IP Library Granted Patent US 10,032,078
Granted Patent B2
US 10,032,078 · App. 15/803,291 · Granted Jul 24, 2018

Unmanned aircraft structure evaluation system and method

Inventors: Stephen L. Schultz (West Henrietta, NY); John Monaco (Penfield, NY)
Assignee: Pictometry International Corp.
G06K9/00637B60R1/00B64C39/024B64D47/08G01S19/39G05D1/0094G06F17/3028G06F17/30256G06F17/30268G06K9/0063G06T11/60G08G5/0039G08G5/0069G08G5/0086G08G5/045H04N5/44591B60R2300/8093B64C2201/123B64C2201/127B64C2201/141B64C2201/146G06Q40/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,032,078
App. No.
15/803,291
Granted
Jul 24, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed including a computerized system, comprising: a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors, and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to: display on the display unit one or more images, from an image database, depicting a structure; receive a validation from the input unit indicating a validation of a location of the structure depicted in the one or more images; generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path; receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

Claims (38)

1. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:

display, on the display unit, one or more images depicting a structure;

receive a validation from the input unit indicating validation of a location of the structure depicted in the one or more images;

generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path;

receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and

generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

2. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

3. The computerized system of claim 2 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

4. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

5. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:

display on the display unit a first graphical representation of a structure to be inspected, the first graphical representation comprising one or more images describing an aerial view of the structure;

generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path, the flight path having first instructions to navigate the unmanned aircraft at a first altitude above the structure during a first portion of the flight path and second instructions to navigate the unmanned aircraft at a second altitude above the structure during a second portion of the flight path;

receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and

generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

6. The computerized system of claim 5 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

7. The computerized system of claim 6 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

8. The computerized system of claim 5 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

9. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:

display on the display unit a first graphical representation of a structure to be inspected and an object incident and above at least a portion of the structure such that a first flight path above or around the structure would go through the object, the first graphical representation comprising one or more images describing an aerial view of the structure and the object;

determine a location of the object from the first graphical representation;

generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a second flight path above the structure and to avoid the object, and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the second flight path;

receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and

generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

10. The computerized system of claim 9 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

11. The computerized system of claim 10 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

12. The computerized system of claim 9 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

13. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system having an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more processors executing software to cause the one or more processors to:

display on the display unit a first graphical representation of a structure to be inspected, the first graphical representation comprising one or more images describing an aerial view of the structure;

generate unmanned aircraft information including flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path above the structure, and capture sensor data from a camera on the unmanned aircraft while the unmanned aircraft is flying the flight path, the flight path information including instructions to direct a roll, pitch or yaw of the unmanned aircraft to aim the camera at the structure;

receive the sensor data from the unmanned aircraft; and

generate a structure report based at least in part on the sensor data.

14. The computerized system of claim 13 , wherein the flight path information includes a plurality of capture points adjacent to the structure such that the unmanned aircraft captures sensor data of the structure at the plurality of capture points.

15. The computerized system of claim 14 , wherein a first one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a first angle relative to the structure and a second one of the plurality of capture points is positioned to direct the unmanned aircraft to capture sensor data of the structure from a second angle relative to the structure.

16. The computerized system of claim 13 , wherein the unmanned aircraft is a multi-rotor aircraft.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2025
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 070828/0266 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.; EAGLE VIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; OMNIEARTH, INC.
Reel/Frame 070786/0022 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2025
From: EAGLE VIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 070671/0078 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046919/0065 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC,
Reel/Frame 046823/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2017
From: SCHULTZ, STEPHEN L.; MONACO, JOHN
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 044032/0586 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15475978 · Mar 31, 2017
Continuation 14591556 · Jan 7, 2015
Provisional Application 61926137 · Jan 10, 2014
Related Publication 20180060658A1 · Mar 1, 2018