US 11,885,759 B2
Solar panel inspection using unmanned aerial vehicles
Bernard J. Michini, San Francisco, CA (US); Fabien Blanc-Paques, San Francisco, CA (US); and Edward Dale Steakley, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to Skydio, Inc., San Mateo, CA (US)
Filed by Skydio, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/147,955.
Application 18/147,955 is a continuation of application No. 17/483,249, filed on Sep. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,567,019.
Application 17/483,249 is a continuation of application No. 15/640,135, filed on Jun. 30, 2017, granted, now 11,156,573, issued on Oct. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/357,340, filed on Jun. 30, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0133257 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 25/72 (2006.01); H02S 50/10 (2014.01)
CPC G01N 25/72 (2013.01) [H02S 50/10 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
determining, based on a reference frame captured using a camera of an unmanned aerial vehicle, viewing positions of the unmanned aerial vehicle for inspecting one or more solar panels;
determining, based on the viewing positions, viewing angles for a thermal sensor of the unmanned aerial vehicle relative to the one or more solar panels;
determining, based on the viewing angles, a flight plan for the unmanned aerial vehicle to use to inspect the one or more solar panels; and
directing the unmanned aerial vehicle to inspect the one or more solar panels in accordance with the flight plan.