A method of inspection or maintenance of a curved ferromagnetic surface using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a releasable crawler is provided. The method includes: flying the UAV from an initial position to a pre-perching position in a vicinity of the ferromagnetic surface; autonomously perching the UAV on the ferromagnetic surface; maintaining magnetic attachment of the perched UAV to the ferromagnetic surface; releasing the crawler from the magnetically attached UAV onto the ferromagnetic surface; moving the crawler over the curved ferromagnetic surface while maintaining magnetic attachment of the released crawler to the ferromagnetic surface; inspecting or maintaining the ferromagnetic surface using the magnetically attached crawler; and re-docking the released crawler with the perched UAV.
AUTOMATION METHODS FOR UAV PERCHING ON PIPES
AUTOMATISIERUNGSMETHODEN ZUM SETZEN EINER DROHNE AUF ROHREN
PROCÉDÉS D'AUTOMATISATION POUR PERCHER UN DRONE SUR DES TUYAUX
2022-11-16
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch