The “One-Tap” Patent in Drones
Introducing Drone Airflow Cleaning
AIr™ is built upon a globally patented method (EP3077881B1 and international counterparts) that transforms drones into autonomous cleaning tools using airflow. This patented method enables drones to clean surfaces without physical contact, water, or chemicals.
Intellectual Property
The core claim of the patent reads:
“Method for controlling a flying body for cleaning surfaces, comprising a sensor system for the detection of geometrical characteristics of an object and the alignment of a flying body according to said object in order to clean it using the airflow of said flying body.”
This claim defines a process where drones equipped with sensors to autonomously detect and align themselves with surfaces to clean them with their own airflow. The method enables precision cleaning while avoiding physical contact.
What Does This Patent Mean
The patent protects a cleaning process involving:
- Sensor-Based Surface Detection
- Using downward-facing sensors (optical, flow cameras, LiDAR, ultrasonic sensors) to detect surface geometry for optimal alignment.
- Airflow Cleaning
- Removing dust or debris using drone-generated airflow — ideal for sensitive surfaces like solar panels or glass facades.
- Autonomous Operation
- Automating the cleaning process — from detection to alignment and cleaning — enabling minimal user input (often just “one tap” on an interface).
- Debris Delegation
- Structured flight patterns or reinforcement learning can be utilized to systematically move debris off surfaces or into collection points.
Can’t Any Drone do this?
While many off-the-shelf drones today feature downward-facing sensors, this patent specifically covers using such sensors to autonomously align drones with surfaces for airflow-based cleaning. Even if a drone has suitable hardware capabilities, performing this patented method commercially without licensing constitutes infringement in jurisdictions where the patent is granted. Read more in detail.
Scope of Protection
Unlocking the potential in new drone markets
The AIr™ patent (EP3077881B1) provides protection for UAVs performing non-contact surface cleaning tasks using airflow guided by sensor-based alignment. It applies across industries including solar panel cleaning, agriculture, industrial maintenance, public infrastructure care, and space exploration.
Licensing this patented method enables businesses to leverage existing drones equipped with standard sensors to enter new markets, respond effectively to tenders requiring innovative cleaning solutions, and gain advantages in sustainability-driven industries.
Currently granted territories include Australia (AU2015285989B2), Canada (CA2991533C), China (CN106537274B), Hong Kong (HK1237899), Europe (EP3077882B1), India (IN499859), Saudi Arabia (SA11961), and the United States (US10046857B2), all claiming priority July 5th, 2014.
Licensing Model
- Field of Use
- Territory
- Duration
- Exclusivity
Questions & Answers
Disclaimer: This section addresses common misconceptions about patents. It is informational only — not legal advice. For specific legal concerns or questions regarding potential infringement or licensing opportunities, please consult a qualified intellectual property attorney. This page provides general information regarding intellectual property considerations related to patented technology described herein — it does not constitute legal advice nor establish attorney-client relationships; please consult qualified IP attorneys regarding specific concerns/questions.
What if someone claims they’re simply inspecting surfaces and not cleaning them — could this incidentally infringe the patent?
Inspection typically differs from cleaning in altitude, sensor usage precision, airflow direction/intensity, and intervals. However, if inspection involves close alignment and airflow sufficient to remove debris—even unintentionally—this may constitute infringement where the patent is valid. Genuine inspections at higher altitudes without intentional debris removal generally do not infringe.
What is indirect infringement, and how could it apply here?
Indirect infringement occurs when someone induces or contributes to another party’s infringement. For example, providing software, flight plans, or instructions enabling others to practice the patented airflow cleaning method commercially in protected jurisdictions could constitute indirect infringement — even if the provider does not directly operate the drones themselves. Without a license, cross-border collaboration must be carefully managed to avoid legal exposure for indirect or contributory infringement.
Can the patent be easily circumvented, and if so, how?
Patents protect specific methods described in their claims. To legally circumvent this patent, an alternative solution would need to avoid at least one essential element of the core claim — for example, by not using drone-generated airflow or by not aligning autonomously based on geometrical characteristics detected by sensors. Practically speaking, circumventing this patent would require adopting significantly less efficient or fundamentally different cleaning methods.
How does this patent apply to water spraying drones?
If drone-generated airflow actively contributes to debris removal alongside or after water application (e.g., drying or clearing residual debris), it may fall under the scope of protection in jurisdictions where granted. Purely water-based cleaning without significant airflow involvement generally does not infringe.
Does extraterritorial infringement apply on method patents?
Generally speaking, methods are performed within specific jurisdictions. However indirect/contributory infringement can occur if components (software/hardware enabling autonomous alignment) are manufactured abroad specifically intended for use within protected territories — once imported/utilized there commercially they may indirectly infringe upon method patents.
What could constitute patent infringement?
Patent infringement occurs when someone makes, uses, sells, offers for sale — or imports into protected jurisdictions — a product or method containing all essential elements described in at least one granted claim. Infringement can be direct (performing yourself), indirect (enabling others), or contributory (supplying components specifically intended for use in infringement).
Are there other common forms of infringement?
Yes — willful infringement involves knowingly using patented technology without authorization despite awareness of its existence; induced infringement involves actively encouraging/facilitating another’s infringement. Both can result in enhanced damages if proven legally.
Can I legally use patented technology for research purposes without permission?
Some jurisdictions permit limited exceptions for purely academic research without commercial intent; however any commercial use — including research aimed at commercialization — typically requires explicit licensing permission from the holder.
How could subroutines in today’s flight controllers be implicated?
Modern flight controllers often include subroutines continuously aligning drones toward surfaces using sensor data fused with altitude control/stabilization features. If these subroutines autonomously align drones based on surface geometry before using airflow for cleaning purposes commercially without licensing — this directly infringes upon essential elements described within claims where validly granted patents exist.
Can manually controlled drones circumvent the patent?
Manual control alone does not guarantee circumvention. Most modern drones — even when manually operated — use built-in flight controller subroutines (such as altitude hold or optical flow stabilization) that autonomously align drones relative to surfaces using sensor data. If these subroutines are used in combination with airflow cleaning, this may still infringe upon essential elements of the patented method in jurisdictions where it is valid.
Isn’t using drone airflow for cleaning too obvious or trivial to patent?
Drone airflow cleaning was not considered obvious when the patent was filed in 2014. At the time, drones rarely featured sensor systems capable of precise autonomous alignment. The patent specifically protects the innovative combination of sensor-based autonomous alignment and airflow cleaning — a method that had not been previously described or anticipated. The independent granting (and subsequent withdrawal after third-party observations) of a similar main patent claim in EP3183170, filed by eight inventors from Silicon Valley, further highlights its novelty and non-obviousness.