Autonomous drone diagnosis
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for autonomously performing and/or facilitating drone diagnostic functions. Prior to a mission of a UAV, an inspection station comprising at least one imaging sensor and at least one directional force sensor may be used to perform a plurality of air worthiness inspections and/or maintenance checks with little to no human intervention. Once the UAV has been determined to be air worthy, it is approved for a subsequent mission.
1. A system comprising:
a rail component; and
a computing device, wherein:
the rail component comprises:
at least one rail,
a recovery portion comprising an opening and a guide that is configured for guiding an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is approaching the rail component at least one of into or onto the at least one rail,
an inspection portion comprising at least one of a camera configured to capture image data of the UAV, a weight sensor configured to capture at least one of weight data or vertical pull data associated with the UAV, a heat sensor configured to capture temperature data of the UAV, a wired or wireless connection to a communication port on the UAV that is configured to obtain electronic status data of the UAV, or a fixed position indicating sensor configured to capture position data of the UAV, and
a portion of the at least one rail configured for facilitating the UAV taking off from the rail component, and
the computing device is communicatively coupled to the inspection portion and configured to determine that at least one of the image data, the weight data, the vertical pull data, the temperature data, the electronic status data, or the position data satisfies a threshold and responsive to determining that at least one of the image data, the weight data, the vertical pull data, the temperature data, the electronic status data, or the position data satisfies the threshold, instruct the rail component to traverse the UAV from the inspection portion to the portion of the at least one rail to facilitate the UAV taking off.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rail comprises a locomotive component comprising a plurality of successive, powered rollers that are configured to traverse the UAV from the recovery portion to the inspection portion and from the inspection portion to the portion of the at least one rail.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the opening is configured to catch and guide the UAV into a properly cooperative orientation with respect to the locomotive component.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rail component is coupled to an outer-facing surface of a vehicle.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the rail component further comprises an unloading portion that comprising an opening that is configured for receiving at least one of a cargo or a cargo carrier and returning at least one of the cargo or the cargo carrier to an internal compartment of the vehicle.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the unloading portion is further configured for retrieving at least one of a new cargo or a new cargo carrier from the internal compartment of the vehicle and coupling at least one of the new cargo or the new cargo carrier to the UAV.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection portion comprises a hangar that is configured to at least partially house at least one of the camera, the weight sensor, the heat sensor, the wired or wireless connection, or the fixed position indicating sensor.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the weight data comprises a combined weight of the UAV and a cargo coupled to the UAV and the threshold comprises a maximum takeoff weight.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image data comprises an image of at least one of a propeller blade of the UAV or a portion of a body of the UAV, and the computing device is configured to compare the image to a standardized image, identify a structural integrity of the UAV based at least in part on comparing the image and the standardized image, and determine the structural integrity satisfies the threshold.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature data comprises a measure of a battery temperature of a battery coupled to the UAV and the threshold comprises an operational temperature range.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vertical pull data comprises a lift measurement taken during operation of a propulsion member of the UAV and the threshold comprises a minimum lift threshold.
12. A system comprising:
a rail component; and
a computing device, wherein:
the rail component comprises:
at least one rail,
a recovery portion comprising an opening and a guide that is configured for guiding an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is approaching the rail component at least one of into or onto the at least one rail, and
an inspection portion comprising at least one of a camera configured to capture image data of the UAV, a weight sensor configured to capture at least one of weight data or vertical pull data associated with the UAV, a beat sensor configured to capture temperature data of the UAV, a wired or wireless connection to a communication port on the UAV that is configured to obtain electronic status data of the UAV, or a fixed position indicating sensor configured to capture position data of the UAV, and
the computing device is communicatively coupled to the inspection portion and configured to determine that at least one of the image data, the weight data, the vertical pull data, the temperature data, the electronic status data, or the position data does not satisfy a threshold and responsive to determining that at least one of the image data, the weight data, the vertical pull data, the temperature data, the electronic status data, or the position data does not satisfy the threshold, instruct the rail component to stow the UAV in an internal compartment.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one rail comprises a locomotive component comprising a plurality of successive, powered rollers that are configured to traverse the UAV from the recovery portion to the inspection portion.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the opening that is configured to catch and guide the UAV into a properly cooperative orientation with respect to the locomotive component.
15. A system comprising:
a rail component; and
a computing device, wherein:
the rail component comprises:
at least one rail,
an inspection portion comprising at least one diagnostic component configured to collect at least one of a camera configured to capture image data of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a weight sensor configured to capture at least one of weight data or vertical pull data associated with the UAV, a heat sensor configured to capture temperature data of the UAV, a wired or wireless connection to a communication port on the UAV that is configured to obtain electronic status data of the UAV, or a fixed position indicating sensor configured to capture position data of the UAV, and
a portion of the at least one rail configured for facilitating the UAV taking off from the rail component, and
the computing device is communicatively coupled to the inspection portion and configured to determine that at least one of the image data, the weight data, the vertical pull data, the temperature data, the electronic status data, or the position data satisfies a threshold and responsive to determining that at least one of the image data, the weight data, the vertical pull data, the temperature data, the electronic status data, or the position data satisfies the threshold, instruct the rail component to traverse the UAV from the inspection portion to the portion of the at least one rail to facilitate the UAV taking off.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one rail comprises a locomotive component comprising a plurality of successive, powered rollers that are configured to traverse the UAV from the inspection portion to the portion of the at least one rail.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the rail component further comprises an unloading portion comprising an opening that is configured for receiving at least one of a cargo or a cargo carrier and returning at least one of the cargo or the cargo carrier through an opening to an internal compartment.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the rail component further comprises a loading portion comprising an opening that is configured for retrieving at least one of a new cargo or a new cargo carrier from an internal compartment and coupling at least one of the new cargo or the new cargo carrier to the UAV.