Action camera system for unmanned aerial vehicle
First Claim
1. An action camera system attachable to a mobile platform, comprising:
- at least one electromagnetic (EM) sensor configured to generate a sequence of images by detecting EM radiation in at least two dimensions; and
a control system electronically coupled to the at least one EM sensor, the control system including at least one processor and configured to;
identify at least one potential target based on the image sequence;
select at least one target from the at least one potential target by determining at least one reference orientation of the selected target to the mobile platform based on a reference image of the image sequence, the at least one reference orientation associated with at least one first image element of the reference image;
determine at least one subsequent orientation of the selected target to the mobile platform based on a subsequent image of the image sequence, the at least one subsequent orientation associated with at least one second image element of the subsequent image;
compare the at least one subsequent orientation to the at least one reference orientation;
andrestore the reference orientation based on the comparison of the subsequent orientation to the reference orientation by adjusting at least one of a velocity of the mobile platform and a heading of the mobile platform.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An action camera system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) selects a target based on a reference image captured by an onboard camera. Image processing determines a desired orientation of the target to the UAV, by which the UAV can track the target and provide streaming video images from the desired orientation. Image processing establishes a visual lock on the target and controls the UAV to maintain the desired orientation while capturing streaming images. Additional position data provided by sensors aboard a smartphone carried by the target enhances the tracking ability of the action camera system and enables predictive analysis of the target'"'"'s future position. The action camera system may additionally provide preselected modes of operation that control UAV movement and image capture depending on the user'"'"'s desired objectives.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An action camera system attachable to a mobile platform, comprising:
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at least one electromagnetic (EM) sensor configured to generate a sequence of images by detecting EM radiation in at least two dimensions; and a control system electronically coupled to the at least one EM sensor, the control system including at least one processor and configured to; identify at least one potential target based on the image sequence; select at least one target from the at least one potential target by determining at least one reference orientation of the selected target to the mobile platform based on a reference image of the image sequence, the at least one reference orientation associated with at least one first image element of the reference image; determine at least one subsequent orientation of the selected target to the mobile platform based on a subsequent image of the image sequence, the at least one subsequent orientation associated with at least one second image element of the subsequent image; compare the at least one subsequent orientation to the at least one reference orientation; and restore the reference orientation based on the comparison of the subsequent orientation to the reference orientation by adjusting at least one of a velocity of the mobile platform and a heading of the mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification