DRONE SYSTEMS FOR CLEANING SOLAR PANELS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

The present invention provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations system for cleaning one or more designated surfaces such as a solar panel installed on a roof, or the surface of a window, wall, billboard, scoreboard, etc., which may be too high or too far away from a position on the ground which is easily and safely accessible by a person. For solar panels, such cleaning is not only for aesthetic purposes, but must be performed regularly in order to keep the solar panel functioning at peak performance. The system may also include a ground companion vehicle such as an ATV, golf cart, or the like, which can follow an approximation of the UAV's flight path and provide cleaning media and power to the UAV via a tether, allowing the UAV to clean a large number of surfaces before returning to refill or recharge.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning a designated surface, the system comprising: a. an unmanned aerial vehicle, said aerial vehicle including: i. a sensor for detecting a position of said surface; ii. an onboard controller having a memory and a communications device; and iii. a distribution device for applying a cleaning media to said surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a drone having a battery, a plurality of lift devices, an onboard tank for holding a cleaning media, and a pump for pumping said cleaning media through a delivery channel, said delivery channel putting said onboard tank in fluid communication with said distribution device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said onboard controller is operable to determine positioning data regarding a surface cleaning path of said drone, said positioning data being based on a scan of a shape and size of said surface via said sensor, and a GPS position of said surface, said memory being operable to store said positioning data, and said onboard controller being operable to automatically navigate said drone through said surface cleaning path for subsequent cleaning(s) of said surface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said onboard controller is further operable to determine a GPS position of a home platform, and an overall flight path of said drone comprises navigation from said home platform to said surface, through said surface cleaning path, and back to said home platform.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said home platform comprises a refilling device and a charging device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said home platform further comprises a docking mechanism.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said home platform is integral to a transport vehicle.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said drone is piloted by a remote UAV pilot.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said sensor comprises a camera, and said communications device is operable to: a. transmit an image captured by said camera to a display of a remote-controller operated by said pilot; and b. receive flight instructions input into said remote-controller by said pilot.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said flight instructions include a surface cleaning path, said surface cleaning path leading said distribution device over an area of said surface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises at least one of a digital camera for capturing images and live video, a scanner for scanning said surface and/or reading a code thereon, and a position sensor for determining a position of said surface.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein said onboard controller is operable to control said plurality of lift devices such that said drone remains substantially level while said cleaning media is applied to said surface.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein said onboard controller is operable to control said plurality of lift devices and to return said drone to said position of said home platform upon the occurrence of at least one of: a. the onboard tank becoming substantially empty of the cleaning media; and b. the battery reaching a minimum threshold of power.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a drone and said system further comprises a companion ground vehicle operable to follow a ground path which approximates the flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle, said companion ground vehicle comprising a tank for holding said cleaning media and a pump for pumping said cleaning media to said distribution device via a tether.

15. A system for cleaning a surface of a solar panel, the system comprising: a. a drone having a plurality of propellers, a battery an onboard tank for holding a cleaning media, a pump for pumping said cleaning media, an adjustable nozzle for directing a spray of said cleaning media at said surface, an onboard controller for controlling said plurality of propellers, activating said pump, and adjusting said adjustable nozzle, a communications device for communicating with a remote-controller operated by a UAV pilot; and b. a transport vehicle for transporting said drone to a location neat to said solar panel, said transport vehicle comprising a home platform for said drone, a charging device for charging said battery, and a filling device for filling said onboard tank with said cleaning media, wherein said drone is operable to follow a flight path, said flight path leading from said home platform to said solar panel, through a surface cleaning path wherein the adjustable nozzle is passed over said surface and directs a spray of said cleaning media at said surface, and back to said home platform.

