MICRO AERIAL VEHICLE QUALITY OF SERVICE MANAGER

• US 20100114408A1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Goossen, Emray R.
• Application Number:
  US12/263,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114408A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/80 UAVs characterised by their small size, e.g. micro air vehicles [MAV]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64753 directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for adjusting video quality outputted by an aerial vehicle to manage the data stream bandwidth to match the needs of each mission segment. A mission segment is monitored in order to determine a preferred video quality of service. A quality of service is set based on the monitored mission segment. The quality of service is selectively altered based on a change of at least one of a mission segment or an environmental condition.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting video quality of an aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring a mission segment in order to determine a preferred video quality of service;

setting a quality of service based on the monitored mission segment; and

selectively altering the quality of service based on a change of at least one of a mission segment or an environmental condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting quality of service further comprises setting a frame rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting quality of service further comprises setting a video resolution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting quality of service comprises setting imager controls, the imager controls comprises two or more of iris, shutter, aperture, backlight, or shutter speed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mission segment further comprises forward flight.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mission segment further comprises a hover and stare.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mission segment further comprises area surveillance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition further comprises a weather condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition further comprises a light condition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition further comprises a turbulence condition.

11. An aerial vehicle comprising:

a camera; and

a flight management computer located on the micro-aerial vehicle and configured to determine a mission segment of the micro-aerial vehicle using data from a global positioning system and an inertial navigation system and configured to set a quality of service for the camera based on the determined mission segment.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein quality of service further comprises setting a frame rate.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein quality of service further comprises setting a video resolution.

14. A method for adjusting video quality produced by image capture device on an aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

setting a first quality of service in a first mission segment based on at least one of the mission segment and an environmental condition;

detecting a change in at least one of the mission segment and the environmental condition; and

setting a second quality of service based on the detected change in at least one of the mission segment and the environmental condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein setting the first and second quality of services further comprises setting a frame rate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein setting the first and second quality of services further comprises setting a video resolution.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the mission segment further comprises at least two of a forward flight mode, a hover and stare mode, and an area surveillance mode.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental condition further comprises a weather condition.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental condition further comprises a light condition.