Sensors embedded within aerial vehicle control surfaces
First Claim
1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
- at least one motor aligned to provide at least one of lift or thrust to the aerial vehicle;
a movable control surface comprising a digital camera, wherein a lens of the digital camera is embedded within the movable control surface; and
a control system comprising at least one computer processor, wherein each of the at least one motor and the movable control surface is in communication with the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to at least;
cause a first operation of the aerial vehicle in a first flight mode, wherein causing the first operation of the aerial vehicle in the first flight mode comprises;
operating at least the first motor; and
maintaining altitude control of the aerial vehicle using at least the movable control surface;
cause a second operation of the aerial vehicle in a second flight mode, wherein causing the second operation of the aerial vehicle in the second flight mode comprises;
maintaining altitude control of the aerial vehicle using at least the at least one motor;
reposition the movable control surface to align the lens of the digital camera toward a region of interest, wherein the movable control surface is repositioned while the aerial vehicle operates in the second flight mode; and
capture imaging data regarding the region of interest using the digital camera.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aerial vehicles may include one or more directional sensors embedded into wings, rudders, ailerons, flaps or other control surfaces. When the aerial vehicles are operating in modes that do not require the use of such surfaces, a surface having a directional sensor embedded therein may be repositioned or reoriented to align the directional sensor toward an area or axis of interest, and information may be gathered from the area or axis of interest using the directional sensor. One or more safety lights, running lights or other illuminators may cast light of a desired color, frequency or wavelength toward the area or axis of interest. The directional sensors may include cameras, radar or laser sensors, or any other reorientable sensors.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
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at least one motor aligned to provide at least one of lift or thrust to the aerial vehicle; a movable control surface comprising a digital camera, wherein a lens of the digital camera is embedded within the movable control surface; and a control system comprising at least one computer processor, wherein each of the at least one motor and the movable control surface is in communication with the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to at least; cause a first operation of the aerial vehicle in a first flight mode, wherein causing the first operation of the aerial vehicle in the first flight mode comprises; operating at least the first motor; and maintaining altitude control of the aerial vehicle using at least the movable control surface; cause a second operation of the aerial vehicle in a second flight mode, wherein causing the second operation of the aerial vehicle in the second flight mode comprises; maintaining altitude control of the aerial vehicle using at least the at least one motor; reposition the movable control surface to align the lens of the digital camera toward a region of interest, wherein the movable control surface is repositioned while the aerial vehicle operates in the second flight mode; and capture imaging data regarding the region of interest using the digital camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An aerial vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion motor coupled to a propeller; a control surface comprising a directional sensor embedded therein; and a control system comprising at least one computer processor in communication with at least the propulsion motor, the control surface and the directional sensor, wherein the control system is configured to at least; cause the aerial vehicle to operate in at least a first flight mode, wherein the first flight mode is at least one of a substantially vertical flight mode or a substantially hovering flight mode; cause the control surface to move from a first position to a second position with the aerial vehicle operating in the first flight mode, wherein the directional sensor is aligned along a first axis with the control surface in the first position, and wherein the directional sensor is aligned along a second axis with the control surface in the second position; and cause the directional sensor to capture data with the control surface in the second position with the aerial vehicle operating in the first flight mode. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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operating an aerial vehicle in a first flight mode, wherein the aerial vehicle comprises; at least one propulsion motor; a movable control surface having an imaging device embedded therein; and a position sensor, and wherein the aerial vehicle operates the movable control surface to maintain altitude control in the first flight mode; causing the aerial vehicle to travel to a destination while operating in the first flight mode; determining, by the position sensor, that the aerial vehicle has arrived at the destination; in response to determining that the aerial vehicle has arrived at the destination, operating the aerial vehicle in a second flight mode, wherein the aerial vehicle does not operate the movable control surface to maintain altitude control in the second flight mode; repositioning the movable control surface from a first position to a second position, wherein a field of view of the imaging device is oriented toward an area of interest at the destination with the movable control surface in the second position; and capturing imaging data from the area of interest by the imaging device with the movable control surface in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification