US 11,854,411 B2
Coordinating drone flights in an operating wind farm
Christopher H. McLemore, Jupiter, FL (US); Eric D. Schwartz, Juno Beach, FL (US); Steven J. Shelp, Uniondale, NJ (US); and Travis B. Pedriani, Jermyn, PA (US)
Assigned to Florida Power & Light Company, Juno Beach, FL (US)
Filed by Florida Power & Light Company, Juno Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/131,277.
Prior Publication US 2022/0198944 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G08G 5/00 (2006.01); F03D 7/04 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 101/20 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC G08G 5/0043 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); F03D 7/048 (2013.01); G08G 5/0013 (2013.01); B64U 2101/20 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01); F05B 2270/80 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for coordinating drone flights in an operating windfarm, the method comprising:
determining, for a drone, a portion of a drone flight path that extends through at least part of a windfarm between wind turbines to a destination location, the portion of the drone flight path being removed from any location where the drone is conducting inspection of any wind turbine;
determining, based on respective operating parameters for each of at least one wind turbine in the windfarm, a respective wake pattern created by a plurality of wind turbines in the windfarm along the portion of the drone fight path through the windfarm that is removed from any location where the drone is conducting inspection of any wind turbine;
determining a revised wake pattern along the portion of the drone fight path to reduce an effect of the respective wake pattern at a point ahead of the drone on the portion of the drone flight path that is removed from any location where the drone is conducting inspection of any wind turbine, wherein the revised wake pattern results from a planned adjustment of at least one respective operating parameter of at least one wind turbine in the windfarm; and
performing the planned adjustment, based on determining the revised wake pattern by sending flight time commands from a windfarm controller controlling the at least one wind turbine, on the at least one respective operating parameter of the at least one wind turbine to reduce an effect of the respective wake pattern at a point ahead of the drone on the portion of the drone flight path that is removed from any location where the drone is conducting inspection of any wind turbine.