Robot system with virtual reality for cell sites and towers
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to robot systems configured to operate on a cell tower to inspect, install, reconfigure, and repair cellular equipment. The present disclosure provides a robot for performing audit tasks of cell towers. The robot includes a body portion configured to hold various electronic components of the robot including monitoring equipment disposed thereon, one or more arms extending from the body portion adapted to manipulate components of a cell tower and to facilitate movement of the robot on the cell tower, and wireless interfaces adapted to receive control signals from a Virtual Reality (VR) system allowing wireless control of the robot. The robot is configured to be controlled by one of a user in a remote location, a user at the cell tower site, and autonomously via direct programing.
1 . A robot for performing audit tasks of cell towers, the robot comprising:
a body portion configured to hold various electronic components of the robot comprising monitoring equipment disposed thereon, the body portion comprising selectively enabled magnets integrated into the body portion and arranged to directly contact structural members of the cell tower, adapted to secure the robot to the cell tower, wherein the magnets are controlled by a processor to be energized for magnetism and de-energized to release the magnetism, wherein the processor is configured to selectively energize and de-energize the magnets during movement of the robot along the cell tower to provide adhesion for locomotion of robot cell tower;
one or more arms extending from the body portion adapted to manipulate components of a cell tower and to facilitate movement of the robot on the cell tower; and
wireless interfaces coupled to the processor adapted to receive control signals from a Virtual Reality (VR) system allowing wireless control of the robot.
2 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the VR system comprises a headset including a display and one or more control components.
3 . The robot of claim 2 , wherein the control components are any of wearable and handheld devices configured to detect user input.
4 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the selectively enabled magnets are controlled by the processor to be energized only when the body portion is positioned adjacent to the cell tower and to be de-energized when repositioning the robot, such that the magnets selectively secure the robot to the cell tower during performance of the audit tasks.
5 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises storage compartments configured to hold tools and equipment.
6 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises elongated compartments, and wherein the one or more arms are configured to stow within the elongated compartments by folding and moving into one of the elongated compartments.
7 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein the robot is configured to be controlled by one of a user in a remote location, a user at the cell tower site, and autonomously via direct programing.
8 . A robot for performing audit tasks of cell towers, the robot comprising:
a body portion configured to hold various electronic components of the robot comprising monitoring equipment disposed thereon the body portion comprising selectively enabled magnets integrated into the body portion and arranged to directly contact structural members of the cell tower adapted to secure the robot to the cell tower, wherein the magnets are controlled by a processor coupled to a wireless interfaces to be energized for magnetism and de-energized to release the magnetism, wherein the processor is configured to selectively energize and de-energize the magnets during movement of the robot along the cell tower to provide adhesion for locomotion of the robot on the cell tower;
one or more arms extending from the body portion adapted to manipulate components of a cell tower and to facilitate movement of the robot on the cell tower;
the wireless interfaces adapted to receive control signals from a Virtual Reality (VR) system allowing wireless control of the robot; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
process commands from the VR system to position the robot on the cell tower to perform an audit task chosen from a plurality of operations to the cell tower;
process commands from the VR system to capture data associated with components being audited based on the audit being performed; and
process the data collected to verify whether the component being audited is in a predetermined condition by comparing image data captured by image sensors positioned on distal ends of the arms to stored reference data corresponding to acceptable installation conditions.
9 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operations include any of inspecting and monitoring a component of the cell tower, performing repair, and installing components of the cell tower.
10 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the VR system comprises a headset and one or more control components.
11 . The robot of claim 10 , wherein the control components are any of wearable and handheld devices.
12 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the robot is configured to be controlled by one of a user in a remote location, a user at the cell tower site, and autonomously via direct programing.
13 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the selectively enabled magnets are controlled by the processor to be energized only when the body portion is positioned adjacent to the cell tower and to be de-energized when repositioning the robot, such that the magnets selectively secure the robot to the cell tower during performance of the audit tasks.
14 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the body portion further comprises storage compartments configured to hold tools and equipment.
15 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the robot is adapted to operate in adverse weather conditions and is structured to be substantially water or weather resilient.
16 . The robot of claim 8 , wherein the body portion further comprises elongated compartments, and wherein the one or more arms are configured to stow within the elongated compartments.
17 . A method implemented by a Virtual Reality (VR) system adapted to control a robot, the method comprising steps of:
positioning a robot on a cell tower via one or more selectively engageable magnets wherein the magnets are controlled by a processor coupled to a wireless interface to be energized for magnetism and de-energized to release the magnetism to perform an audit task chosen from a plurality of operations to the cell tower wherein the processor is configured to selectively energize and de-energize the magnets during movement of the robot along the cell tower to provide adhesion for locomotion of the robot on the cell tower;
capturing data associated with components being audited based on the audit being performed; and
processing the data collected to verify whether the component being audited is in a predetermined condition by comparing image data captured by image sensors positioned on distal ends of the arms to stored reference data corresponding to acceptable installation conditions.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of operations include any of inspecting and monitoring a component of the cell tower, performing repair, and installing components of the cell tower.