US-12617564-B2 - Remote modular data collection and UAS docking system and method

US12617564B2US 12617564 B2US12617564 B2US 12617564B2US-12617564-B2

Abstract

A remote modular data collection system and method are disclosed, which in one or more embodiments, employs a plurality of data collection pods, which are interspersed within a geographical region and in communication with a remote control station. The pods include a variety of sensors adapted for particular purposes and may be arranged to preprocess data using artificial intelligence prior to transfer to the remote station and for autonomous operation. The pods are mountable on poles and other structures. In some embodiments, the pods are modular in design and construction, allowing quick installation and replacement of optional modules to satisfy particular data collection purposes. The pods may include integrated solar panels for flexible or redundant power purposes. In some embodiments, one or more pods each house an unmanned aerial vehicle, the sensors of which are integrated into the system and which allow for comprehensive on-demand data collection throughout the entirety of the geographical area. These pods include a hangar bay with a selectively retractable opening and charging pad for launching, recovery, storage, and charging of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The system may be used for terrestrial and/or extraterrestrial purposes, and it has particular application in security, military, environmental, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations, as well as an early detection and warning system.

Inventors

Jay Paul Kriner

Assignees

GALE PROJECT TECHNOLOGIES, INC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250730

Claims (20)

1 . A data collection system for use with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle comprising: a base unit having an upper end defining a first profile; a top unit having a lower end defining a second profile designed and arranged to be removably mated with said first profile, said top unit removably coupled at said lower end to said base unit; a computer coupled to a data bus, said data bus passing from said base unit to said top unit; a first sensor coupled to said data bus, said computer adapted to receive data from said first sensor.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising: a first module having an upper end defining said first profile and a lower end defining said second profile, said lower end of said first module connected to said upper end of said base unit, said lower end of said top unit connected to said upper end of said first module, said data bus passing through said first module, said first sensor disposed within said first module.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising: a hangar bay disposed in said top unit and arranged for storing an unmanned aerial vehicle therein, said hangar bay being selectively openable so as to allow for launch and recovery of said unmanned aerial vehicle; wherein said computer is operable to wirelessly communicate with said unmanned aerial vehicle.
4 . The system of claim 3 further comprising: a selectively retractable roof formed in said top unit so as to allow for launch and recovery of said unmanned aerial vehicle, said computer being operatively coupled to said retractable roof for selective operation thereof.
5 . The system of claim 3 further comprising: a charging pad disposed in said hangar bay operable to electrically charge said unmanned aerial vehicle.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein: said base unit and said top unit are characterized by a generally cylindrical shape; and said top unit has a generally hemispherical dome roof.
7 . The system of claim 6 further comprising: a solar panel disposed on said roof; and a battery electrically coupled to said solar panel.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein: said first sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a wind speed sensor, a precipitation sensor, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a hall effect sensor, an infrared sensors, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, an accelerometer, an inertial sensor, a light detection and ranging sensor, a navigational sensor, a positioning sensor, a global navigation satellite system sensor, a proximity sensor, a magnetic sensor, a fire sensor, a smoke sensor, an electromagnetic interference sensor, a radiation sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological agent sensor, a nuclear sensor, a proximity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitive sensor, a visual camera sensor, an infrared camera sensor, and an acoustic sensor.
9 . The system of claim 1 further comprising: a bracket mounted to a lower end of said base unit and arranged for mounting said base unit to one from the group consisting of a utility pole, a sign post, a traffic signal, a lamp post, an antenna mast, a cell phone tower, a ship masts, a flagpole, a building, a chimney, a fence, a buoy, a bridge, and a vehicle.
10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising: an artificial intelligence computing module coupled to said computer and arranged to analyze data from said first sensor.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein: said computer is communicatively coupled to a remote monitoring station.
12 . The system of claim 1 wherein: said first and second profiles are characterized by a quick-connect twist-lock feature.
13 . A data collection system for use with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle comprising: a pod housing having an upper end that is removably coupled to a lower end, the upper end having a retractable roof and a hangar bay disposed below said retractable roof, a bracket mounted to the lower end of said pod housing and arranged for mounting said pod housing to one from the group consisting of a utility pole, a sign post, a traffic signal, a lamp post, an antenna mast, a cell phone tower, a ship masts, a flagpole, a building, a chimney, a fence, a buoy, a bridge, and a vehicle; a computer disposed within said pod housing, said computer operatively coupled to said retractable roof for selective operation thereof; and a first sensor coupled to said computer, said computer adapted to receive data from said first sensor.
14 . The system of claim 13 wherein: said pod housing is characterized by a generally cylindrical shape; and said retractable roof has a generally hemispherical dome shape.
15 . The system of claim 13 further comprising: a solar panel disposed on said roof; and a battery electrically coupled to said solar panel.
