US 11,807,407 B2
System, apparatus, and method for inspecting industrial structures using a UAV
Fadhel Asfoor, Qatif (SA); Aziz Rehman, Dhahran (SA); and Fadi Abdellatif, Thuwal (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/655,128.
Prior Publication US 2023/0294851 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B64U 60/20 (2023.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); B64U 101/26 (2023.01)
CPC B64U 60/20 (2023.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 2101/26 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a body constructed to enable the UAV to fly;
a first leg connected to the body and configured to releasably attach the flying UAV to a ferromagnetic surface, the first leg comprising a magnet adapted to magnetically attach the first leg to the ferromagnetic surface; and
a second leg connected to the body and configured to place an activation device proximate a sensor disposed at least partially on a curved surface in a vicinity of the ferromagnetic surface, the second leg being connected to the body at one end and comprising the activation device disposed at another end opposite the one end,
wherein the second leg is movable in relation to the body to position the activation device towards the sensor while the first leg is magnetically attached to the ferromagnetic surface.