AUTONOMOUS SYSTEM FOR SHOOTING MOVING IMAGES FROM A DRONE, WITH TARGET TRACKING AND HOLDING OF THE TARGET SHOOTING ANGLE

• US 20180143636A1
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Parrot Drones
• Original Assignee: Parrot Drones
• Inventors: PINTO, Guillaume
• Application Number:
  US15/798,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20180143636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• 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 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/2232 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/2247 providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/689 Pointing payloads towards fixed or moving targets positioning towed, pushed or suspended implements G05D1/672
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2105/345 for photography
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2109/254 Flying platforms, e.g. multicopters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 : for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for shooting moving images, includes a drone provided with a camera and a ground station communicating with the drone, the camera being directed along a sight axis, the displacements of the drone being defined by flight instructions applied to a set of propulsion units of the drone, the drone being adapted to fly autonomously to shoot moving images of a target moving with the ground station. The system includes control means configured to generate the flight instructions so as to hold substantially constant the angle between the sight axis of the camera and the direction of displacement of the target upon activation of the target tracking. The ground station includes means, controlled by at least one piloting means forming a button for activating the target tracking, to alternatively switch the drone piloting mode between a mode of activation of the target tracking system and a deactivation mode.

Claims

1. A system for shooting moving images, comprising a drone provided with a camera and a ground station communicating with the drone through a wireless link, the camera being directed along a sight axis, the displacements of the drone being defined by flight instructions applied to a propulsion unit or a set of propulsion units of the drone, the drone being adapted to fly autonomously to shoot moving images of a target moving with the ground station, the direction of the sight axis being such that the target remains present in the successive images produced by said shooting,

wherein the control means is configured to generate said flight instructions so as to hold substantially constant the angle between the sight axis of the camera and the direction of displacement of the target upon activation of the tracking of the target,

and wherein the ground station comprises means, controlled by at least one piloting means forming a button for activating the target tracking, to alternatively switch the drone piloting mode between a mode of activation of the target tracking system adapted to activate means for activating the tracking of the target by the drone, and a deactivation mode adapted to deactivate said means for activating the tracking of the target by the drone.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ground station further comprises means adapted to detect signals emitted by at least one piloting means having a user piloting function and means for transforming said detected signals into flight instructions, and for transmitting these flight instructions to the drone when the activation mode is activated.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ground station further comprises:

a screen,

means for displaying on the screen an image taken by a camera on-board the drone, said image comprising the target, and

means for displaying a dynamic icon on the screen when the activation mode is activated, the icon comprising at least a representation of the target and a representation of the sight angle of the on-board camera.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic icon comprises a first representation of the target in the mode of activation of the target tracking and a second representation of the target at the time of displacement of the target, showing the direction of displacement of the target.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ground station further comprises means for locking the angle between the sight axis of the camera and the direction of displacement of the target, the locking means forming an activation/deactivation button, to alternatively lock and unlock the value of said angle.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

means for determining the speed vector of the target and the position of the target in a given reference system, said control means being configured to generate said flight instructions based on the speed vector determined, the position determined, and a predetermined direction angle, so as to hold the angle between the sight axis of the camera and the direction of the speed vector substantially to the value of said predetermined direction angle.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the means for activating the tracking of the target by the drone are further adapted to calculate the value of said predetermined direction angle based on the displacement of the target during a predetermined time period consecutive to the activation of the tracking of said target.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the deactivation mode is a mode in which the piloting commands will generate flight instructions based on the determined position of the target.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ground station comprises:

a touch screen displaying a plurality of touch areas;

means for detecting contact signals emitted by the touch areas and

at least one touch area forms said at least one piloting means.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the ground station further comprises means for locking the angle between the sight axis of the camera and the direction of displacement of the target, the locking means forming an activation/deactivation button, to alternatively lock and unlock the value of said angle, and wherein at least one touch area forms said means for locking said angle.