16 . The system of claim 13 further comprising: a charging pad disposed in said hangar bay operable to electrically charge an unmanned aerial vehicle when located in said hangar bay.
17 . The system of claim 13 further comprising: an artificial intelligence computing module coupled to said computer and arranged to analyze data from said first sensor.
18 . A data collection system comprising: a plurality of data collection pods disposed at a plurality of interspersed locations within a geographical area of interest, each of said plurality of pods including one or more sensors therein and a computer operatively coupled to said one or more sensors for receiving and processing data therefrom, one or more of said plurality of pods having a base unit and one or more modules removably coupled to the top of said base unit and a data bus passing from said base unit to said one or more modules; and a station disposed remotely from said plurality of pods, said station communicatively coupled to the computer of each of said plurality of pods for controlling said pod and receiving data from the one or more sensors; wherein at least a first of said plurality of pods includes a deployable unmanned aerial vehicle, said unmanned aerial vehicle being wirelessly controllable by said computer of said first pod, said unmanned aerial vehicle being selectively controllable from said station via said first pod.
19 . The system of claim 18 wherein: the computer of each of said plurality of pods is operable to wirelessly control said unmanned aerial vehicle, whereby as the unmanned aerial vehicle nears a limit of a wireless range from said first pod, a second of said plurality of pods assumes control of said unmanned aerial vehicle.
20 . The system of claim 18 further comprising: a video camera disposed in said unmanned aerial vehicle; a wireless communications link between said video camera and said first pod; whereby a live video feed from said video camera may be streamed to said station via said first pod.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) to provisional application U.S. 63/677,672 filed Jul. 31, 2024 and entitled “Advanced UAV Housing System for Terrestrial and Space Applications,”. which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Emergency response operations and infrastructure monitoring in remote areas, particularly around areas with limited access or rapid accessibility, face significant challenges in quickly identifying and locating distressed individuals, infrastructure issues or security defenses. Traditional monitoring methods include remote cameras, weather stations, and the like, which often lack efficiency, rapid deployment capabilities, and the ability to cover large areas effectively. Manned and unmanned aerial vehicles may be employed in particular instances when imaging or data collection is needed in areas that is not otherwise available from fixed base collection points, such as during flooding, conflagration, traffic accidents, et cetera. However, there exists a substantial delay time in deploying aerial assets to needed locations, resulting in a significant lag in available data streams with a concomitant risk to life and property. An example of the insufficiency of current systems is illustrated by the Jul. 4, 2025 Kerville Texas flood, in which the Guadalupe River rose about 26 feet in 45 minutes, resulting in at least 137 fatalities. The system of the present disclosure, outfitted with sirens, would have provided an effective early detection and warning system, alerting unsuspecting victims and saving many lives, as well as aiding immediate search and rescue operations. Overall, a system and method is needed for enhancing environmental, infrastructure and security monitoring, response and inspection, greatly increasing situation identification and communication in emergency situations, and saving lives and property. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a versatile, modular, self-contained, all-weather data collection pod according to one or more embodiments, showing, from top to bottom, a hemispherical dome unit, two optional cylindrical modules, a pod base unit, and a pole mounting bracket; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the data collection pod of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments, where the hemispherical dome unit includes an unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit with a segmented retractable dome roof; FIG. 3 is perspective view of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 2, shown with the dome roof in a partially retracted state; FIG. 4 is perspective view of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 2, shown with the dome roof in a fully retracted state; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 4, showing a flying unmanned aerial vehicle in the process of a docking or undocking procedure; FIG. 6 is a plan view of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 4, showing a landing zone, charging pad, and sensors for docking guidance; FIG. 7 is an exploded diagram of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 2 according to one or more embodiments; FIG. 8 is an elevation or profile view of exemplary dome panels of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 2 shown in a closed position, according to one or more embodiments; FIG. 9 is an elevation or profile view of the exemplar dome panels of FIG. 9 shown in a partially open position, according to one or more embodiments; FIG. 10 is an elevation view facing the right-hand side of an unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit having a unitary retractable dome top according to one or more alternate embodiments, showing a hemispherical dome top in a fully closed position; FIG. 11 is an elevation view facing the right-hand side of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 10, showing the dome top in a retracted, fully-open position; FIG. 12 is an elevation view facing the front side of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 10, showing the dome top in a fully closed position; FIG. 13 is an elevation view facing the front side of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 10, showing the dome top in a retracted, fully-open position; FIG. 14 is a plan view of the top of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 10, showing the dome top in a fully closed position; FIG. 15 is a plan view of the top of the unmanned aerial vehicle housing and deployment unit of FIG. 10, showing the dome top in a retracted, fully-open position; FIG. 16 is an elevation view of a generic module of the data collection pod of FIG. 1, showing a stackable twist-lock arra