Drone Docking for Automated Network Equipment Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network maintenance requires human operators to dispatch trucks for diagnosing and repairing network equipment, leading to increased costs as the quantity of equipment grows, necessitating more advanced approaches for automated maintenance, delivery, and communication.

Innovation Solution

The use of drones for automated maintenance, delivery, and communication, enabling the replacement of 5G radios, antennas, batteries, and other devices through a system of drones equipped with payload carriers, balancing mechanisms, and advanced navigation and alignment technologies, allowing for efficient and secure installation and removal of devices from designated receptacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If human operators dispatch trucks for network equipment maintenance, then diagnostic and repair functions can be performed, but maintenance costs increase with the quantity of network equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network device docking station performs self-diagnosis and self-repair operations by automatically detecting device status, retrieving replacement devices from storage, and executing replacement procedures without human intervention, thereby maintaining reliability while improving maintenance efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human operators physically traveling to sites with an automated robotic system that uses navigation, docking, and automated manipulation capabilities to perform maintenance tasks, eliminating the need for trucks and human dispatch

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If human operators are dispatched for network equipment repair, then equipment can be diagnosed and repaired, but operational expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment repair capabilityVSAvoidoperational expense

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The docking station autonomously performs repair operations including device detection, replacement, and testing without requiring human operator travel time, vehicle operation costs, or manual labor expenses, thereby maintaining repair capability while significantly reducing operational expenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the human operator from the maintenance process and replaces it with an automated system that separates the diagnostic and repair functions from human physical presence, eliminating associated operational costs while preserving repair capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If traditional truck-based maintenance is used, then network equipment can be maintained, but scalability is limited as equipment quantity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance serviceVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The docking station is designed as a universal platform that can service multiple different types of network devices through standardized interfaces and automated identification systems, enabling the same system to scale across increasing quantities of diverse equipment without requiring additional human operators or specialized vehicles for each device type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11577857B2Systems and methods for performing remote maintenance

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 CHARTER COMM OPERATING LLC

AI summary

Various embodiments provide systems and/or methods for automated maintenance, delivery, retrieval, and/or communications using drones.