica-Soltan, Stroudsburg, PA (US)
Assigned to Structural Services, Inc., Bethleham, PA (US)
Filed by Structural Services, Inc., Bethlehem, PA (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/109,993.
Application 18/109,993 is a continuation of application No. 17/719,146, filed on Apr. 12, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/283,801, filed on Nov. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/173,584, filed on Apr. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0257238 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. B66C 13/16 (2006.01); B66C 13/46 (2006.01)
CPC B66C 13/16 (2013.01) [B66C 13/46 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drone-mounted imaging system, comprising:
a drone;
an imager physically coupled to the drone;
a distance sensor physically coupled to the drone;
a processor communicatively coupled to the imager and the distance sensor; and
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed, cause the drone-mounted imaging system to:
capture with the imager at least one aerial image of a building material object within a shakeout field, wherein the at least one aerial image contains identifying indicium for the corresponding building material object;
determine the distance from the imager to the building material object using the distance sensor;
recognize the identifying indicium and compare the recognized identifying indicium to a plurality of identifying indicia on a lifting list;
measure, using the image and the distance, at least one dimension of the building material object;
confirm that the at least one dimension of the building material object matches a corresponding dimension for the corresponding building material object on the lifting list; and
transmit a message comprising a location of the building material object within the shakeout field.