Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles

Dittberner, Matthias; Klein, Levente; Renwick, Jason D.

Title: Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting gas leaks using a drone are provided. Aspects include capturing a first set of data regarding a presence of a gas in the geographic area while flying along the initial flight path. Aspects also include creating secondary flight paths through regions in the geographic area in which the presence of the gas exceeds a threshold amount and capturing a second set of data regarding a concentration of the gas in the one or more regions while flying along the secondary flight paths. Aspects further include capturing wind data while flying along the initial and second flight paths and creating a three-dimensional gas plume model for gas leaks identified in the geographic area based on the first set of data, the second set of data and the wind data, wherein the three-dimensional gas plume model identifies a source of the gas leaks.

Inventors:: Dittberner, Matthias; Klein, Levente; Renwick, Jason D.

Issue Date:: 2020-06-09

Research Org.:: International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1650996

Patent Number(s):: 10677771

Application Number:: 15/800,116

Assignee:: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B64 - AIRCRAFT B64C - AEROPLANES

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01C - MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B64 - AIRCRAFT B64C - AEROPLANES
B64C2201/024 - Helicopters, or autogiros
B64C2201/123 - for imaging, or topography
B64C2201/127 - for photography, or video recording, e.g. by using cameras
B64C2201/141 - autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
B64C39/024 - {of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV}

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01C - MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS
G01C21/00 - Navigation

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01M - TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES
G01M3/04 - by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
G01N2021/0143 - {with internal and external computer}
G01N2021/1795 - {Atmospheric mapping of gases}
G01N21/3504 - for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
G01N2201/0214 - Airborne
G01N33/0047 - {for organic compounds}

G - PHYSICS G05 - CONTROLLING G05D - SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
G05D1/0088 - {characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours
G05D1/0094 - {involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target}
G05D1/106 - {Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones}

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06K - RECOGNITION OF DATA
G06K9/00201 - {Recognising three-dimensional objects, e.g. using range or tactile information
G06K9/0063 - {Recognising patterns in remote scenes, e.g. aerial images, vegetation versus urban areas
G06K9/2018 - {Identifying/ignoring parts by sensing at different wavelengths}

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06T - IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
G06T17/05 - Geographic models
G06T2207/10032 - Satellite or aerial image
G06T2207/10048 - Infrared image
G06T2207/30181 - Earth observation
G06T7/73 - using feature-based methods

G - PHYSICS G08 - SIGNALLING G08G - TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
G08G5/0013 - {with a ground station}
G08G5/0021 - {located in the aircraft}
G08G5/0034 - {Assembly of a flight plan}
G08G5/0039 - {Modification of a flight plan}
G08G5/0069 - {specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft}
G08G5/0086 - {for monitoring terrain

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DOE Contract Number:: AR0000540

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 11/01/2017

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats


                    Dittberner, Matthias, Klein, Levente, and Renwick, Jason D. Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles.  United States: N. p., 2020. 
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                    Dittberner, Matthias, Klein, Levente, & Renwick, Jason D. Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles.  United States.

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                    Dittberner, Matthias, Klein, Levente, and Renwick, Jason D. Tue .  
        "Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1650996.

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@article{osti_1650996,

  title        = {Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles},

  author       = {Dittberner, Matthias and Klein, Levente and Renwick, Jason D.},

  abstractNote = {Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting gas leaks using a drone are provided. Aspects include capturing a first set of data regarding a presence of a gas in the geographic area while flying along the initial flight path. Aspects also include creating secondary flight paths through regions in the geographic area in which the presence of the gas exceeds a threshold amount and capturing a second set of data regarding a concentration of the gas in the one or more regions while flying along the secondary flight paths. Aspects further include capturing wind data while flying along the initial and second flight paths and creating a three-dimensional gas plume model for gas leaks identified in the geographic area based on the first set of data, the second set of data and the wind data, wherein the three-dimensional gas plume model identifies a source of the gas leaks.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2020},

  month        = {6}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Systems, Methods and Devices for Collecting Data at Remote Oil and Natural Gas Sites
patent-application, July 2016

Meffert, Greg
US Patent Application 15/077165; 20160214715
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20160214715

Gas-Mapping 3D Imager Measurement Techniques and Method of Data Processing
patent-application, April 2017

Thorpe, Michael; Kreitinger, Aaron; Crouch, Stephen
US Patent Document 15/285787; 20170097274
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20170097274

System for Detecting a Gas and Method Therefor
patent-application, July 2016

Feng, Philip X. L.; Wang, Zenghui; Lee, Jaesung
US Patent Document 14/993064; 20160202225
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20160202225

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Title: Detecting gas leaks using unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

Citation Formats

Systems, Methods and Devices for Collecting Data at Remote Oil and Natural Gas Sites patent-application, July 2016

Gas-Mapping 3D Imager Measurement Techniques and Method of Data Processing patent-application, April 2017

System for Detecting a Gas and Method Therefor patent-application, July 2016

Systems, Methods and Devices for Collecting Data at Remote Oil and Natural Gas Sites
patent-application, July 2016

Gas-Mapping 3D Imager Measurement Techniques and Method of Data Processing
patent-application, April 2017

System for Detecting a Gas and Method Therefor
patent-application, July 2016