DRONE FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

An industrial activity drone comprising an aerial vehicle having at least one rotor, an activity system, and a fastener device for fastening the activity system to the aerial vehicle. The activity system includes a structure, a computer, a work camera that is stationary relative to the aerial vehicle and that provides a view of a work zone, a distribution device having a plurality of compartments, and a turning motor enabling the distribution device to turn relative to the aerial vehicle. The industrial activity drone performs hovering flight so that the work camera faces a work zone and the distribution device is turned so that the compartment that is to be used faces the work zone, thereby performing one or more tasks.

Claims

1. An activity drone comprising: an aerial vehicle having at least one rotor contributing to providing the drone with lift and/or propulsion; an activity system; and a fastener device for fastening said activity system to the aerial vehicle; the activity system comprising: a structure; a computer; at least one work camera that is stationary relative to the aerial vehicle and that provides a view of a work zone; and a distribution device for performing a plurality of tasks in succession on the work zone, the distribution device having a plurality of compartments, each containing at least one object, at least one task being associated with each compartment; wherein the activity system includes a turning motor enabling said distribution device to be turned relative to the aerial vehicle so that the compartment that is to be used for performing a task occupies a predetermined utilization position relative to the work zone.

2. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein that the structure is stationary relative to the aerial vehicle and to the work camera, the turning motor serving to cause the distribution device to turn relative to said structure and to the aerial vehicle.

3. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein structure is stationary relative to the distribution device, the turning motor enabling the distribution device and the structure to turn relative to the aerial vehicle.

4. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein the activity system includes a common unit that is used in common by a plurality of compartments for performing a plurality of tasks.

5. The activity drone according to claim 4, wherein the common unit includes a pressure generator and a spray nozzle, while respective objects contained in a plurality of compartments include a respective fluid so that when one of the compartments including a fluid is being used to perform a task, the activity system sprays the fluid contained in the compartment through the spray nozzle of the common unit onto the work zone.

6. The activity drone according to claim 4, wherein the activity system includes a turning motor enabling the distribution device to turn relative to the aerial vehicle so that the compartment that is to be used for performing a task occupies a predetermined utilization position relative to the work zone, and the common unit includes a pressure generator, while respective objects contained in a plurality of compartments include a fluid and a spray nozzle in such a manner that when one of the compartments containing a fluid and a spray nozzle is occupying the predetermined utilization position for performing a task, the activity system sprays the fluid through the spray nozzle of the compartment onto the work zone.

7. The activity drone according to claim 4, wherein the activity system includes a turning motor enabling the distribution device to turn relative to the aerial vehicle in such a manner that the compartment that is to be used for performing a task occupies a predetermined utilization position relative to the work zone, and the common unit comprises an articulated arm in such a manner that when one of the compartments is occupying the predetermined utilization position for performing a task, the articulated arm takes hold of an object contained in the compartment for performing the task.

8. The activity drone according to claim 7, wherein respective objects contained in a plurality of compartments are fabric impregnated in at least one substance for reacting with a specific gas so as to analyze the air and detect the possible presence of a specific gas.

9. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein the computer includes an image analysis device configured to analyze the images taken by each work camera and to perform the tasks in autonomous manner.

10. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein the structure forms fixed landing gear.

11. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein the activity drone includes a communications device in order to receive commands from an operator and in order to transmit to the operator images taken by each work camera.

12. The activity drone according claim 1, wherein the activity drone includes a locating device so as to position itself in a terrestrial reference frame.

13. The activity drone according to claim 1, wherein the activity drone includes positioning devices enabling the drone to position itself in its surroundings so as to be able to move in autonomous manner.

Description

[0100] The invention and its advantages appear in greater detail from the following description of embodiments given by way of illustration and described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0101] FIGS. 1 to 3 show various embodiments of an activity drone; and

[0102] FIGS. 4 to 7 are detailed views of those embodiments of an activity drone.

[0103] Elements shown in more than one of the figures are given the same references in each of them.

[0104] In a manner that is common to the three embodiments shown in the figures, an activity drone 10 comprises an aerial vehicle 1, an activity system 2, and a fastener device 3 for fastening the activity system 2 to the aerial vehicle 1. The aerial vehicle 1 and the fastener device 3 are identical for all three embodiments of an activity drone 10.

[0105] The aerial vehicle 1 shown in the figures has four rotors 11, each rotor 11 being driven in rotation by a respective electric motor 13 and contributing to providing the activity drone 10 with lift and propulsion. Each rotor 11 is installed at the end of a respective arm 12, each arm 12 being connected to a central body 14. The central body 14 connects together the four arms 12 and also provides the rigidity needed for the aerial vehicle 1. The central body 14 has a centralized control system 15 and two electric batteries 16.

[0106] The arms 12 and the central body 14 can be separated and reassembled easily and quickly in order to limit the overall size of the aerial vehicle 1 while it is being transported.

[0107] Regardless of whether piloting involves an autopilot or is remotely controlled, the centralized control system 15 serves to pilot the activity drone 10 by acting on the electric motors 13 driving each of the rotors 11 so as to cause the activity drone 10 to move and/or hover, and also so as to stabilize it in flight. The centralized control system 15 is connected to each electric motor 13 by a wired connection or indeed by a wireless connection, and it includes in particular devices for positioning the activity drone 10 in its surroundings, and also navigation and control devices, and indeed a communications device.

[0108] The activity system 2 of the three drones 10 for activities comprise in common:

[0109] a structure 21;

[0110] a computer 23;

[0111] a work camera 7 that is stationary relative to the aerial vehicle 1 and that provides a view of a work zone;

[0112] a common unit 40;

[0113] a distribution device 24 for performing a plurality of tasks in succession in the work zone and having a plurality of compartments 31, 32, 33, 34, each containing one or more objects 35; and

[0114] a turning motor 29 enabling the distribution device 24 to be turned relative to the aerial vehicle 1.

[0115] The turning motor 29 allows the distribution device 24 to turn relative to the aerial vehicle 1 so that the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is to be used occupies a predetermined position relative to the work zone, with the work zone corresponding to the field of view of the work camera 7.

[0116] The work camera 7 also constitutes a flight camera enabling an operator remotely piloting the activity drone 10 to view the surroundings of the activity drone 10. For this purpose, the activity drone 10 uses the communications device of the centralized control system 15 of the aerial vehicle 1. The work camera 7 may also be steerable, firstly in order to make it easier to view the work zone, and secondly in order to point its field of view in the flying direction of the activity drone 10 when the work camera 7 constitutes a flight camera.

[0117] Furthermore, in all three embodiments of the activity drone 10, the structure 21 may constitute fixed landing gear 20 advantageously enabling the activity drone 10 to stand in stable manner on the ground while protecting the components of the activity system 2.

[0118] The first embodiment of the activity drone 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, with its activity system 2 being shown in an exploded view in FIG. 5. Each compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 contains two objects, namely a spray nozzle 37 and a tank 36 containing a fluid. The common unit 40 includes a pressure generator 41 and a valve system (not shown) for connecting the fluid of the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is to be used with the pressure generator 41, the valve system being controlled by the computer 23. As a result, the valve system serves to enable the pressure generator 41 to act on the fluid and to direct it towards the spray nozzle 37 of the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 in use so as to spray the fluid on the work zone.

[0119] In this first embodiment, the turning motor 29 is arranged between the structure 21 and the aerial vehicle 1, as shown in FIG. 4, thereby enabling the distribution device 24 and the structure 21 to turn relative to the aerial vehicle 1. The fastener device 3 then provides a connection between the turning motor 29 and the central body 14 of the aerial vehicle 1 via four screws 39.

[0120] Specifically, the work camera 7 is fastened on the aerial vehicle 1, and in particular on its central body 14 so as to be able to view the work zone while the activity drone 10 is hovering, and regardless of the position of the distribution device 24.

