System and method for controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection of an object, the method comprising:
- controlling, by a remote control module, the remote aerial device to move to an initial target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected;
receiving, at the remote control module from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, proximal sensor data indicating one or more proximal obstructions located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device;
determining, by the remote control module, a plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, wherein each non-obstructed incremental movement direction specifies a potential movement for the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction that has been determined by the remote control module to be unobstructed;
receiving, at the remote control module, a user selection of one of the plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions; and
controlling, by the remote control module, the remote aerial device to move to a new non-obstructed location by a movement of the fixed distance in the direction of the selected incremental movement direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The method and system may be used to control the movement of a remote aerial device in an incremental step manner during a close inspection of an object or other subject matter. At the inspection location, a control module “stabilizes” the remote aerial device in a maintained, consistent hover while maintaining a close distance to the desired object. The control module may retrieve proximal sensor data that indicates possible nearby obstructions to the remote aerial device and may transmit the data to a remote control client. The remote control module may determine and display the possible one or more non-obstructed directions that the remote aerial device is capable of moving by an incremental distance. In response to receiving a selection of one of the directions, the remote control module may transmit the selection to the remote aerial device to indicate the next movement for the remote aerial device.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection of an object, the method comprising:
-
controlling, by a remote control module, the remote aerial device to move to an initial target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected; receiving, at the remote control module from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, proximal sensor data indicating one or more proximal obstructions located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; determining, by the remote control module, a plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, wherein each non-obstructed incremental movement direction specifies a potential movement for the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction that has been determined by the remote control module to be unobstructed; receiving, at the remote control module, a user selection of one of the plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions; and controlling, by the remote control module, the remote aerial device to move to a new non-obstructed location by a movement of the fixed distance in the direction of the selected incremental movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A computer system for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close subject inspection, comprising:
-
a remote aerial device having one or more sensors; and a remote control module having one or more processors communicatively connected to the remote aerial device and a program memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the remote control module to; control the remote aerial device to move to an initial target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected; receive proximal sensor data from the one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, the proximal sensor data indicating one or more proximal obstructions located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; a plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, wherein each non-obstructed incremental movement direction specifies a potential movement for the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction that has been determined by the remote control module to be unobstructed; receive a user selection of one of the plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions; and the remote aerial device to move to a new non-obstructed location by a movement of the fixed distance in the direction of the selected incremental movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close subject inspection that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
-
control the remote aerial device to move to an initial target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected; receive proximal sensor data from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, the proximal sensor data indicating one or more proximal obstructions located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; determine a plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, wherein each non-obstructed incremental movement direction specifies a potential movement for the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction that has been determined by the remote control module to be unobstructed; receive a user selection of one of the plurality of non-obstructed incremental movement directions; and control the remote aerial device to move to a new non-obstructed location by a movement of the fixed distance in the direction of the selected incremental movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification