IP Library › Patent Application 15003193
Patent Application
App. No. 15/003,193

RAPID HIGH-RESOLUTION MAGNETIC FIELD MEASUREMENTS FOR POWER LINE INSPECTION

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/003,193
Abstract

Methods and configurations are disclosed for DNV application in rapid and cost-effective inspection of power transmission and power distribution lines.

Claims (64)

1 . A system for inspecting electric power lines comprising:

one or more diamond nitrogen vacancy (DNV) components mounted on a movable object relative to a power line, such DNV components being included as part of a magnetometer configured to detect a magnetic vector of a magnetic field generated as electric power flows along a power line, said magnetometer determining a magnetic vector being generated at intervals along the power line;

one or more electronic processors configured to receive the magnetic vector of the magnetic field from the magnetometer, compare the magnetic vector to a predetermined magnetic vector of a power line, and determine a presence of an anomaly related to the power line based upon the comparison.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to determine a presence of the power line based upon the magnetic vector.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to identify a type of power line based upon the magnetic vector.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to determine the predetermined magnetic vector of the power line based upon the type of power line.

5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a navigation control configured to navigate the vehicle based upon the presence of the power line and the magnetic vector.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the navigation control is further configured to navigate to an initial position.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the navigation control is further configured to navigate the vehicle in a pattern over an area.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to:

receive a plurality of real-time magnetic vectors from the magnetometer;

determine a course correction for the vehicle based upon the plurality of magnetic vectors.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the course correction follows a curve of the power line.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a flying vehicle.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a ground vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a submersible vehicle.

13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of magnetometers configured to detect a plurality of magnetic vectors of the magnetic field.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a presence of the power line based upon the magnetic vector and the plurality of magnetic vectors.

15 . A method for inspecting power lines comprising:

detecting, using a magnetometer, a magnetic vector of a magnetic field;

receiving the magnetic vector of the magnetic field from the magnetometer;

comparing the magnetic vector to a predetermined magnetic vector of a power line; and

determining a presence of an anomaly related to the power line based upon the comparison.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining a presence of the power line based upon the magnetic vector.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising identifying a type of power line based upon the magnetic vector.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining the predetermined magnetic vector of the power line based upon the type of power line.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising navigating, using a navigation control, the vehicle based upon the presence of the power line and the magnetic vector.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising navigating, using the navigation control, to an initial position.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising navigating, using the navigation control, the vehicle in a pattern over an area.

22 . A method comprising:

detecting, using a magnetometer, a magnetic vector of a magnetic field;

receiving a plurality of real-time magnetic vectors from the magnetometer;

comparing the magnetic vector to a predetermined magnetic vector of a power line;

determining a course correction for the vehicle based upon the plurality of magnetic vectors; and

determining a presence of an anomaly related to the power line based upon the comparison.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the course correction follows a curve of the power line.

24 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is a flying vehicle.

25 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is a ground vehicle.

26 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is a submersible vehicle.

27 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising detecting, using a plurality of magnetometers, a plurality of magnetic vectors of the magnetic field.

28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising determining a presence of the power line based upon the magnetic vector and the plurality of magnetic vectors.

29 . A system for inspecting electric power lines comprising:

one or more magnetic sensor means mounted on a movable object relative to a power line, the one or more magnetic sensor means configured to detect a magnetic vector of a magnetic field generated as electric power flows along a power line, said magnetic sensor means determining a magnetic vector being generated at intervals along the power line;

one or more processor means configured to receive the magnetic vector of the magnetic field from the magnetometer, compare the magnetic vector to a predetermined magnetic vector of a power line, and determine a presence of an anomaly related to the power line based upon the comparison.

30 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to detect using a magnetometer, a magnetic vector of a magnetic field;

instructions to receive the magnetic vector of the magnetic field from the magnetometer;

instructions to compare the magnetic vector to a predetermined magnetic vector of a power line; and

instructions to determine a presence of an anomaly related to the power line based upon the comparison.

31 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30 , further comprising instructions to determine a presence of the power line based upon the magnetic vector.

32 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising instructions to identify a type of power line based upon the magnetic vector.

33 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32 , further comprising instructions to determine the predetermined magnetic vector of the power line based upon the type of power line.

34 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33 , further comprising instructions to navigate the vehicle based upon the presence of the power line and the magnetic vector.

35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , further comprising instructions to navigate to an initial position.

36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , further comprising instructions to navigate the vehicle in a pattern over an area.

37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36 , further comprising:

instructions to receive a plurality of real-time magnetic vectors from the magnetometer;

instructions to determine a course correction for the vehicle based upon the plurality of magnetic vectors.

38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the course correction follows a curve of the power line.

39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the vehicle is a flying vehicle.

40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the vehicle is a ground vehicle.

41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the vehicle is a submersible vehicle.

42 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30 , further comprising instructions to detect, using a plurality of magnetometers, a plurality of magnetic vectors of the magnetic field.

43 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 42 , further comprising instructions to determine a presence of the power line based upon the magnetic vector and the plurality of magnetic vectors.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2017
From: SEKELSKY, STEPHEN MICHAEL
To: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043718/0239 →