US 12,332,284 B2
Drone system for powerline inspection using radio frequency scanning techniques
Khoi Loon Wong, Melbourne (AU)
Assigned to DX TECH PTY LTD, Prahran (AU)
Appl. No. 18/252,584
Filed by DX TECH PTY LTD, Prahran (AU)
PCT Filed Nov. 15, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/060574
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 11, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/101882, PCT Pub. Date May 19, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/114,028, filed on Nov. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0022051 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. G01R 31/08 (2020.01); G01R 19/25 (2006.01); G01S 5/02 (2010.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); H02G 1/02 (2006.01); B64U 80/25 (2023.01); B64U 101/26 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01)
CPC G01R 19/2513 (2013.01) [G01R 31/085 (2013.01); G01S 5/0249 (2020.05); G05D 1/104 (2013.01); H02G 1/02 (2013.01); B64U 80/25 (2023.01); B64U 2101/26 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2201/104 (2023.01); G01S 2205/03 (2020.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for powerline inspection comprising:
a plurality of data collection units positioned on a plurality of powerline structures, wherein each data collection unit is associated with a sensor group positioned on a respective powerline structure, each data collection unit being configured to:
receive measured radio frequency (RF) data from the sensor group; and
transmit the measured RF data;
a server configured to:
receive the measured RF data from the data collection unit;
analyze the measured RF data to detect an RF event;
calculate a geolocation of the RF event; and
in response to detecting the RF event, send an alert and the geolocation of the RF event to a closest nest; and
a plurality of nests positioned on the plurality of powerline structures, each nest being configured to:
house a drone; and
receive the alert from the server;
wherein the drone comprises at least one RF sensor and is configured to:
in response to the alert being received by an associated nest, autonomously travel to the geolocation;
perform RF measurements via the at least one RF sensor at the geolocation;
upload the RF measurements to the server; and
return to the associated nest.