Surveillance system and surveillance method

• US 9,290,277 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Corporation)
• Inventors: You, Kyuhyong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US14/551,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20150158598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 4, 701/11, 701/15, 701/16, 701/23, 244/75.1, 244/76.R, 244/183, 244/189, 244/190, 244/114.R, 244/110.E, 244/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/18 Visual or acoustic landing aids taxiing aids B64F1/002
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• 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 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• 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: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Provided are a surveillance system and a surveillance method. The surveillance system includes a control tower configured to be coupled with and separated from a flying vehicle, and receive an image captured by the flying vehicle through a first communication network, wherein the control tower is further configured to transmit the received image to a central control station through a second communication network for analysis of the received image. The surveillance system may further include the flying vehicle and the central control station.

Claims

1. A surveillance system comprising:

a control tower configured to be coupled with and separated from a flying vehicle, and receive an image captured by the flying vehicle through a first communication network,

wherein the control tower is further configured to transmit the received image to a central control station through a second communication network for analysis of the received image,

wherein the control tower comprises;

an image capturer configured to capture an image of the flying vehicle; and

a landing guide configured to generate a landing guide signal based on the image obtained by the image capturer, and

wherein the landing guide generates a landing guide signal by;

capturing a first image of the flying vehicle by using the image capturer;

comparing the first image with a pre-stored image to determine an amount of horizontal movement for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to horizontally move the flying vehicle based on the determined amount of horizontal movement;

capturing a second image of the flying vehicle by using the image capturer;

comparing the second image with the pre-stored image to determine an amount of vertical movement for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to vertically move the flying vehicle based on the determined amount of vertical movement; and

determining an amount of altitude loss for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to the flying vehicle to lose altitude based on the determined amount of altitude loss.

2. The surveillance system of claim 1, wherein the first communication network is a short-range wireless communication network, and the second communication network is a long-range wired and/or wireless communication network.

3. The surveillance system of claim 1, wherein the control tower comprises:

a mounting portion with which the flying vehicle is configured to be coupled; and

a power supply configured to supply power to the flying vehicle when the flying vehicle is coupled with the control tower.

4. The surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising the flying vehicle and the central control station.

5. The surveillance system of claim 4, wherein the flying vehicle comprises:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to receive position information about the flying vehicle;

a battery configured to supply power to the flying vehicle; and

a controller configured to control an operation of the flying vehicle,

wherein the controller comprises a program whereby the flying vehicle returns to the control tower based on a remaining amount of the power and the position information.

6. A surveillance system comprising:

a control tower configured to be coupled with and separated from a flying vehicle installed with a camera,

wherein the control tower comprises;

an image capturer configured to capture an image of the flying vehicle;

a power supply configured to supply power to the flying vehicle when the control tower is coupled with the flying vehicle; and

a landing guide configured to generate a landing guide signal based on the captured image of the flying vehicle, and

wherein the landing guide generates a landing guide signal by;

capturing a first image of the flying vehicle by using the image capturer;

comparing the first image with a pre-stored image to determine an amount of horizontal movement for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to horizontally move the flying vehicle based on the determined amount of horizontal movement;

capturing a second image of the flying vehicle by using the image capturer;

comparing the second image with the pre-stored image to determine an amount of vertical movement of the flying vehicle and giving a command to vertically move the flying vehicle based on the determined amount of vertical movement; and

determining an amount of altitude loss for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to the flying vehicle to lose altitude based on the determined amount of altitude loss.

7. The surveillance system of claim 6 further comprising the flying vehicle.

8. The surveillance system of claim 7, wherein the flying vehicle comprises:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to receive position information about the flying vehicle;

a battery configured to supply power to the flying vehicle; and

a controller configured to control an operation of the flying vehicle,

wherein the controller comprises a program whereby the flying vehicle returns to the control tower based on a remaining amount of power at the battery and the position information.

9. A surveillance method comprising:

capturing an endurance surveillance image of a flying vehicle;

transmitting the captured endurance surveillance image to a central control station via a control tower disposed adjacent to the flying vehicle;

comparing a remaining amount of power at a battery of the flying vehicle with a standard remaining amount of power; and

if the remaining amount of power at the battery is less than the standard remaining amount of power, landing the flying vehicle on the control tower based on a landing guide signal of the control tower,

wherein the landing guide signal is generated by;

capturing a first image of the flying vehicle by an image capturer of the control tower;

comparing the captured first image with a pre-stored image to determine an amount of horizontal movement for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to horizontally move the flying vehicle based on the determined amount of horizontal movement;

capturing a second image of the flying vehicle by using the image capturer;

comparing the second image with the pre-stored image to determine an amount of vertical movement for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to vertically move the flying vehicle based on the determined amount of vertical movement; and

determining an amount of altitude loss for the flying vehicle to generate and giving a command to the flying vehicle to lose altitude based on the determined amount of altitude loss.

10. The surveillance method of claim 9, further comprising charging the battery of the flying vehicle after the flying vehicle has landed on the control tower.

11. The surveillance method of claim 9, further comprising:

capturing a fixed surveillance image using the flying vehicle after the flying vehicle has landed on the control tower; and

transmitting the captured fixed surveillance image to the central control station via the control tower.

12. The surveillance method of claim 9, further comprising receiving an endurance command based on a preset program that is set according to a charged state of the battery of the flying vehicle or an endurance command from the central control station.

13. The surveillance method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving position information about the flying vehicle;

supplying power to the flying vehicle; and

controlling an operation of the flying vehicle,

wherein the controlling is performed using a program whereby the flying vehicle returns to the control tower based on the remaining amount of power at the battery and the position information.

14. The surveillance method of claim 9, further comprising:

coupling the flying vehicle with the control tower and separating the flying vehicle from the control tower; and

supplying power to the flying vehicle when the flying vehicle is coupled with the control tower.

15. The surveillance method of claim 9, further comprising:

capturing an image of the flying vehicle; and

generating a landing guide signal based on the captured image of the flying vehicle.

16. The surveillance method of claim 9, wherein the captured endurance surveillance image is transmitted from the flying vehicle to the control tower through a first communication network,

wherein the captured endurance surveillance image is transmitted from the control tower to the central control station through a second communication network, and

wherein the first communication network is a short-range wireless communication network, and the second communication network is a long-range wired and/or wireless communication network.