Image monitoring and display from unmanned vehicle

• US 9,533,760 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane-Cohasset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Crane-Cohasset Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Wagreich, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US15/064,533
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 348/144
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/24 Coaxial rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• 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

This invention relates to capturing and displaying images and/or data received from a manned, or, more typically, an unmanned aerial drone. More particularly, the invention relates to a system of sensors mounted on an aerial drone and display systems in addition to transmission and reception components associated with the sensors and display systems respectively whereby images and/or data captured by the sensors can be transmitted to, received by, and viewed on single and multiple monitor display systems.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) for capturing payload video and navigation video, comprising;

a navigation system for controlling the movement of the UAD, comprising;

a first wireless receiver, in communication with the navigation system, configured to receive and respond to navigation commands from a first monitoring system at a ground station;

a first imaging system comprising;

a plurality of navigation cameras attached to and pointing out from the UAD and positioned so as to capture navigation video from a point of view of the UAD; and

a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit the navigation video to the first monitoring system at the ground station; and

a payload system for capturing payload video comprising;

a second wireless receiver, in communication with the payload system, configured to receive rotational commands from a second monitoring system at the ground station;

a rotating mount attached to the UAD and configured to;

rotate on a horizontal axis independent of a movement of the UAD;

rotate on a vertical axis independent of the movement of the UAD; and

respond to the rotational commands received by the second wireless receiver;

a second imaging system comprising;

a payload camera attached to the rotating mount configured to capture payload video; and

a second wireless transmitter configured to transmit the payload video to the second monitoring system at the ground station.

2. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1, wherein the first monitoring system comprises a display for each of the plurality of navigation cameras configured to be in alignment with each of the plurality of navigation cameras.

3. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1 wherein the first wireless transmitter transmits on an array of antennas and the second wireless transmitter transmits on a single antenna.

4. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver and the second wireless receiver are the same wireless receiver.

5. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1, wherein the rotating mount is a gimbal mount.

6. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of navigation cameras has its own antenna.

7. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1, wherein the plurality of navigation cameras comprise a plurality of first digital sensors or a plurality of first digital sensor systems and the payload camera comprises a second digital sensor or a second digital sensor system.

8. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 1, wherein:

the first monitoring system is configured to;

receive navigation video; and

display navigation video;

the second monitoring system is configured to;

receive payload video; and

display payload video.

9. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 8, wherein the first monitoring system has a display for each of the plurality of navigation cameras configured to be in alignment with each of the plurality of navigation cameras.

10. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 8, wherein the first wireless transmitter transmits on an array of antennas and the second wireless transmitter transmits on a single antenna.

11. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 8, wherein the first wireless receiver and the second wireless receiver are the same wireless receiver.

12. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 8, wherein the rotating mount is a gimbal mount.

13. The UAD for capturing payload video and navigation video of claim 8, wherein the plurality of navigation cameras comprise a plurality of first digital sensors or a plurality of first digital sensor systems and the payload camera comprises a second digital sensor or a second digital sensor system.

14. A method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

), comprising;

receiving navigation commands from a first monitoring system at a ground station;

controlling the movement of the UAD in response to the navigation commands;

capturing navigation video from a plurality of navigation cameras attached to and positioned around the exterior of the aerial drone;

transmitting the navigation video to the first monitoring system at the ground station;

receiving rotational commands from a second monitoring system at the ground station;

in response to the rotational commands, moving a rotating mount attached to the UAD wherein the rotating mount is configured to rotate on a horizontal axis independent of a movement of the UAD and rotate on a vertical axis independent of the movement of the UAD;

capturing payload video from a payload camera attached to the rotating mount; and

transmitting the payload video to the second monitoring system at the ground station.

15. The method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) of claim 14, wherein the first monitoring system comprises a display for each of the plurality of navigation cameras configured to be in alignment with each of the plurality of navigation cameras.

16. The method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) of claim 14, wherein the first wireless transmitter transmits using an array of antennas and the second wireless transmitter uses a single antenna.

17. The method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) of claim 14, wherein the navigation commands and the rotational commands are received on the same receiver.

18. The method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) of claim 14, wherein the rotating mount is a gimbal mount.

19. The method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of navigation cameras has its own antenna.

20. The method for capturing navigation video and payload video utilizing an unmanned aerial drone (“

UAD”

) of claim 14, wherein the plurality of navigation cameras comprise a plurality of first digital sensors or a plurality of first digital sensor systems and the payload camera comprises a second digital sensor or a second digital sensor system.