CLICKABLE CAMERA WINDOW

• US 20140236387A1
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Zygmant, Thomas, Zoock, Ira E., Lesperance, Jesse J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,120,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a control station, an input including a command for re-location of a vehicle from a first location to a second location, the input identifying the second location, determining, by the control station, at least one of a distance, a direction, an altitude, and a latitude and longitude for the vehicle to travel from the first location to the second location, and transmitting, by the control station, the command and the at least one of a distance, a direction, an altitude, and a latitude and longitude to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a control station, an input including a command for re-location of a vehicle from a first location to a second location, the input identifying the second location;

determining, by the control station, at least one of a distance, a direction an altitude, and a latitude and longitude for the vehicle to travel from the first location to the second location; and

transmitting, by the control station, the command and the at least one of a distance, a direction, an altitude, and a latitude and longitude to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the control station, sensor data from the aircraft; and

causing, by the control station, the sensor data to be presented on a display of the control station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor data comprises a camera image or video, an altitude of the aircraft, a specification of a direction of travel of the aircraft, and latitude and longitude coordinates of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is received as a one-touch input via a touchscreen of the control station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, by the control station, an indicator to be presented responsive to receiving the input.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the control station, a message from the vehicle that acknowledges the transmission of the command and the at least one of a distance, a direction, an altitude, and a latitude and longitude; and

responsive to receiving the message at the control station, causing, by the control station, the indicator to change state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the change in indicator state comprises a change in color of the indicator from a first color to a second color.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, by the control station, that the vehicle arrives at the second location; and

responsive to determining that the vehicle arrives at the second location, causing, by the control station, the indicator to change from the second color to one of the first color and a third color.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive an input including a command for re-location of an aircraft from a first location to a second location, the input identifying the second location,

determine at least one of a distance, a direction, and a latitude and longitude for the aircraft to travel from the first location to the second location, and

transmit the command and the at least one of a distance, a direction, and a latitude and longitude to the aircraft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device configured as a control station.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine a distance for the aircraft to travel from the first location to the second location,

wherein the distance is specified by the apparatus in terms of at least one of;

a Cartesian coordinate system, a directional or compass distance, and latitude and longitude coordinates.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a touchscreen configured to display a map overlaid with data received from sensors of the aircraft, the data comprising an identification of the first location.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive the input via a depression of a point on the touchscreen, wherein the point corresponds to the second location.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine a distance for the aircraft to travel from the first location to the second location,

calculate a radius of field of view associated with a sensor of the aircraft based on an angle of a field of view associated with the sensor and a height of the aircraft at the first location, and

calculate the distance as a percentage of the radius.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine a distance for the aircraft to travel from the first location to the second location,

receive an acknowledgment of the transmission of the command and the distance, and

change the state of an indicator presented at the apparatus from a first state to a second state responsive to the received acknowledgment.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indicator comprises an icon displayed on a display screen of the apparatus, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive an acknowledgement that the aircraft arrives at the second location, and

change the state of the indicator to a third state responsive to receiving the acknowledgment that the aircraft arrives at the second location.

17. A system comprising:

a control station comprising a touchscreen configured to receive a one-touch input that includes a command for re-location of at least one of an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a first location to a second location and identifies the second location, determine at least one of a distance and new latitude and longitude for the at least one of an OPV and a UAV to travel from the first location to the second location, and transmit the command and the at least one of a distance and new latitude and longitude.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a communication device configured to receive the command and the at least one of a distance and new latitude and longitude from the control station and transmit the command and the at least one of a distance and new latitude and longitude to the at least one of an OPV and a UAV.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the control station comprises a control device configured to display data received from one or more sensors of the at least one of an OPV and a UAV, the data comprising a camera image or video captured by the at least one of an OPV and a UAV, altitude of the at least one of an OPV and a UAV, a specification of a current direction of travel of the at least one of an OPV and a UAV, and latitude and longitude coordinates of the at least one of an OPV and a UAV when at the first location.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the touchscreen is configured to display a map comprising an identification of the first location enclosed by a ring and a scale that provides a distance associated with the ring, and wherein the second location is associated with at least one of:

a loading or an unloading destination for one or more goods or products or a landing point for the at least one of an OPV and a UAV, and

wherein at least a portion of an indicator overlaid on top of the map is configured to change from a first color to a second color responsive to the control station receiving an acknowledgment of the transmission of the command and the at least one of a distance and new latitude and longitude, and wherein at least a portion of the indicator is configured to change from the second color to a third color responsive to acknowledgment that the at least one of an OPV and a UAV arrives at the second location.