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 the remote aerial device to move to a target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected;
receiving, from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, proximal sensor data indicating one or more directions toward one or more proximal obstructions, each proximal obstruction being located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device;
determining a plurality of incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, each incremental movement direction indicating potential non-obstructed movement of the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction, wherein the fixed distance is determined based upon an indication of the type of the object to be inspected;
receiving, at a remote control module, a selection of one of the plurality of incremental movement directions; and
controlling the remote aerial device to move to a new target location based upon 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection of an object, the method comprising:
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controlling the remote aerial device to move to a target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected; receiving, from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, proximal sensor data indicating one or more directions toward one or more proximal obstructions, each proximal obstruction being located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; determining a plurality of incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, each incremental movement direction indicating potential non-obstructed movement of the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction, wherein the fixed distance is determined based upon an indication of the type of the object to be inspected; receiving, at a remote control module, a selection of one of the plurality of incremental movement directions; and controlling the remote aerial device to move to a new target location based upon the selected incremental movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing 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:
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control the remote aerial device to move to a target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected; receive, from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, proximal sensor data indicating one or more directions toward one or more proximal obstructions, each proximal obstruction being located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; determine a plurality of incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, each incremental movement direction indicating potential non-obstructed movement of the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction, wherein the fixed distance is determined based upon an indication of the type of the object to be inspected; receive a selection of one of the plurality of incremental movement directions at a remote control module; and control the remote aerial device to move to a new target location based upon the selected incremental movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close subject inspection, comprising:
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a remote aerial device having one or more sensors; a remote control module having one or more processors; and a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer system to; control the remote aerial device to move to a target location in proximity to a portion of the object to be inspected; receive, from one or more sensors of the remote aerial device, proximal sensor data indicating one or more directions toward one or more proximal obstructions, each proximal obstruction being located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; determine a plurality of incremental movement directions based at least in part upon the proximal sensor data, each incremental movement direction indicating potential non-obstructed movement of the remote aerial device of a fixed distance in a direction, wherein the fixed distance is determined based upon an indication of the type of the object to be inspected; receive a selection of one of the plurality of incremental movement directions at a remote control module; and control the remote aerial device to move to a new target location based upon the selected incremental movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification