UAV Robotic Arm Cell Tower Connection

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to stabilize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while performing operations on cell towers, as existing solutions are complex and costly due to the need for counterbalancing the weight and movement of robotic arms, which hinders their use for cell tower maintenance and audits.

Innovation Solution

The UAVs are physically connected to the cell tower before deploying robotic arms, allowing them to fly up with arms stationary and carrying equipment, eliminating the need for counterbalancing during flight, and can be tethered for extended operations, providing stability and enabling tasks like installation and audits without complex control circuitry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If robotic arms are added to UAVs to perform cell tower operations, then the capability to perform maintenance and installation tasks is improved, but the complexity of counterbalancing the UAV during flight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to perform maintenance and installation tasksVSAvoidcomplexity of counterbalancing the UAV during flight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV physically connects to the cell tower structure before deploying and operating the robotic arms. This preliminary connection eliminates the need for counterbalancing during flight, as the UAV is supported by the tower structure rather than requiring active counterbalancing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cell tower structure serves as an intermediary support element. The UAV connects to the tower, which provides the structural support and stability needed for robotic arm operations, thereby mediating between the UAV's flight capability and the robotic arm's operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If UAVs are used to perform cell tower operations, then the need for tower climbs is reduced, improving safety, but the ability to perform local operations at the cell site is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety improvement by reducing tower climbsVSAvoidability to perform local operations at the cell site

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV physically connects to the cell tower structure before deploying and operating the robotic arms. This preliminary connection eliminates the need for counterbalancing during flight, as the UAV is supported by the tower structure rather than requiring active counterbalancing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cell tower structure serves as an intermediary support element. The UAV connects to the tower, which provides the structural support and stability needed for robotic arm operations, thereby mediating between the UAV's flight capability and the robotic arm's operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the UAV is tethered to the cell tower, then stability during robotic arm operations is improved, but the flight freedom and mobility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability during robotic arm operationsVSAvoidflight freedom and mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV physically connects to the cell tower structure before deploying and operating the robotic arms. This preliminary connection eliminates the need for counterbalancing during flight, as the UAV is supported by the tower structure rather than requiring active counterbalancing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically transitions between flight mode (un tethered) for positioning and operation mode (tethered) for stable robotic arm operations. This dynamic adaptation allows the UAV to enjoy both flight freedom during approach and stability during task execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9764838B2Unmanned aerial vehicle-based systems and methods associated with cell sites and cell towers with robotic arms for performing operations

Publication Date: 2017.09.19 ETAK SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight; physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV; and performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.