Interchangeable mounting platform
First Claim
1. An assembly for interchangeably mounting onto a plurality of different types of base support comprising a first type of base support and a second type of base support, wherein the first type of base support is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the second type of base support is a handheld support member, the assembly configured for both aerial imaging and handheld photography comprising:
- a payload configured to obtain image data, wherein the payload comprises or is operably coupled to a transmitter for transmitting the image data to a terminal, wherein said terminal is provided separately from the payload or located remotely to the payload; and
a mounting platform coupled to the payload via a first coupling, wherein the mounting platform comprises one or more sensors configured to obtain sensing data indicative of a spatial disposition of the mounting platform or the payload, wherein said sensing data is transmitted to the terminal, and wherein said mounting platform is configured to be releasably coupled via a second coupling to each of the first type and the second type of base support, and wherein the second coupling is a quick release coupling such that the quick release (1) is carried out manually without the use of tools and (2) enables the first type of base support and the second type of base support to be releasably coupled to and decoupled from the mounting platform,wherein the mounting platform is configured to establish electrical communication with each of the first type of base support and the second type of base support separately, such that (1) the electrical communication is established with the first type of base support when the mounting platform is coupled to the first type of base support via the second coupling and is receiving power from a first power source on the first type of base support, and (2) the electrical communication is established with the second type of base support when the mounting platform is coupled to the second type of base support via the second coupling and is receiving power from a second power source on the second type of base support;
wherein the electrical communication is configured to initiate a recognition of whether the mounting platform is coupled to the UAV or to the handheld support member;
wherein the mounting platform is configured to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to each of the first type of base support and the second type of base support based on the sensing data; and
when the mounting platform is coupled to the UAV and upon establishing the electrical communication between the mounting platform and the UAV, a first set of control signals is obtained by the mounting platform to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to the UAV; and
when the mounting platform is coupled to the handheld support member and upon establishing the electrical communication between the mounting platform and the handheld support member, a second set of control signals is obtained by the mounting platform to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to the handheld support member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A platform for interchangeably mounting a payload to a base support is provided. In one aspect, the platform comprises: a support assembly configured to be releasably coupled to a payload via a first coupling and configured to control a spatial disposition of the payload; and a mounting assembly configured to be releasably coupled via a second coupling to a plurality of types of base supports selected from at least two of the following: an aerial vehicle, a handheld support, or a base adapter mounted onto a movable object.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An assembly for interchangeably mounting onto a plurality of different types of base support comprising a first type of base support and a second type of base support, wherein the first type of base support is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the second type of base support is a handheld support member, the assembly configured for both aerial imaging and handheld photography comprising:
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a payload configured to obtain image data, wherein the payload comprises or is operably coupled to a transmitter for transmitting the image data to a terminal, wherein said terminal is provided separately from the payload or located remotely to the payload; and a mounting platform coupled to the payload via a first coupling, wherein the mounting platform comprises one or more sensors configured to obtain sensing data indicative of a spatial disposition of the mounting platform or the payload, wherein said sensing data is transmitted to the terminal, and wherein said mounting platform is configured to be releasably coupled via a second coupling to each of the first type and the second type of base support, and wherein the second coupling is a quick release coupling such that the quick release (1) is carried out manually without the use of tools and (2) enables the first type of base support and the second type of base support to be releasably coupled to and decoupled from the mounting platform, wherein the mounting platform is configured to establish electrical communication with each of the first type of base support and the second type of base support separately, such that (1) the electrical communication is established with the first type of base support when the mounting platform is coupled to the first type of base support via the second coupling and is receiving power from a first power source on the first type of base support, and (2) the electrical communication is established with the second type of base support when the mounting platform is coupled to the second type of base support via the second coupling and is receiving power from a second power source on the second type of base support; wherein the electrical communication is configured to initiate a recognition of whether the mounting platform is coupled to the UAV or to the handheld support member; wherein the mounting platform is configured to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to each of the first type of base support and the second type of base support based on the sensing data; and when the mounting platform is coupled to the UAV and upon establishing the electrical communication between the mounting platform and the UAV, a first set of control signals is obtained by the mounting platform to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to the UAV; and when the mounting platform is coupled to the handheld support member and upon establishing the electrical communication between the mounting platform and the handheld support member, a second set of control signals is obtained by the mounting platform to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to the handheld support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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14. A method for interchangeably mounting onto a plurality of different types of base support comprising a first type of base support and a second type of base support to enable aerial imaging and handheld photography, wherein the first type of base support is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the second type of base support is a handheld support member, the method comprising:
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providing a mounting platform coupled to a payload via a first coupling, wherein the mounting platform comprises one or more sensors configured to obtain sensing data indicative of a spatial disposition of the mounting platform or the payload, wherein the payload is configured to obtain image data and comprises or is operably coupled to a transmitter for transmitting the image data to a terminal, and wherein the terminal is provided separately from the payload or located remotely to the payload and configured to receive the image data and the sensing data; releasably coupling the mounting platform via a second coupling to each of the first type and the second type of base support, wherein the second coupling is a quick release coupling such that the quick release (1) is carried out manually without the use of tools and (2) enables the first type of base support and the second type of base support to be releasably coupled to and decoupled from the mounting platform; establishing electrical communication between the mounting platform and each of the first type of base support and second type of base support separately such that (1) the electrical communication is established with the first type of base support when the mounting platform is coupled to the first type of base support via the second coupling and is receiving power from a first power source on the first type of base support, and (2) the electrical communication is established with the second type of base support when the mounting platform is coupled to the second type of base support via the second coupling and is receiving power from a second power source on the second type of base support; initiating a recognition of whether the mounting platform is coupled to the UAV or to the handheld support member; controlling, with aid of the mounting platform, the spatial disposition of the payload relative to each of the first type of base support and the second type of base support based on the sensing data; obtaining, by the mounting platform, a first set of control signals to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to the UAV when the mounting platform is coupled to the UAV and upon establishing the electrical communication between the mounting platform and the UAV; and obtaining, by the mounting platform, a second set of control signals to control the spatial disposition of the payload relative to the handheld support member when the mounting platform is coupled to the handheld support member and upon establishing the electrical communication between the mounting platform and the handheld support member.
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Specification