Electronic device and method for controlling unmanned aerial vehicle using the same

• US 8,423,204 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Jingdong Century Trading Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hou-Hsien, Lee, Chang-Jung, Lo, Chih-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/947,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 4, 244189-190, 244/75.1, 244/76.R
• US Class Current: 701/2
• 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 1/0858 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft

Abstract

A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using an electronic device obtains movement data of an object on a display screen of the electronic device, and converts the movement data of the object into control signals. The method further sends the control signals to the UAV, and changes a flight status of the UAV according to the control signals.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using an electronic device, comprising:

obtaining movement data of an object on specified blocks of a display screen of the electronic device;

converting the movement data of the object on the specified blocks of the display screen into control signals, and sending the control signals to the UAV; and

changing a flight status of the UAV according to the control signals converted from the movement data of the object on the specified blocks of the display screen.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is divided into a first block, a second block, a third block, and a fourth block, the third block and the fourth block being located between the first block and the second block, the third block being enclosed by the fourth block, the third block being a circle shape, and the fourth block being a ring shape.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement data of the object comprise a touch position of the object on the display screen of the electronic device, and a corresponding movement direction of the object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signals comprise:

a first control signal to control lateral motion of a cyclic control of the UAV, a second control signal to control longitudinal motion of the cyclic control of the UAV, a third control signal to control motion of a collective pitch control of the UAV, and a fourth control signal to control motions of anti-torque pedals of the UAV.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of converting the movement data of the object into control signals comprises:

converting the movement data of the object into the first control signal upon the condition that the object moves along a horizontal direction on the third block;

converting the movement data of the object into the second control signal upon the condition that the object moves along a vertical direction on the third block;

converting the movement data of the object into the third control signal upon the condition that the first block or the second block is pressed by the object;

or

converting the movement data of the object into the fourth control signal upon the condition that the object moves on the fourth block.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a display screen;

a storage device;

at least one processor; and

one or more modules that are stored in the storage device and are executed by the at least one processor, the one or more modules comprising instructions;

to obtain movement data of an object on specified blocks of a display screen of the electronic device;

to convert the movement data of the object on the specified blocks of the display screen into control signals, and send the control signals to the UAV; and

to change a flight status of the UAV according to the control signals converted from the movement data of the object on the specified blocks of the display screen.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the display screen is divided into a first block, a second block, a third block, and a fourth block, the third block and the fourth block being located between the first block and the second block, the third block being enclosed by the fourth block, the third block being a circle shape, and the fourth block being a ring shape.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the movement data of the object comprise a touch position of the object on the display screen of the electronic device, and a corresponding movement direction of the object.

9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the control signals comprise:

a first control signal to control lateral motion of a cyclic control of the UAV, a second control signal to control longitudinal motion of the cyclic control of the UAV, a third control signal to control motion of a collective pitch control of the UAV, and a fourth control signal to control motions of anti-torque pedals of the UAV.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the instruction to convert the movement data of the object into control signals comprises:

converting the movement data of the object into the first control signal upon the condition that the object moves along a horizontal direction on the third block;

converting the movement data of the object into the second control signal upon the condition that the object moves along a vertical direction on the third block;

converting the movement data of the object into the third control signal upon the condition that the first block or the second block is pressed by the object;

or

converting the movement data of the object into the fourth control signal upon the condition that the object moves on the fourth block.

11. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, causes the processor to perform a method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using the electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining movement data of an object on specified blocks of a display screen of the electronic device;

converting the movement data of the object on the specified blocks of the display screen into control signals, and sending the control signals to the UAV; and

changing a flight status of the UAV according to the control signals converted from the movement data of the object on the specified blocks of the display screen.

12. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the display screen is divided into a first block, a second block, a third block, and a fourth block, the third block and the fourth block being located between the first block and the second block, the third block being enclosed by the fourth block, the third block being a circle shape, and the fourth block being a ring shape.

13. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the movement data of the object comprise a touch position of the object on the display screen of the electronic device, and a corresponding movement direction of the object.

14. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the control signals comprise:

a first control signal to control lateral motion of a cyclic control of the UAV, a second control signal to control longitudinal motion of the cyclic control of the UAV, a third control signal to control motion of a collective pitch control of the UAV, and a fourth control signal to control motions of anti-torque pedals of the UAV.

15. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the step of converting the movement data of the object into control signals comprises:

converting the movement data of the object into the first control signal upon the condition that the object moves along a horizontal direction on the third block;

converting the movement data of the object into the second control signal upon the condition that the object moves along a vertical direction on the third block;

converting the movement data of the object into the third control signal upon the condition that the first block or the second block is pressed by the object;

or

converting the movement data of the object into the fourth control signal upon the condition that the object moves on the fourth block.

16. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a compact disc, a digital video disc, and a tape drive.