Patent ID: 8060270
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for inspecting structures, comprising: using a plurality of independent unmanned mobile vehicles; equipping each of said unmanned mobile vehicles with a control and guidance system for enabling each said unmanned mobile vehicle to operate autonomously; programming each said unmanned mobile vehicle with an operating program that defines a predetermined path of travel for each said unmanned mobile vehicle, relative to a structure to be inspected, and; deploying each said unmanned mobile vehicle so that said unmanned mobile vehicles cooperatively form a swarm that travels about said structure, with each of said unmanned vehicles following its respective said predetermined path of travel relative to the structure, and further such that each said unmanned mobile vehicle inspects only a designated portion of the structure; and using said unmanned mobile vehicles to obtain inspection data in accordance with their respective inspected portions of the structure, as obtained while each said unmanned mobile vehicle executes its respective said operating program, so that an entirety of said structure is inspected.