16. A method for using an unmanned aerial vehicle for cleaning a surface of a solar panel, comprising the steps of: a. providing an unmanned aerial vehicle having a plurality of lift devices, a battery, a distribution device for applying a cleaning media to said surface, a sensor, and an onboard controller for controlling said plurality of propellers, and said distribution device; b. navigating said unmanned aerial vehicle to said solar panel; c. navigating said unmanned aerial vehicle through a surface cleaning path; and d. activating said distribution device to apply said cleaning media to said surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises an onboard tank for holding said cleaning media, a pump for pumping said cleaning media, and a communications device for communicating with a remote controller, and wherein said sensor comprises a digital camera oriented to observe a spray area of said distribution device, and further comprising the step of transmitting a live feed of said digital camera to a display of said remote controller.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said distribution device comprises an adjustable nozzle and said onboard controller is operable to adjust a spray and a direction of said adjustable nozzle, and further comprising the step of providing instructions to adjust said spray and said direction of said adjustable nozzle via said remote controller.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: a. providing a home platform having a refilling device and a charging device; and b. navigating said unmanned aerial vehicle to said home platform upon the occurrence of either the onboard tank becoming substantially empty of the cleaning media or the battery reaching a minimum threshold of power.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said home platform further comprises a docking mechanism, and further comprising the step of: a. docking the unmanned aerial vehicle with the home platform.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an unmanned aerial vehicle operations system for cleaning one or more designated surfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an unmanned aerial vehicle for cleaning one or more designated surfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an unmanned aerial vehicle cleaning one or more designated surfaces following a cleaning path for a designated surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a side view of an unmanned aerial vehicle operations system cleaning one or more designated surfaces including a home platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an unmanned aerial vehicle for cleaning one or more designated surfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an unmanned aerial vehicle operations system for cleaning one or more designated surfaces including a ground companion vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIGS. 7A and 7B show perspective views of an unmanned aerial vehicle operations system cleaning one or more designated surfaces including a transport vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.

[0044] As seen in FIG. 1, the present invention concerns an unmanned aerial vehicle operations system 100 for cleaning one or more designated surfaces 102, 103. At least one of the designated surfaces 102, 103 may be a solar panel installed on a roof of a home. The designated surface may alternatively be a surface of a window, a wall, a roof, an eve, a gutter, a billboard, a scoreboard, a screen, a fence, or another similar surface. As detailed in FIG. 2, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 110 may be a rotor craft such as a multicopter having an onboard controller 111 and plurality of lift devices (e.g., propellers) 112. The onboard controller 111 may be in electronic communication with a wireless communications device for communicating with a remote controller 120. The onboard controller 111 may also be in electronic communication with a GPS device for determining a position of the UAV. The onboard controller 111 may be operable to control the propellers 112, and thus control the flight path of the UAV, which may be operable to easily fly up or over to the position of the designated surface 102, 103 and to apply a spray of cleaning media 113 in order to remove dirt and debris from the surface 102, 103. The cleaning media may be pumped via a pump 117 at high pressure from a tank 114 through a delivery channel 115 (e.g., a watertight line or hose) to at least one distribution device. The distribution device 116 may comprise a nozzle operable to direct a spray of the cleaning media at the designated surface 102/103. The tank 114 may be onboard the UAV 110 such that the UAV 110 may be free to fly in the most direct and efficient flight path and cleaning path 104. The system may thus be operable to safely and efficiently reach and clean one or more designated surfaces 102, 103 in locations which are dangerous, difficult, and time consuming for a human to clean via a ladder or climbing up to the designated surface 102/103.

[0045] As seen in FIG. 2, the distribution device 116 may comprise a plurality of adjustable nozzles, and the onboard controller 111 may be operable to adjust a shape, speed, and direction of the spray of cleaning media 113, provided by the plurality of adjustable nozzles 116. The shape and speed of the spray 113 of cleaning media provided by a nozzle of the plurality of adjustable nozzles 116 may be adjusted via a first adjustment device 126 (e.g., an electric motor or a solenoid) operable to twist the nozzle from a first position to a second position with respect to a support member 116a supporting the nozzle. The first position may be operable to provide a wide spray having a relatively slow speed (see 113a), and the second position may be operable to provide a spray having a more acute shape and a relatively higher speed (see 113b). The direction of the spray 113 may be adjusted via a second adjustment device 127 (e.g., an electric motor or a solenoid) operable to rotate the supporting member 116a from a first angle (see 113a) to a second angle (see 113b) about a junction to which the supporting member 116a is attached.