[0121] By way of example, the common unit 40 is situated at the center of the distribution device 24 as shown in FIG. 5 so that the valve system connects the pressure generator 41 with the fluid in each compartment 31, 32, 33, 34.

[0122] The second embodiment of the activity drone 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, with an exploded view of an activity system 2 being shown in FIG. 7. Each compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 contains a single object 35, namely a tank 36 containing a fluid. The common unit 40 has a single spray nozzle 47, a pressure generator 41, and a valve system (not shown). The valve system connects the fluid of the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is to be used with the pressure generator 41 and the spray nozzle 47 of the common unit 40, the valve system being controlled by the computer 23. As a result, the valve system enables the pressure generator 41 to act on the fluid of the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is in use and serves to direct it to the spray nozzle 47 of the common unit 40 in order to spray the fluid on the work zone.

[0123] In this second embodiment, the turning motor 29 is arranged between the structure 21 and the distribution device 24, thus enabling the distribution device 24 to turn relative to the structure 21 and the aerial vehicle 1. The structure 21 is thus stationary relative to the aerial vehicle 1, the fastener device 3 providing a connection between the structure 21 and the arms 12 of the aerial vehicle 1 by means of four screws 39 as shown in FIG. 6, the structure 21 having four holes 30.

[0124] The work camera 7 is fastened to the structure 21 and is therefore stationary relative to the aerial vehicle 1 so as to be able to view the work zone while the activity drone 10 is hovering and regardless of the position of the distribution device 24.

[0125] The common unit 40, namely the spray nozzle 47, the valve system, and the pressure generator 41, is secured to the structure 21 so that the valve system serves firstly to connect the pressure generator 41 with the fluid in the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 in use, and secondly to connect the fluid of the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is in use with the spray nozzle 47. The valve system is then controlled by the computer 23 so that the pressure generator 41 acts on the fluid in the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is to be used and to direct it to the spray nozzle 47 of the common unit 40 in order to spray the fluid on the work zone.

[0126] In a variant of this second embodiment, the distribution device 24 may be stationary relative to the structure 21 and the aerial vehicle 1. Under such circumstances, the activity system 2 does not include the turning motor 29.

[0127] These first and second embodiments of the activity drone 10 are intended in particular for performing chemical analysis with a plurality of fluids on the work zone, e.g. in order to verify the state of degradation, or indeed the state of corrosion, of a bridge or indeed of a monument, for example.

[0128] In the third embodiment of the activity drone 10, shown in FIG. 3, each compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 may contain one or more objects 35. The common unit 40 comprises an articulated arm 42 with a gripper clamp 43. The articulated arm 42 can then use the gripper clamp 43 to take hold of an object situated in the compartment 31, 32, 33, 34 that is to be used and then position that object in the proximity of the work zone. By way of example, the object is a tool or a fabric impregnated with a substance that reacts with a specific gas.

[0129] As in the second embodiment, the structure 21 is stationary relative to the aerial vehicle 1 and the turning motor 29 is arranged between the structure 21 and the distribution device 24 so as to allow the distribution device 24 to turn relative to the structure 21 and the aerial vehicle 1. The fastener device 3 thus connects the structure 21 with the arms 12 of the aerial vehicle 1, and the camera 7 is fastened to the structure 21.

[0130] The common unit 40, namely the articulated arm 42 is also fastened to the structure 21.

[0131] Naturally, the present invention may be subjected to numerous variations as to its implementation. Although several embodiments are described, it will readily be understood that it is not conceivable to identify exhaustively all possible embodiments.

[0132] In particular, although the description relates solely to an activity drone 10 comprising an aerial vehicle 1 having four arms 12 and four rotors 11, the invention applies equally to an activity drone 10 having a aerial vehicle 1 provided with three, six, eight, or twelve arms 12 and three, six, eight, or twelve rotors 11, for example.

[0133] Likewise, the fastener device 3 may comprise any fastener means providing a reliable and easily releasable connection between the aerial vehicle 1 and the activity system 2.

[0134] Naturally, it is possible to envisage replacing any of the devices described by an equivalent device without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.