[0046] The UAV 110 may also include a sensor suite operable to detect obstacles in the flight path of the UAV 110, as well as the designated surface(s) 102/103 to be cleaned. The sensor suite may include one or more sensors 119 such as a digital camera for capturing images and live video. As seen in FIG. 3, the sensor 119 may be operable to detect and image a surface marker 105 comprising a code (e.g., a bar code, a QR code, or the like) printed on or adjacent to a designated surface 102, the code either providing data regarding the shape, location, and/or orientation of the designated surface 102, or being associated with such data already stored in the memory of the onboard controller 111. The sensor 119 and surface marker 105 may thus allow the UAV 110 to determine the exact location, size and shape of the surface 102 to be cleaned, and thus either calculate the most efficient cleaning path 104 for cleaning the surface 102, or progress through a predetermined cleaning path 104 previously recorded in the memory of the onboard controller.

[0047] The system 100 may further comprise a home platform 130 having a substantially flat upper surface 131 of sufficient size for the UAV to safely land upon and be secured to. The home platform 130 may further comprise a reserve tank 132 for holding cleaning media, the reserve tank 132 having a refilling device 132a operable to connect to a fluid receiver of the UAV 110, and a power source 134 for charging a battery of the UAV 110, the power source having a charging device 134a operable to connect to an electrical receiver of the UAV 110. After cleaning a first designated surface 102 the UAV 110 may be operable to make a return trip to the home platform 130 in order to replenish the cleaning media in the tank 114 and/or to recharge before taking off again to clean a second designated surface 103.

[0048] The home platform may include a docking mechanism 135 operable to receive and hold the UAV 110 in place on the upper surface 131, and to line the up the refilling device 132a and the charging device 134a for easy and automatic connection with a refilling receiver 114a and a charging receiver 118a of the UAV battery 118. The refilling device 132a may comprise a quick-connect barbed male hose connector having a shape complementary to a shape of the refilling receiver 114a, which may comprise a quick-connect female hose connector. The charging device 134a may comprise a multi-prong male electrical connector and the charging receiver 118a may comprise a multi-hole female electrical connector.

[0049] The docking mechanism 135 may comprise one or more clamping devices arranged on the upper surface 131 the clamping members being operable to fit over and secure lower support members 135a (e.g., landing rails) of the UAV 110. The home platform 130 may comprise one or more docking sensors 136 (e.g., a pressure switches) operable to detect when the lower support members 135a of the UAV are located adjacent to the one or more clamping members 135 and send a docking signal to a home platform controller 137. The clamps of the docking mechanism 135 may then be operable to move from an open position (see FIG. 4A) to a docked position (see FIG. 4B) wherein the clamps hold the lower support members 135a in place on the upper surface 131 and cause the refilling device 132a and charging device 134a to fully engage with the refilling receiver 114a and charging receiver 118a, respectively. The docking sensors 136, the clamping mechanism 135, the charging device 132a, and the pump 132b of the reserve tank 132 may each be in electronic communication with and/or controlled by the home platform controller 137, the home platform controller 137 being operable to receive the docking signal from the docking sensors 136 and subsequently: 1) cause the docking mechanism 135 to move from the open position to the docked position; 2) activate the pump 132b to pump cleaning media from the reserve tank 132 to the tank 114 onboard the UAV 110 and shut the pump 132b off when the onboard tank 114 is substantially full or the reserve tank 132 is substantially empty; and 3) cause the power source 134 to charge the battery 118 of the UAV 110 the until the battery 118 is substantially charged or the power source 134 is substantially out of power. The home platform controller 137 may further be operable to automatically cause the docking mechanism 135 to move back to the open position at the occurrence of at least one (or both) of the onboard tank 114 becoming substantially full with cleaning media and the battery 118 obtaining a full charge.

[0050] The home platform 130 may further comprise a platform marker 139 on the upper surface 131, the platform marker 139 comprising a code readable by the one or more sensors 119 of the UAV 110, and deciphered by the onboard controller, the code providing information regarding a position and orientation of the upper surface 131 of the home platform 130 such that the UAV 110 may determine exactly where to lower itself in order to dock. The onboard controller may thus be able to determine exactly how to orient the UAV 110 (e.g., how many degrees to rotate left or right) and how far to travel (e.g., exactly 12 inches away from the corner of the platform marker) in order to sufficiently align the lower support members 135a with the docking mechanism 135 such that the UAV 110 may automatically dock with the home platform 130.

[0051] The home platform 130 may further comprise leveling means allowing a user to adjust the position of the home platform 130 such that the upper surface 131 is level (e.g., a plane of the upper surface 131 is substantially perpendicular to vertical). The leveling means may comprise a plurality of extendable legs 138, each having a first and second member slidably engaged with each other and lockable with respect to each other. For each of the plurality of extendable legs 138, the first cylindrical member may be slidably nested within the second cylindrical member, the first cylindrical member comprising a resilient depressible tab and the second cylindrical member comprising a series of slots along a length thereof in which the depressible tab may be inserted). Each extendable leg of the plurality of extendable legs 138 may thus be independently adjusted in length to conform to uneven ground 199 until the home platform 130 is level.

[0052] The system 100 may further comprise a remote controller 120 operated by a UAV pilot 125 for remotely controlling the UAV 110 and the distribution device 116 and a transport vehicle 140 for transporting the UAV 110 and the home platform 130 to a location adjacent to the designated surfaces 102, 103.

[0053] In another embodiment, as seen in FIG. 5, the cleaning media may be pumped up to the UAV 210 via a tether 260, through the delivery channel 215, and out to the distribution device 216, which may be a showerhead, while the UAV 210 runs the showerhead 216 over the designated surface 102/103. The UAV 210 may comprise four propellers 212, each propeller 212 being protected from contacting adjacent objects (e.g., branches, walls, poles, gutters, and people) via a barrier 212a, preventing both injuries, damage, and loss of lift for the UAV 210. The UAV may further comprise a plurality of sensors 219 (e.g., digital cameras and/or motion sensors) for determining the position of the UAV 210 and the adjacent objects, and viewing the area adjacent to the distribution device 216 to scan for and recognize the position of the designated surface 102/103, and to ensure that the designated surface 102/103 is being sufficiently cleaned.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the system 300 comprising a UAV 310 having a plurality of propellers 312 protected by a barrier 312a, and a distribution device 316 comprising a nozzle, the nozzle 316 operable to direct a spray of cleaning media at a surface 302 of a solar panel installed in a row at a solar farm. The cleaning media is pumped up to the UAV 310 via a tether 360 which is in fluid communication with a tank 352 of a ground companion vehicle 350. The tether 360 may further comprise an electrical lead operable to provide electrical power to the UAV 310 or a battery thereof. The ground companion vehicle 350 may be operable to follow a path on the ground which approximates a flight path of the UAV 310, providing both cleaning media and power to the UAV 310 and enabling the UAV 310 to clean a plurality of designated surfaces of the row of solar panels, from a surface 302 of a first solar panel to a surface 303 of a last solar panel, without the need to make a return trip to refill or recharge.

[0055] As seen in FIG. 7A, in another embodiment of the present invention 400, a home platform 430 may be installed on or in a transport vehicle 440 (e.g., mounted to the transport vehicle 440 on rails which allow the home platform 460 to be pulled out of an open side door 441 of the transport vehicle). The transport vehicle may comprise a reserve tank 432 for holding cleaning media and having the refilling device 432a for refilling the onboard tank 414 of the UAV 410, and a power source 434 having a charging device 434a for charging a battery of the UAV 410. The reserve tank 432 and the power source 434, may be installed anywhere in or on the transport vehicle 440 (e.g., in a cargo bay). FIG. 7B shows another embodiment of the present invention 500, wherein the transport vehicle comprises a side door 541 for access to the cargo area, and a top-hatch door 542 allowing the home platform 530 to extend up through the roof of the vehicle.

[0056] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.